King James Version
Isaiah 55
13 verses with commentary
Invitation to the Thirsty
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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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.</strong> This urgent invitation—"Ho" (<em>hoy</em>, הוֹי)—calls universal attention. The address to "every one that thirsteth" includes all who recognize spiritual need. Water, wine, and milk symbolize life-sustaining resources...
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LV.
(1) **Ho, every one that thirsteth . . .**—The whole context shows that the water, the wine, the milk are all, symbols of spiritual blessings as distinctly as they are, *e.g., *in John 4:10; Matthew 26:29; 1Peter 2:2. The Word “buy” is elsewhere confined to the purchase of corn, and would not rightly have been used of wine and milk. The invitation is addressed, as in a tone of pity, to the ber...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**14. err in every work thereof--**referring to the anarchy arising from their internal feuds. Horsley translates, "with respect to all His (God's) work"; they misinterpreted God's dealings at every step. "Mingled" contains the same image as "drunken"; as one mixes spices with wine to make it intoxicating (Is 5:22; Pr 9:2, 5), so Jehovah has poured among them a spirit of giddiness, so that they ar...
Read full commentary →Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. spend: Heb. weigh
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.</strong> The rhetorical questions expose futility of pursuing what cannot satisfy. "Spend money" (<em>tishqelu-kesef</em>, תִשְׁקְלוּ־כֶסֶף, literally "weigh out silver") and "labour" ...
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(2) **Wherefore do ye spend money . . .**—Here again the “bread” is that which sustains the true life of the soul. “Labour”-stands for the “earnings of labour.” Israel had given her money for that which was “not-bread,” she is called to accept the true bread for that which is “not-money,” *scil., *as the next verse shows, for the simple “hearing of faith.” “Fatness,” as in Isaiah 25:6, and the “fa...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**15. work for Egypt--**nothing which Egypt can do to extricate itself from the difficulty.
**head or tail--**high or low (Is 19:11-15, and Is 19:8-10).
**branch or rush--**the lofty palm branch or the humble reed (Is 9:14, 15; 10:33, 34).
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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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.</strong> The threefold invitation—"Incline your ear" (<em>hattu 'aznekem</em>, הַטּוּ אָזְנְכֶם), "come," "hear"—emphasizes responsive action. Inclining the ear suggests attentive, deliberate listening, not casual hearing. The promise "your s...
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(3) **Your soul shall live . . .**—Better, *revive. *The idea is that of waking to a new life.
**I will make an everlasting covenant . . .**—The words find their explanation in the “new covenant” of Jeremiah 31:31, Luke 22:20, but those which follow show that it is thought of as the expansion and completion of that which had been made with David (2Samuel 7:12-17; Psalm 89:34-35), as the representa...
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**16. like ... women--**timid and helpless (Jr 51:30; Na 3:13).
**shaking of ... hand--**His judgments by means of the invaders (Is 10:5, 32; 11:15).
Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.</strong> The pronoun "him" refers to the Davidic heir mentioned in verse 3. The threefold designation—"witness" (<em>'ed</em>, עֵד), "leader" (<em>nagid</em>, נָגִיד), "commander" (<em>metsavveh</em>, מְצַוֵּה)—describes this figure's roles. A witness testifies to truth; a leader guides; a commander...
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(4) **I have given him . . .**—Better, *I gave, *the words referring primarily to the historic David (Comp. Psalm 78:70-71), though realised fully only in Him who was the “faithful and true witness” (John 18:37; Revelation 1:5; Revelation 3:14), the “captain” or “leader” of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**17. Judah ... terror unto Egypt--**not by itself: but at this time Hezekiah was the active subordinate ally of Assyria in its invasion of Egypt under Sargon. Similarly to the alliance of Judah with Assyria here is 2Ki 23:29, where Josiah takes the field against Pharaoh-nechoh of Egypt, probably as ally of Assyria against Egypt [G. V. Smith]. Vitringa explains it that Egypt in its calamities woul...
Read full commentary →Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.</strong> This verse describes remarkable reversals: Israel calling unknown nations, and unknown nations running to Israel. "Call" (<em>tiqra</em>, תִקְרָא) suggests summoning, inviting. "Knowest n...
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(5) **Thou shalt call a nation.**—The calling of the Gentiles and the consequent expansion of the true idea of Israel is again dominant. The words sound like an echo from Psalm 18:43.
**Because of the Lord thy God . . .**—The words are repeated, as expressing a thought on which the prophet loved to dwell, in Isaiah 60:9.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**18-22. In that day, &c.--**Suffering shall lead to repentance. Struck with "terror" and "afraid" (Is 19:17) because of Jehovah's judgments, Egypt shall be converted to Him: nay, even Assyria shall join in serving Him; so that Israel, Assyria, and Egypt, once mutual foes, shall be bound together by the tie of a common faith as one people. So a similar issue from other prophecies (Is 18:7; 23:...
Read full commentary →Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:</strong> This urgent exhortation employs temporal qualifiers—"while he may be found" and "while he is near"—suggesting limited opportunity. The verbs "seek" (<em>dirshu</em>, דִּרְשׁוּ) and "call" (<em>qir'uhu</em>, קְרָאֻהוּ) are plural imperatives commanding active pursuit of God. <em>Darash</em> (דָּרַשׁ) means t...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) **While he may be found . . .**—The appeal shows that the promised blessings are not unconditional. There may come a time (as in Matthew 25:11) when “too late will be written on all efforts to gain the inheritance which has been forfeited by neglect (2Corinthians 6:2).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**18-22. In that day, &c.--**Suffering shall lead to repentance. Struck with "terror" and "afraid" (Is 19:17) because of Jehovah's judgments, Egypt shall be converted to Him: nay, even Assyria shall join in serving Him; so that Israel, Assyria, and Egypt, once mutual foes, shall be bound together by the tie of a common faith as one people. So a similar issue from other prophecies (Is 18:7; 23:...
Read full commentary →Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. the unrighteous: Heb. the man of iniquity abundantly: Heb. multiply to pardon
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.</strong> This verse specifies the response required to seeking God (v. 6): repentance. Two parallel commands address external behavior ("forsake his way," <em>ya'azov...darko</em>, יַעֲזֹב...דַּרְכּוֹ) and in...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**18-22. In that day, &c.--**Suffering shall lead to repentance. Struck with "terror" and "afraid" (Is 19:17) because of Jehovah's judgments, Egypt shall be converted to Him: nay, even Assyria shall join in serving Him; so that Israel, Assyria, and Egypt, once mutual foes, shall be bound together by the tie of a common faith as one people. So a similar issue from other prophecies (Is 18:7; 23:...
Read full commentary →For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
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KJV Study Commentary
This verse establishes the infinite qualitative difference between God's thoughts and human thoughts, God's ways and human ways. The negative assertion ('not...your thoughts...not...your ways') creates stark contrast before the explanation in verse 9. 'Thoughts' (machashavah) encompasses plans, intentions, reasoning, and purposes. 'Ways' (derek) refers to paths, methods, conduct, and courses of ac...
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(8) **My thoughts are not your thoughts . . .**—The assertion refers to both the promise and the warning. Men think that the gifts of God can be purchased with money (Acts 8:20). They think that the market in which they are sold is always open, and that they can have them when and how they please (Matthew 25:9-13).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**18-22. In that day, &c.--**Suffering shall lead to repentance. Struck with "terror" and "afraid" (Is 19:17) because of Jehovah's judgments, Egypt shall be converted to Him: nay, even Assyria shall join in serving Him; so that Israel, Assyria, and Egypt, once mutual foes, shall be bound together by the tie of a common faith as one people. So a similar issue from other prophecies (Is 18:7; 23:...
Read full commentary →For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
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KJV Study Commentary
This verse quantifies the qualitative difference stated in verse 8 using a vertical spatial metaphor: as high as heaven exceeds earth, so God's ways exceed ours. Ancient Near Eastern cosmology viewed heaven as unimaginably distant—a gap no human could traverse. Modern astronomy makes this even more staggering: the observable universe spans 93 billion light-years. The infinite distance illustrates ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**18-22. In that day, &c.--**Suffering shall lead to repentance. Struck with "terror" and "afraid" (Is 19:17) because of Jehovah's judgments, Egypt shall be converted to Him: nay, even Assyria shall join in serving Him; so that Israel, Assyria, and Egypt, once mutual foes, shall be bound together by the tie of a common faith as one people. So a similar issue from other prophecies (Is 18:7; 23:...
Read full commentary →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, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
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KJV Study Commentary
This verse introduces a nature-based analogy explaining how God's word accomplishes His purposes. Rain and snow descend from heaven, water the earth, and enable it to 'bring forth and bud'—producing life, growth, and harvest. This natural process provides seed for planting and bread for eating—continuing the cycle. The precipitation doesn't return to heaven void or empty (reyqam) but accomplishes ...
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(10) **For as** **the rain cometh down . . .**—The verse includes well-nigh every element of the parables of agriculture. The “rain” and the “dew” are the gracious influences that prepare the heart; the “seed” is the Divine word, the “sower” is the Servant of the Lord, *i.e., *the Son of Man (Matthew 13:37); the “bread” the fruits of holiness that in their turn sustain the life of others.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**23. highway--**free communication, resting on the highest basis, the common faith of both (Is 19:18; Is 11:16). Assyria and Egypt were joined under Alexander as parts of his empire: Jews and proselytes from both met at the feasts of Jerusalem. A type of gospel times to come.
**serve with--**serve Jehovah with the Assyrians. So "serve" is used absolutely (Job 36:11).
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.
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KJV Study Commentary
This verse applies the rain/snow analogy to God's word. 'So shall my word be'—drawing the parallel between precipitation's reliability and Scripture's efficacy. God's word 'goeth forth out of my mouth'—emphasizing divine origin, authority, and intentionality. The promise: it 'shall not return unto me void' (reyqam—empty, without effect, unsuccessful). Instead, it 'shall accomplish that which I ple...
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(11) **So shall my word be . . .**—The point of the comparison is that the predominance of fertility in the natural world, in spite of partial or apparent failures, is the pledge of a like triumph, in the long run, of the purposes of God for man’s good over man’s resistance. It does not exclude the partial, or even total, failure of many; it asserts that the saved are more than the lost. Comp. Isa...
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**24. third--**The three shall be joined as one nation.
**blessing--**the source of blessings to other nations, and the object of their benedictions.
**in the midst of the land--**rather, "earth" (Mi 5:7). Judah is designed to be the grand center of the whole earth (Jr 3:17).
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 field shall clap their hands.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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 field shall clap their hands.</strong> This verse describes the exodus from Babylon as joyful procession, contrasting with Egypt's hurried flight. "Go out" (<em>tetse'u</em>, תֵצֵאוּ) references exodus language. "With joy" (<em>besimchah...
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(12) **The mountains and the hills . . .**—Cheyne aptly compares—
“Ipsi lætitia voces ad sidera jactant
Intonsi montes.” VIRG., Æ*clog.*
(The very hills, no more despoiled of trees,
Shall to the stars break forth in minstrelsies.)
The waving of the branches of the trees is, in the poet’s thoughts, what the clapping of hands is with men, a sign of jubilant exultation (Psalm 96:12).
Ellicott's Com...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**25. Whom--**rather, "Which," namely, "the land," or "earth," that is, the people of it [Maurer].
**my people--**the peculiar designation of Israel, the elect people, here applied to Egypt to express its entire admission to religious privileges (Ro 9:24-26; 1Pe 2:9, 10).
**work of my hands--**spiritually (Ho 2:23; Ep 2:10).
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 the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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 the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.</strong> This verse promises reversal of the curse. Thorns (<em>na'atsuts</em>, נַעֲצוּץ) and briers (<em>sirpad</em>, סִרְפַּד) recall Genesis 3:18's curse on the ground. Fir tree (<em>berosh</em...
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