New International Version
Isaiah 55:9
9“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts 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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Context of Isaiah 55:9
7Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 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, 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.
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 36:5Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
- Psalms 77:19Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.
- Psalms 89:2I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
- Psalms 103:11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
- Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
- Romans 11:31so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy 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
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