Major Prophets · Chapter 55 of 66

Isaiah 55

God calls the thirsty and penniless to come, buy, and eat without money, and to stop spending on what cannot satisfy. He offers an everlasting covenant, the sure mercies of David. He urges seeking the Lord while he may be found, promising abundant pardon to those who return. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours; his word, like rain, will not return empty but accomplishes his purpose, sending his people out with joy.

What happens in Isaiah 55

God issues an open invitation to everyone who thirsts: come to the waters, and even those with no money, come, buy, and eat wine and milk without price. Why, he asks, spend money and labor on what does not satisfy? He calls them to listen and eat what is good, to incline their ear and come, so their soul may live, and he offers an everlasting covenant, the sure mercies promised to David. He urges them to seek the Lord while he may be found and to call on him while he is near, and he promises that if the wicked forsake his way and returns to the Lord, God will have mercy and abundantly pardon.

God reminds them that his thoughts and ways are far higher than theirs, as the heavens are higher than the earth. Just as rain and snow water the earth and do not return empty, so his word will accomplish what he pleases. His people will go out with joy and peace, and creation itself will sing.

Isaiah 55 in context

Isaiah 55 closes the section of comfort addressed to exiles, extending God's invitation of salvation freely to all who will come. It follows the suffering servant of chapter fifty-three, so its offer of free pardon rests on the atonement just described.

The chapter's imagery of thirst, bread, water, and an effective word runs throughout Scripture and anticipates Jesus' offers of living water and bread of life.

Main themes of Isaiah 55

Come without moneyGod's invitation overturns every economy of merit: come, buy, and eat without money and without price. The deepest needs of the soul cannot be purchased, only received. He asks why we spend ourselves on what never satisfies, and offers freely the water and bread that truly give life.

Seek the Lord while he is nearThere is an urgency to grace. God urges people to seek him while he may be found and to call while he is near, and he promises abundant pardon to the wicked who forsakes his way and returns. The door of mercy stands open now, and the invitation is to come while it is open.

God's word does not return emptyGod's thoughts and ways tower above ours like the heavens above the earth. Yet his word is not distant or idle; like rain and snow that water the earth, it accomplishes exactly what he sends it to do. His promises are effective, certain to bear the fruit he intends.

This is prophecy, God's word to a people who had wandered, full of warning and astonishing hope. As you read, hear both His grief over sin and His promise to restore.

Isaiah 55 (KJV)

1Ho, 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. 2Wherefore 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. 3Incline 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. 4Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5Behold, 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. 6Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7Let 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. 8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10For 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: 11So 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. 12For 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. 13Instead 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.

Verses to carry from Isaiah 55

“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.”Isaiah 55:1

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”Isaiah 55:8

“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.”Isaiah 55:11

Thematic connection

How Isaiah 55 points to Jesus

The free invitation of this chapter finds its fullest voice in Jesus. He stood and cried that anyone who thirsts should come to him and drink, and offered the water of life without price, echoing Isaiah's call to everyone who thirsts. The everlasting covenant and the sure mercies of David are secured in Christ, David's greater Son; the apostles later applied the sure mercies of David to his resurrection.

The word that goes out and does not return empty is embodied in the Word made flesh, who accomplishes all the Father sends him to do. And the pardon so freely promised here rests on the servant of the previous chapter, wounded for our transgressions. In Christ, the thirsty come, buy without money, and live.

Questions about Isaiah 55

What does Isaiah 55 mean by buying without money?

God invites the thirsty and the penniless to come, buy, and eat without money and without price. He means that salvation and soul-satisfaction cannot be earned or purchased; they can only be received as a free gift. He also asks why people spend their money and effort on things that never satisfy, urging them to receive what truly gives life instead.

What does it mean that God's ways are higher than our ways?

Isaiah records God saying his thoughts and ways are higher than ours as the heavens are higher than the earth. It means God's wisdom, purposes, and mercy exceed our understanding. In context it is comfort, not distance: God's readiness to pardon abundantly is greater than we would expect, higher and more generous than human thinking.

Reflection

Isaiah asks a piercing question: why spend your money and labor on what does not satisfy? Name what you have been chasing that leaves you empty. Then hear the invitation to come, thirsty and empty-handed, and receive freely what God alone can give. Seek him while he is near; his pardon is more abundant than you imagine.

A prayer from Isaiah 55

Lord, I have spent myself on things that never satisfy. Thank you for inviting me to come thirsty and without money to receive what only you can give. Let your word do its work in me, and send me out in joy and peace. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Continue the thread← Isaiah 54 Isaiah 56 →All of Isaiah Who is Jesus?The Kingdom of God Begin with Jesus

← Isaiah 54 Isaiah 56 →

Read the whole Bible with the family

Open it in the app, study it live with someone, and let it lead you to Christ.

Open the Bible Read it together See what God is doing

When you need a wordVerses for encouragement Verses for gratitude Verses for healing All of Isaiah