New International Version
Isaiah 55:10
10As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
Isaiah 55:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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:
- English Standard Version (ESV)"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
- New King James Version (NKJV)“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,
- New Living Translation (NLT)“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.
Context of Isaiah 55:10
8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 12You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Read all of Isaiah 55Isaiah 55:10 word by word
כִּ֡י כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר יֵרֵד֩ הַגֶּ֨שֶׁם וְהַשֶּׁ֜לֶג מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם וְשָׁ֙מָּה֙ לֹ֣א יָשׁ֔וּב כִּ֚י אִם־הִרְוָ֣ה אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהוֹלִידָ֖הּ וְהִצְמִיחָ֑הּ וְנָ֤תַן זֶ֙רַע֙ לַזֹּרֵ֔עַ וְלֶ֖חֶם לָאֹכֵֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For as the rainגֶּ֫שֶׁםgeshem · rainH1653
- cometh downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- and the snowשֶׁ֫לֶגsheleg · snowH7950
- from heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- and returnethשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- not thither, but waterethרָוָהrâvâh · to quenchH7301
- the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- and maketh it bring forthיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
- and budצָמַחtsâmach · to springH6779
- that it may giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- seedזֶ֫רַעzera‛ · seedH2233
- to the sowerזָרַעzâra‛ · to sowH2232
- and breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
- to the eaterאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
Cross-references for Isaiah 55:10
- Isaiah 5:6I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it.”
- Isaiah 30:23He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.
- Isaiah 61:11For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.
- Deuteronomy 32:2Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
- 1 Samuel 23:4Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.”
- Psalms 65:9You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.
- Psalms 72:6May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.
- Ezekiel 34:26I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.
- Hosea 10:12Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.
- Revelation 11:6They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
- 2 Corinthians 9:9As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”
Commentaries on Isaiah 55:10
- 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. 10-11The Creator sends rain, snow, and his word (Hebrew dabar). Here, dabar means his will or plan (see Isaiah 14:24; 40:8). God's written word expresses his plan and achieves his goals. God is successful in all his actions (see Isaiah 14:26–27; 46:10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. The hearts of men, once barren of spirituality, shall be made, by the outpouring of the Spirit under Messiah, to bear fruits of righteousness (Is 5:6; De 32:2; 2Sa 23:4; Psa 72:6). snow--which covers plants from frost in winter; and, when melted in spring, waters the earth. returneth not--void; as in Is 55:11; it returns not in the same shape, or without "accomplishing" the desired end. bud--germinate.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 55:10
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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries