Isaiah55
English Standard Version
1 , who , to the ; and he has , , and ! , and and without .
2 do you your for that which is , and your for that which does ? to me, and what is , and in .
3 your , and to me; , that your may ; and I will with you an , my , sure for .
4 , I him a to the , a and for the .
5 , you shall a that you do , and a that did you shall to you, of the Lord your , and of the of , he has you.
6 the Lord while he may be ; upon him while he is ;
7let the his , and the his ; let him to the Lord, that he may have on him, and to our , he will .
8 my are your , are your my , the Lord.
9 as the are the , are my your and my your .
10 the and the and do but the , making it and , to the and to the ,
11 shall my be goes my ; it shall to me , but it shall that I , and shall in the thing for I it.
12For you shall in and be in ; the and the you shall into , and the of the shall their .
13 of the shall the ; of the shall the ; and it shall make a for the Lord, an that shall be .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 55.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: An invitation to receive freely the blessings of the Saviour. (1-5). Gracious offers of pardon and peace. (6-13).
vv1-5
All are welcome to the blessings of salvation, to whom those blessings are welcome. In Christ there is enough for all, and enough for each. Those satisfied with the world, that see no need of Christ, do not thirst. They are in no uneasiness about their souls: but where God gives grace, he gives a thirst after it; and where he has given a thirst after it, he will give it. Come to Christ, for he is the Fountain opened, he is the Rock smitten. Come to holy ordinances, to the streams that make glad the city of our God. Come to the healing waters, come to the living waters, Rev. 22:17. Our Saviour referred to this, John 7:37. Come, and buy; make it your own by application of the grace of the gospel to yourselves. Come, and eat; make it still more your own, and enjoy it. The world comes short of our expectations; we promise ourselves, at least, water in it, and we are disappointed; but Christ outdoes our expectations. We come to him, and we find wine and milk. The gifts offered to us are such as no price can be set upon. The things offered are already paid for; for Christ purchased them at the full price of his own blood, I Pet. 1:19. Our wants are beyond number, and we have nothing to supply them; if Christ and heaven are ours, we see ourselves for ever indebted to free grace. Hearken diligently; let the proud heart stoop; not only come, but accept God's offers. All the wealth and pleasure in the world, will not yield solid comfort and content to the soul. They do not satisfy even the appetites of the body; for all is vanity and vexation. Let the disappointments we meet with in the world, help to drive us to Christ, and to seek for satisfaction in him only. Then, and not before, we shall find rest for our souls. Hear, and your soul shall live. On what easy terms is happiness offered us! By the sure mercies of David, we are to understand the Messiah. All his mercies are covenant mercies; they are purchased by him, they are promised in him, and out of his hand they are dispensed to us. We know not how to find the way to the waters, but Christ is given to be a Leader, a Commander, to show us what to do, and enable us to do it. Our business is to obey him, and follow him. And there is no coming to the Father but by him. He is the Holy One of Israel, true to his promises; and he has promised to glorify Christ, by giving him the heathen for his inheritance.
vv6-13
Here is a gracious offer of pardon, and peace, and of all happiness. It shall not be in vain to seek God, now his word is calling to us, and his Spirit is striving with us. But there is a day coming when he will not be found. There may come such a time in this life; it is certain that at death and judgment the door will be shut. There must be not only a change of the way, but a change of the mind. We must alter our judgments about persons and things. It is not enough to break off from evil practices, we must strive against evil thoughts. To repent is to return to our Lord, against whom we have rebelled. If we do so, God will multiply to pardon, as we have multiplied to offend. But let none trifle with this plenteous mercy, or use it as an occasion to sin. Men's thoughts concerning sin, Christ, and holiness, concerning this world and the other, vastly differ from God's; but in nothing more than in the matter of pardon. We forgive, and cannot forget; but when God forgives sin, he remembers it no more. The power of his word in the kingdoms of providence and grace, is as certain as in that of nature. Sacred truth produces a spiritual change in the mind of men, which neither rain nor snow can make on the earth. It shall not return to the Lord without producing important effects. If we take a special view of the church, we shall find what great things God has done, and will do for it. The Jews shall come to their own land; this shall represent the blessings promised. Gospel grace will make a great change in men. Delivered from the wrath to come, the converted sinner finds peace in his conscience; and love constrains him to devote himself to the service of his Redeemer. Instead of being profane, contentious, selfish, or sensual, behold him patient, humble, kind, and peaceable. The hope of helping in such a work should urge us to spread the gospel of salvation. And do thou help us, O Spirit of all truth, to have such views of the fulness, freeness, and greatness of the rich mercy in Christ, as may remove from us all narrow views of sovereign grace.
Key Words
הוֹי: oh!
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
צָמֵא: thirsty (literally or figuratively)
יָלַךְ: to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
מַיִם: water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
אַיִן: a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle
כֶּסֶף: silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
שָׁבַר: to deal in grain
אָכַל: to eat (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Isaiah 55Explicitly quotes the Greek translation of 'the sure mercies of David' in reference to Christ's resurrection.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jesus directly echoes the invitation to the thirsty to come and drink of living waters.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Jesus defines His mission as bearing witness to the truth, fulfilling His designation as a witness.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The final gospel invitation echoing the call to take the water of life freely without cost.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Christ counsels spiritual bankrupts to 'buy' true riches from Him without physical money.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
David's final words regarding God's ordered, sure, and everlasting covenant with his lineage.
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Christ is explicitly titled 'the faithful witness,' matching the prophetic description in Isaiah.
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Illuminates the metaphorical use of 'buying' spiritual truth and grace rather than physical goods.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the vanity of laboring and exhausting oneself for that which does not satisfy.
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Echoes the promise of nations running to Israel because the Lord has glorified His people.
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Exhorts godly seeking of the Lord in a time when He may be found.
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Wisdom's invitation to eat of her bread and drink of her mingled wine.
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Prophesies the Lord's mountain feast containing refined, rich food and well-aged wines.
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God promises to make an everlasting covenant, assuring He will not turn away from them.
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