Kingdom of God

Isaiah 55:1-13

Isaiah · ~700 BC · Status: Future · Confidence: 60%
“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.”
King James Version · the opening — all 13 verses are below
More of Isaiah 55 on this siteIsaiah 55:3

The messianic banquet offered freely to all who hunger and thirst, fulfilled in Christ's open invitation and the gospel's free offer.

Read the whole passage — all 13 verses (KJV)

55:1Ho, 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.

55:2Wherefore 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.

55:3Incline 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.

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

55:5Behold, 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.

55:6Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

55:7Let 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.

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

55:9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

55:10For 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:

55:11So 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.

55:12For 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.

55:13Instead 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.

Fulfillment References

John 7:37 Revelation 22:17 Acts 13:34

How Traditions Read This Prophecy

Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal'Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.' God's free invitation to the thirsty is fulfilled in the Lord Jesus, who cries 'If any man thirst, let him come unto me' (John 7:37) and gives the water of life freely (Rev. 22:17). The everlasting covenant, the 'sure mercies of David' (v. 3), is secured in Christ (Acts 13:34). The God who calls and the Christ who satisfies are one.
JewishA gracious call to return to God, with the promise of an everlasting (Davidic) covenant and the sure restoration of Israel; God's word that accomplishes its purpose.
CatholicThe free offer of grace and the water of life, fulfilled in Christ and the sacraments; the everlasting covenant in Him (cf. the Catechism).
ProtestantThe gospel invitation — salvation without price — fulfilled in Christ; the 'sure mercies of David' applied to Jesus (Acts 13:34).
AcademicA climactic Deutero-Isaiah oracle; the 'sure mercies of David' democratizes the Davidic covenant to the people, a shift the NT reads christologically.
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Audio narration (listen to this prophecy read aloud), cross-references, Hebrew/Greek, Dead Sea Scrolls notes, a prophetic timeline, network maps, study tools and multi-tradition analysis in the interactive explorer.
Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, D.Min. · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.