Isaiahchapter 55

13 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 314 cross-references outward and receives 500 — heaviest partner: Isaiah.

Chapter summary

An open invitation launches the chapter: Jehovah calls everyone who thirsts to come to the waters and buy wine and milk "without money and without price" (vv. 1-2). He promises an everlasting covenant, "the sure mercies of David" — words Paul applies to the risen Jesus in Acts 13:34 — with David given as witness, leader, and commander to the peoples (vv. 3-5). The call turns urgent: seek Jehovah while he may be found; the wicked who returns finds abundant pardon (vv. 6-7). Jehovah's thoughts and ways stand higher than human ones as the heavens above the earth (vv. 8-9), and his word, like rain and snow watering the earth, does not return void but accomplishes its purpose (vv. 10-11). The chapter closes with a joyful exodus: mountains sing, trees clap their hands, and myrtle replaces brier as an everlasting sign (vv. 12-13).

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Prophecy · Isaiah — see the Isaiah overview for the book's full setting.

1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

3 Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples.

5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not; and a nation that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of Jehovah thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

6 Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near:

7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

11 so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing; and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree; and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree: and it shall be to Jehovah for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

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