God’s Word Translation
Isaiah 55:9
9“Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
- New International Version (NIV)“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Context of Isaiah 55:9
7Let wicked people abandon their ways. Let evil people abandon their thoughts. Let them return to the Lord, and he will show compassion to them. Let them return to our God, because he will freely forgive them. 8“My thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways,” declares the Lord. “Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.” 10“Rain and snow come down from the sky. They do not go back again until they water the earth. They make it sprout and grow so that it produces seed for farmers and food for people to eat. 11My word, which comes from my mouth, is like the rain and snow. It will not come back to me without results. It will accomplish whatever I want and achieve whatever I send it to do.”
Read all of Isaiah 55Isaiah 55:9 word by word
כִּֽי־גָבְה֥וּ שָׁמַ֖יִם מֵאָ֑רֶץ כֵּ֣ן גָּבְה֤וּ דְרָכַי֙ מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֔ם וּמַחְשְׁבֹתַ֖י מִמַּחְשְׁבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 55:9
- Psalms 36:5O Lord, your mercy reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
- Psalms 77:19Your road went through the sea. Your path went through raging water, but your footprints could not be seen.
- Psalms 89:2I said, “Your mercy will last forever. Your faithfulness stands firm in the heavens.”
- Psalms 103:11As high as the heavens are above the earth— that is how vast his mercy is toward those who fear him.
- Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from wise and intelligent people and revealing them to little children.
- Romans 11:31In the same way, the Jewish people have also disobeyed so that God may be merciful to them as he was to you.
Commentaries on Isaiah 55:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9For as the heavens are higher - I am persuaded that כ caph, the particle of comparison, is lost in this place, from the likeness of the particle כי ki, immediately preceding it. So Houbigant and Secker. And their remark is confirmed by all the ancient Versions, which express it; and by the following passage of Psalm 103:11, which is almost the same: - הארץ על שמים כגבה כי haarets al shamayim chigboah ki יראיו על חסדו גבר yereaiv al chasdo gabar "For as…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-13Verses 6-13 Here is a gracious offer of pardon, and peace, and of all happiness. It shall not be in vain to seek God, now his word is calling to us, and his Spirit is striving with us. But there is a day coming when he will not be found. There may come such a time in this life; it is certain that at death and judgment the door will be shut. There must be not only a change of the way, but a change of the mind. We must alter our judgments about persons and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9My thoughts are not your thoughts: God's plans are wonderful (Psalm 92:5; compare Psalm 94:11). God's creations, including humans, cannot fully understand the Creator's thoughts. However, his messengers reveal insights and knowledge about some of his actions.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. (Psa 57:10; 89:2; 103:11). "For" is repeated from Is 55:8. But Maurer, after the negation, translates, "but."Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 55:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 55
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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