Bible/Isaiah/55

Isaiah 55:3

55:2 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
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.

KJV

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Turn your ear, and come to me. Hear, and your soul will live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

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.

Incline your ear, and come to me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

55:4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

What does Isaiah 55:3 mean?

Isaiah 55:3 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include נָטָה (nâṭâh), אֹזֶן (ʼôzen), יָלַךְ (yâlak). It connects to 10 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Inclineנָטָהnâṭâh/naw-taw'/H5186to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application
your
ear,אֹזֶןʼôzen/o'-zen/H241broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
and
comeיָלַךְyâlak/yaw-lak'/H3212to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
unto
me:
hear,שָׁמַעshâmaʻ/shaw-mah'/H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
and
your
soulנֶפֶשׁnephesh/neh'-fesh/H5315properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
shall
live;חָיָהchâyâh/khaw-yaw'/H2421to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
and
I
will
makeכָּרַתkârath/kaw-rath'/H3772to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces)
an
everlastingעוֹלָםʻôwlâm/o-lawm'/H5769properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always
covenantבְּרִיתbᵉrîyth/ber-eeth'/H1285a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
with
you,
even
the
sureאָמַןʼâman/aw-man'/H539properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain;
merciesחֵסֵדchêçêd/kheh'-sed/H2617kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
of
David.דָּוִדDâvid/daw-veed'/H1732David, the youngest son of Jesse

Commentary on Isaiah 55:3

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 55:2–3
an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. Solomon here shows how much it becomes a man, 1. To speak pertinently: A word upon the wheels, that runs well, is well-circumstanced, in proper time and place—instruction, advice, or comfort, given seasonably, and in apt expressions, adapted to the case of the person spoken to and agreeing with the character of the person speaking— is like golden balls resembling apples, or like true apples of a golden colour (golden rennets), or perhaps gilded, as sometimes we have gilded laurels, and those embossed in pictures of silver, or rather brought to table in a silver network basket, or in a silver box of that which we call filigree —work, through which the golden apples might be seen. Doubtless in was some ornament of the table, then well known. As that was very pleasing to the eye, so is a word fitly spoken to the ear. 2. Especially to give a reproof with discretion, and so as to make it acceptable. If it be well given, by a wise reprover, and well taken, by an obedient ear, it is an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, very graceful and well becoming both the reprover and the reproved; both will have their praise, the reprover for giving it so prudently and the reproved for taking it so patiently and making a good use of it. Others will commend them both, and they will have satisfaction in each other; he who gave the reproof is pleased that it had the desired effect, and he to whom it was given has reason to be thankful for it as a kindness. That is well given, we say, that is well taken; yet it does not always prove that that is well taken which is well given. It were to be wished that a wise reprover should always meet with an obedient ear, but often it is not so. 13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. See here, 1. What ought to be the care of a servant, the meanest that is s

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1 Kings 22:11

And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.

Isaiah 20:6

And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape? isle: or, country

Luke 14:11

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 18:10

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

2 Corinthians 11:13

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:31

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

2 Peter 2:15

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Jude 1:12

These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Jude 1:13

Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

Jude 1:16

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

Topics

Access to GodMercy of God, theQuotations and AllusionsRegeneration

People & places in this verse

People

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 55:3.

Jeremiah 35:15

I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.

Jeremiah 38:20

But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.

Jeremiah 36:13

Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.

Jeremiah 36:14

Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them.

Jeremiah 37:9

Thus saith the LORD; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart. yourselves: Heb. your souls

Jeremiah 38:17

Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:

Jeremiah 44:7

Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain; out: Heb. out of the midst of Judah

Jeremiah 45:5

And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 55:3 say?

Isaiah 55:3 (King James Version) reads: "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."

Is Isaiah 55:3 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 55:3 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 55:3, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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