New Living Translation
Isaiah 55:1
1“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free!
Isaiah 55:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.
Context of Isaiah 55:1
“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! 2Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. 3“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
Read all of Isaiah 55Isaiah 55:1 word by word
ה֤וֹי כָּל־צָמֵא֙ לְכ֣וּ לַמַּ֔יִם וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵֽין־ל֖וֹ כָּ֑סֶף לְכ֤וּ שִׁבְרוּ֙ וֶֽאֱכֹ֔לוּ וּלְכ֣וּ שִׁבְר֗וּ בְּלוֹא־כֶ֛סֶף וּבְל֥וֹא מְחִ֖יר יַ֥יִן וְחָלָֽב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Hoהוֹיhôy · woe!H1945
- every one that thirstethצָמֵאtsâmê' · thirstyH6771
- comeיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- ye to the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
- and he that hath no moneyכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701
- ye, buyשָׁבַרshâbar · to buy grainH7666
- and eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- wineיַ֫יִןyayin · wineH3196
- and milkחָלָבchâlâb · milkH2461
- and without priceמְחִירmechîyr · priceH4242
Cross-references for Isaiah 55:1
- Hosea 4:1Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel! The Lord has brought charges against you, saying: “There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land.
- Proverbs 1:21She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate:
- Proverbs 8:4“I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people.
- Zechariah 2:6The Lord says, “Come away! Flee from Babylon in the land of the north, for I have scattered you to the four winds.
- Isaiah 41:17“When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the Lord, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.
- Psalms 42:1As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.
- Psalms 63:1O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.
- Psalms 143:6I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Interlude
- John 4:10Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
- John 7:37On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!
- Revelation 21:6And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.
- Revelation 22:1Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
- Matthew 13:44“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.
- Revelation 3:18So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.
- Zechariah 9:15The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will protect his people, and they will defeat their enemies by hurling great stones. They will shout in battle as though drunk with wine. They will be filled with blood like a bowl, drenched with blood like the corners of the altar.
- Zechariah 10:7The people of Israel will become like mighty warriors, and their hearts will be made happy as if by wine. Their children, too, will see it and be glad; their hearts will rejoice in the Lord.
Commentaries on Isaiah 55:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Ho, every one that thirsteth - "Water," says Zimchi, "is a metaphor for the law and wisdom: as the world cannot subsist without water, so it is impossible that it can subsist without wisdom. The law is also compared to wine and milk: to wine because wine rejoiceth the heart, as it is written: 'The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart,' Psalm 19:8. It is compared also to milk, because milk is the subsistence of the child; so are the words of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Ho - (הוי hôy ). This word here is designed to call attention to the subject as one of importance. Every one that thirsteth - The word thirst‘ often indicates intense desire, and is thus applied to the sense of want which sinners often have, and to their anxious wishes for salvation. It is not improbable that the Savior had this passage in his eye when he pronounced the blessing on those who hunger and thirst after righteousness Matthew 5:6. No needs are…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1An invitation to receive freely the blessings of the Saviour. (Is. 55:1-5) Gracious offers of pardon and peace. (Is. 55:6-13) Verses 1-5 All are welcome to the blessings of salvation, to whom those blessings are welcome. In Christ there is enough for all, and enough for each. Those satisfied with the world, that see no need of Christ, do not thirst. They are in no uneasiness about their souls: but where God gives grace, he gives a thirst after it; and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1thirsty … wine and milk: The invitation to eat and drink is like Wisdom’s call in Proverbs 9:5. This image promises to quench thirst not only with water but also with more expensive items like wine and milk. John applied a similar theme to Jesus Christ (John 4:14; 6:27, 35; 7:37; Revelation 21:6; 22:17). without cost: Reconciliation with God is for anyone and has no cost.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-131. every one--After the special privileges of Israel (Is 54:1-17) there follow, as the consequence, the universal invitation to the Gentiles (Lu 24:47; Ro 11:12, 15). Ho--calls the most earnest attention. thirsteth--has a keen sense of need (Mt 5:6). waters ... wine and milk--a gradation. Not merely water, which is needed to maintain life at all, but wine and milk to strengthen, cheer, and nourish; the spiritual blessings of the Gospel are meant (Is 25:6…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 55:1
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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