Isaiah 55 1

Isaiah 55:1 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.

Isaiah 55:1 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.

Isaiah 55:1 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.

Isaiah 55:1 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.

Isaiah 55:1 nlt

"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 verses

Isaiah 55 1 meaning

Isaiah 55:1 is a universal and urgent invitation from God to all who are spiritually parched and seeking fulfillment. It proclaims that true sustenance and joy—represented by water, wine, and milk—are freely available, not purchased with earthly wealth or human effort, but received through God's abundant grace. It underscores that God alone satisfies the deepest longings of the human heart, offering spiritual life without any financial or merit-based cost.

Isaiah 55 1 Context

Isaiah chapter 55 serves as a profound and comforting invitation that climaxes the "Book of Comfort" (chapters 40-55), also known as Second Isaiah. Following chapters filled with promises of restoration, God's sovereignty over nations, and the suffering servant, chapter 55 broadens the scope of God's redemption from the physical return of exiles from Babylon to a universal spiritual renewal. The immediate historical context is the Babylonian exile, where the people of Israel were despairing. God's message through Isaiah here is not merely for their physical liberation but a profound spiritual call, promising satisfaction beyond their previous covenantal experience. The verse contrasts the temporary and unsatisfying "bread and labor" (v. 2) that fails to quench the soul's deep thirst with God's everlasting provision. This chapter directly links to God's eternal covenant and the promise of a Messianic King (Davidic covenant) as a "witness to the peoples."

Isaiah 55 1 Word analysis

• Ho! (Hebrew: Hoy!): This is not just an exclamation but an attention-grabbing prophetic cry, often used to announce a prophetic utterance, judgment, or, as here, a fervent invitation. It signals urgency and a matter of supreme importance about to be declared. It aims to draw immediate and serious attention.
• Everyone who thirsts: This extends the invitation universally. Spiritually, "thirst" refers to the deep, innate longing, dissatisfaction, or spiritual emptiness within the human soul that yearns for something beyond what the world offers. It's a fundamental human condition of spiritual need and yearning for ultimate meaning and purpose, acknowledging that human beings are created with a "God-shaped void." This includes not just the physically thirsty but the morally and spiritually parched.
• come to the waters: "Waters" (Hebrew: mayim) are universally symbolic of life, cleansing, refreshment, and sustenance. In the arid ancient Near East, water was paramount for survival. Spiritually, "waters" represent God's life-giving presence, salvation, wisdom, Holy Spirit, and the word of God. The call to "come" signifies a voluntary act of turning towards God.
• And you who have no money, come: This phrase immediately establishes the gratuitous nature of God's offer. "No money" (Hebrew: ein kesef) highlights that divine blessings are not earned, bought, or merited by human resources, status, or religious rituals. It debunks any reliance on personal ability, wealth, or perceived goodness. It serves as a direct polemic against the idea that spiritual favor can be bought or is reserved only for the wealthy or privileged.
• buy and eat: This creates a deliberate paradox. One cannot "buy" without money. The act of "buying" here refers to receiving and appropriating God's gift, like entering into a transaction. To "eat" signifies internalizing, partaking, and drawing life from the spiritual provision, experiencing the satisfaction. It implies a willing acceptance of what is offered.
• Yes, come, buy wine and milk: This reinforces the previous invitation and expands on the nature of the provision. The repetition emphasizes the sincerity and urgency of God's call.
• wine: A symbol of joy, celebration, spiritual abundance, and the anointing of God's presence. In the New Covenant, it will symbolize the blood of Christ. It speaks of the richness and delight found in God.
• and milk: Symbolizes pure, essential, and foundational nourishment. It speaks to the basic, life-sustaining elements of spiritual growth and comfort provided by God.
• Without money and without cost: (Hebrew: b'lo kesef u'b'lo mechiyr - "without money and without price"). This ultimate reiteration forcefully confirms that salvation, spiritual sustenance, and true joy are entirely a gift of divine grace. There is no hidden fee, no effort required to earn it, no merit system involved. It underscores the complete freeness and unconditional nature of God's boundless love and generosity. This is a powerful counterpoint to any religious system or human philosophy that demands payment or works for spiritual blessings.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters": This powerful opening is a universal clarion call. It addresses the fundamental spiritual lack in humanity and points directly to God's solution. The divine invitation extends beyond Israel to all who are conscious of their spiritual need, urging them to find life in God alone.
• "And you who have no money, come, buy and eat.": This is a profound statement of divine grace. It turns worldly understanding upside down, inviting the utterly bankrupt—spiritually and often literally—to partake in an abundance that cost them nothing. It challenges the assumption that value is tied to cost, proclaiming a greater value in what is freely given by God.
• "Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.": The double emphasis on "come" and the expanded bounty of "wine and milk" highlights the richness and freeness of God's spiritual banquet. It reassures the listeners that there are no strings attached and no hidden costs; God's provision is not merely adequate but lavish, bringing both fundamental nourishment and overflowing joy without any prerequisite payment. It points to God's generous character and the unmerited favor he extends.

Isaiah 55 1 Bonus section

• The theme of "thirsting" for God's presence and provision in Isaiah 55:1 draws deeply on the Old Testament experience in the wilderness, where God miraculously provided water to sustain His people (e.g., Ex 17:6). This serves as a prophetic foreshadowing of God providing spiritual "waters" in a spiritual "wilderness" of human sin and alienation.
• This invitation carries significant polemical weight against the worship of idols (false gods) prevalent in Babylonian society and among syncretistic Israelites. These idols demanded expensive sacrifices and elaborate rituals, yet could offer no true sustenance, peace, or lasting joy. Isaiah 55:1 contrasts this by presenting God's abundant, free, and genuinely life-giving offer as infinitely superior.
• The terms "wine" and "milk" represent a complete spectrum of spiritual provision: milk for basic, sustaining truth, and wine for the richness, joy, and celebration found in a full relationship with God. It speaks to comprehensive spiritual well-being available through Him.

Isaiah 55 1 Commentary

Isaiah 55:1 encapsulates the heart of the Gospel message centuries before Christ's birth: God's salvation is a free gift offered to all humanity. The verse stands as an open invitation, echoing God's unfailing desire to provide true satisfaction where the world fails. The imagery of water, wine, and milk transcends mere physical provision; they are metaphors for the spiritual life, joy, and nourishment that only God can offer. Humanity’s inherent "thirst" is met not through self-effort, religious rituals, or financial means, which ultimately prove to be "that which does not satisfy" (Isa 55:2), but through simply "coming" and "taking." The radical emphasis on "without money and without cost" highlights divine grace as the sole conduit of these blessings, entirely excluding human merit. This prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who declared Himself to be the "living water" and the "bread of life," offering salvation and spiritual fulfillment freely to all who believe. It's an enduring call to leave behind what costs much and delivers little, for what costs nothing yet delivers everything.