Bible/Isaiah/55

Isaiah 55:8

55:7 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. the unrighteous: Heb. the man of iniquity abundantly: Heb. multiply to pardon
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

KJV

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“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says Yahweh.

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

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

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.

What does Isaiah 55:8 mean?

Isaiah 55:8 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include מַחֲשָׁבָה (machăshâbâh), דֶּרֶךְ (derek), נְאֻם (nᵉʼum). It connects to 7 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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For
my
thoughtsמַחֲשָׁבָהmachăshâbâh/makh-ash-aw-baw'/H4284a contrivance, i.e. (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice)
are
not
your
thoughts,מַחֲשָׁבָהmachăshâbâh/makh-ash-aw-baw'/H4284a contrivance, i.e. (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice)
neither
are
your
waysדֶּרֶךְderek/deh'-rek/H1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
my
ways,דֶּרֶךְderek/deh'-rek/H1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
saithנְאֻםnᵉʼum/neh-oom'/H5002an oracle
the
LORD.יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God

Commentary on Isaiah 55:8

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 55:8
surfeiting ourselves, this for fear of surfeiting our neighbour. 1. It is a piece of civility to visit our neighbours sometimes, to show our respect to them and concern for them, and to cultivate and improve mutual acquaintance and love, and that we may have both the satisfaction and advantage of their conversation. 2. It is wisdom, as well as good manners, not to be troublesome to our friends in our visiting them, not to visit too often, nor stay too long, nor contrive to come at meal-time, nor make ourselves busy in the affairs of their families; hereby we make ourselves cheap, mean, and burdensome. Thy neighbour, who is thus plagued and haunted with thy visits, will be weary of thee and hate thee, and that will be the destruction of friendship which should have been the improvement of it. Post tres sæpe dies piscis vilescit et hospes—After the third day fish and company become distasteful. Familiarity breeds contempt. Nulli te facias nimis sodalem—Be not too intimate with any. He that sponges upon his friend loses him. How much better a friend then is God than any other friend; for we need not withdraw our foot from his house, the throne of his grace ( ch. viii. 34 ); the oftener we come to him the better and the more welcome. 18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. Here, 1. The sin condemned is bearing false witness against our neighbour, either in judgment or

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

2 Chronicles 28:20

And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.

2 Chronicles 28:21

For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.

Job 6:14

To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. is afflicted: Heb. melteth

Isaiah 30:1

Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

Ezekiel 29:6

And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.

Ezekiel 29:7

When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand.

2 Timothy 4:16

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 55:8.

Genesis 6:5

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. every: or, the whole imagination: the Hebrew word signifieth not only the imagination, but also the purposes and desires continually: Heb. every day

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 55:8 say?

Isaiah 55:8 (King James Version) reads: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD."

Is Isaiah 55:8 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 55:8 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 55:8, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Isaiah 55:8
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