Isaiah 55 11

Isaiah 55:11 kjv

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Isaiah 55:11 nkjv

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:11 niv

so 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.

Isaiah 55:11 esv

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:11 nlt

It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Isaiah 55 verses

Isaiah 55 11 meaning

Isaiah 55:11 proclaims the absolute effectiveness and reliability of God's Word. It signifies that every divine utterance, decree, or promise originating from God will infallibly achieve its intended purpose and mission without any possibility of failure, always resulting in success. The verse emphasizes the sovereignty and power embedded within God's declarations, distinguishing them sharply from fallible human words.

Isaiah 55 11 Context

Isaiah chapter 55 serves as an invitation from God to His people, particularly to those in exile or facing a desolate future, offering restoration, mercy, and steadfast love. It emphasizes the sufficiency of God's provision for spiritual nourishment and challenges them to seek the Lord while He may be found. The preceding verses (55:8-9) highlight the profound difference between God's thoughts and ways and those of humanity, leading into an illustration of His absolute power. Verse 10 provides a powerful analogy of rain and snow descending from heaven to water the earth, bringing forth growth and life, rather than returning to heaven empty. This natural process perfectly sets the stage for verse 11, affirming that just as physical precipitation ensures growth on earth, so too God's word sent forth ensures spiritual and purposeful fulfillment, without fail. Historically, this message brought immense comfort and hope to a people who felt abandoned and whose national identity seemed shattered, assuring them of God's ultimate plan and their place within it. It serves as a polemic against reliance on human plans or pagan gods that offer no certain future or true fulfillment.

Isaiah 55 11 Word analysis

• So shall my word be
  • `my word` (דְבָרִי, d'varí): Hebrew dabar encompasses more than mere utterance; it includes a declaration, a command, a promise, a decree, a plan, and an action. It represents the active manifestation of God's will. Its personal ownership by God ("my") highlights divine authority and origin.
  • Significance: This phrase asserts the divine authority and intrinsic efficacy of what God speaks or ordains. It's a statement of inherent power.
• that goes out from my mouth
  • `goes out` (יֵצֵא, yeitzei): Implies deliberate emanation, not a random or accidental release.
  • `from my mouth` (מִפִּי, mipi): Reinforces the direct, personal, and intentional origin of the Word. It comes from the ultimate source of truth and power.
  • Significance: Establishes the divine authorship and perfect integrity of the Word. It is uncorrupted and direct from God.
• it shall not return to me empty
  • `not return` (לֹא־יָשׁוּב, lo-yashuv): A definitive negation, signifying impossibility of failure or recall.
  • `empty` (רֵיקָם, reiqam): Literally "empty," "void," "without effect," "in vain." As a parallel to rain that does not return to heaven without watering the earth (v.10).
  • Significance: This guarantees the efficacy and success of God's Word. It will never fail its purpose or be fruitless; it inherently possesses the power to accomplish its task.
• but it shall accomplish that which I purpose
  • `but it shall accomplish` (כִּי אִם־עָשָׂה, ki im-asah): Indicates an active, purposeful execution. "Accomplish" means to do, make, perform, bring about.
  • `that which I purpose` (חֶפְצִי, kheftzí): Refers to God's delight, pleasure, desire, will, and specific intent. It is God's deliberate, sovereign plan.
  • Significance: God's Word is the instrument through which His divine will and pre-ordained objectives are actively brought to pass. It reflects His absolute sovereignty.
• and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it
  • `shall succeed` (וְהִצְלִיחַ, v'hitztzíach): To prosper, to make fruitful, to achieve good results, to be profitable, to triumph.
  • `the thing for which I sent it` (אֲשֶׁר שְׁלַחְתִּיו, asher shlachtív): Emphasizes the specific, appointed mission or task assigned to the Word.
  • Significance: Reiterates the infallible triumph of God's Word. It is not just about accomplishing something, but about unfailingly achieving the exact specific goal for which God dispatched it.

• Words-group by words-group analysis
  • "So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth": This phrase establishes the divine origin and personal authority of God's communication. It signals that what follows is a fundamental truth about how God operates in the world through His spoken will.
  • "it shall not return to me empty": This segment assures of the Word's guaranteed productivity and absolute efficacy. It metaphorically implies that God's Word, once released, cannot be retracted and will inevitably produce a desired outcome, much like rain must water the earth (as in v.10).
  • "but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it": These clauses collectively articulate the dual nature of the Word's effectiveness: firstly, fulfilling God's overall divine intention (purpose), and secondly, achieving the precise, specific objective for which it was individually deployed (thing for which I sent it). This demonstrates both the broad and targeted scope of God's Word's success.

Isaiah 55 11 Bonus section

• The power of God's dabar (Word) is directly contrasted with human inadequacy. While human efforts and plans often falter, God's spoken word holds ultimate power and certainty.
• The verse doesn't specify how the word accomplishes its purpose, only that it will. This leaves room for the mysterious, powerful workings of God that may unfold in unexpected ways or over extended periods.
• This verse has eschatological implications, assuring the ultimate fulfillment of all God's prophetic words concerning the future, including the full establishment of His kingdom.
• It's a foundational text for understanding the divine inspiration and authority of Scripture, reinforcing that the Bible, as God's written Word, is living, active, and potent to accomplish His will in the lives of those who encounter it.

Isaiah 55 11 Commentary

Isaiah 55:11 stands as a cornerstone verse, powerfully affirming the unyielding efficacy and sovereignty of God's Word. It asserts that unlike human words, which often fail, are empty, or prove insincere, God's every utterance is imbued with divine power and purpose. When God speaks, His Word inherently carries the power to accomplish precisely what He intends, whether it be creation (Gen 1), salvation (Rom 1:16), judgment (2 Pet 3:7), or any other decree. It cannot and will not return to Him without having successfully executed its divine mission, for His counsel is steadfast (Psa 33:11). This verse provides a profound assurance to believers: God's promises, prophecies, and commands are absolutely trustworthy and will unfailingly come to pass according to His perfect will and timing.