Isaiah 55:10

55:9 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:

KJV

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For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and doesn’t return there, but waters the earth, and makes it grow and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

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:

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not thither, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

55:11 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.

What does Isaiah 55:10 mean?

Isaiah 55:10 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include גֶּשֶׁם (geshem), יָרַד (yârad), שֶׁלֶג (sheleg). It connects to 7 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

For

the

rainגֶּשֶׁםgeshem/gheh'-shem/H1653a shower

cometh

down,יָרַדyârad/yaw-rad'/H3381to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications)

and

the

snowשֶׁלֶגsheleg/sheh'-leg/H7950snow (probably from its whiteness)

from

heaven,שָׁמַיִםshâmayim/shaw-mah'-yim/H8064the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve)

and

returnethשׁוּבshûwb/shoob/H7725to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again

not

thither,

but

waterethרָוָהrâvâh/raw-vaw'/H7301to slake the thirst (occasionally of other appetites)

the

earth,אֶרֶץʼerets/eh'-rets/H776the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

and

maketh

bring

forthיָלַדyâlad/yaw-lad'/H3205to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage

and

bud,צָמַחtsâmach/tsaw-makh'/H6779to sprout (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative)

that

may

giveנָתַןnâthan/naw-than'/H5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

seedזֶרַעzeraʻ/zeh'-rah/H2233seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

the

sower,זָרַעzâraʻ/zaw-rah'/H2232to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify

and

breadלֶחֶםlechem/lekh'-em/H3899food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)

the

eater:אָכַלʼâkal/aw-kal'/H398to eat (literally or figuratively)

Commentary on Isaiah 55:10

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 55:10

n tooth; his policy, his power, his interest, all that which he trusted in to support him in his wickedness, will fail him in time of trouble, Ps. lii. 7 . 2. Confidence in an unfaithful man (so we read it), in a man whom we thought trusty and therefore depended on, but who proves otherwise; it proves not only unserviceable, but painful and vexatious, like a broken tooth, or a foot out of joint, which, when we put any stress upon it, not only fails us, but makes us feel from it, especially in time of trouble, when we most expect help from it; it is like a broken reed, Isa. xxxvi. 6 . Confidence in a faithful God, in time of trouble, will not prove thus; on him we may rest and in him dwell at ease. 20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. 1. The absurdity here censured is

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 23:4

If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.

Exodus 23:5

If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him. and: or, wilt thou cease to help him? or, and wouldest cease to leave thy business for him: thou shalt surely leave it to join with him

Isaiah 24:17

Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.

Matthew 5:44

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Luke 10:33

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

Romans 12:20

Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Romans 12:21

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Topics

Rain Seed

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 55:10.

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Genesis 1:15

And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

Genesis 1:17

And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

Genesis 1:20

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. moving: or, creeping life: Heb. soul fowl: Heb. let fowl fly open: Heb. face of the firmament of heaven

Genesis 1:26

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 1:28

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. moveth: Heb. creepeth

Genesis 1:30

And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. life: Heb. a living soul

Genesis 2:1

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 55:10 say?

Isaiah 55:10 (King James Version) reads: "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:"

Is Isaiah 55:10 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 55:10 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 55:10, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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