BOOK 23 OF 66 · MAJOR PROPHETS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Isaiah 55

Isaiah book home•Chapter 55 of 66•13 verses

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Isaiah 55 Overview

The LORD freely invites the thirsty to water, wine, and milk without money, calls the wicked to forsake his way and receive abundant pardon, declares His thoughts higher than ours, and compares His effective word to rain that never returns empty.

IsaiahBook

55Chapter

13Verses

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Before you read Isaiah 55

Coming from

After the Servant’s saving work, barren Zion is told to sing and enlarge her tent; the LORD describes Himself as her Husband and Redeemer, promises enduring covenant peace, and pictures a beautifully rebuilt city whose children are taught by Him.

In this chapter

Leads into

Isaiah calls for justice in light of coming salvation, welcomes faithful foreigners and eunuchs into God’s house of prayer, then sharply condemns Israel’s blind watchmen and self-indulgent shepherds.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The invitation follows the Servant’s atoning work and Zion’s restoration. Grace is presented as freely offered, yet the hearer is also summoned to seek, return, and listen.

The interpretive center of Isaiah 55 is the chapter’s own movement: god’s provision is offered without purchase. Read its poetry, signs, historical references, and later biblical connections from that center rather than treating isolated phrases as detached slogans.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

God’s provision is offered without purchase

The thirsty and needy are invited to receive what they cannot buy.

God abundantly pardons those who return to Him

His mercy exceeds narrow human expectations.

God’s word accomplishes His purpose

Like rain producing seed and bread, divine speech does not fail in the mission for which He sends it.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

John 7:37-38

Jesus invites the thirsty to come to Him and drink, drawing on prophetic water-of-life imagery.

Revelation 22:17

The final Bible invitation offers the water of life freely to the thirsty.

Acts 13:34

Paul cites Isaiah 55:3 concerning the sure mercies of David in connection with Christ’s resurrection.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not turn 'my thoughts are not your thoughts' into a ban on careful Bible study.

In context it magnifies God’s generous mercy and sovereign ways above sinful human reasoning.

Do not make seeking or turning a work that earns eternal life.

The chapter stresses free provision and abundant pardon from God.

Read Isaiah 55 watching for…

buying without money

the sure mercies of David

seeking the LORD while He may be found

higher thoughts and ways

rain-like effectiveness of God’s word

Chapter outline2 sections

1-5Everyone who thirsts is invited to come freely and receive God’s sure mercies 6-13Seek the LORD while he may be found; his thoughts are higher and his word accomplishes his purpose

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

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.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

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

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:

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.

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.

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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Isaiah 55:1

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