Isaiah 55 2

Isaiah 55:2 kjv

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Isaiah 55:2 nkjv

Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

Isaiah 55:2 niv

Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.

Isaiah 55:2 esv

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

Isaiah 55:2 nlt

Why 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.

Isaiah 55 verses

Isaiah 55 2 Meaning

This verse calls people to listen attentively. It emphasizes the importance of diligently hearing and acting upon God's word. It highlights that true satisfaction and life come not from worldly provisions, but from heeding divine counsel and engaging in right relationship with God.

Isaiah 55 2 Context

Isaiah 55 is a powerful chapter of invitation and restoration from God. Following prophecies of judgment and exile, it shifts to a message of abundant grace and new beginnings for God's people. The preceding verses describe God's steadfast love and covenant faithfulness, even in the face of human sin. This chapter proclaims that God's salvation and blessings are freely available to all who seek Him. It occurs in the historical context where Judah had been in exile in Babylon, experiencing hardship and a turning away from God. The prophet Isaiah is speaking a message of hope and future redemption.

Isaiah 55 2 Word Analysis

• "Come": (Hebrew: לְכוּ, ləḵû) Imperative, plural, "go" or "come." It's a direct, emphatic invitation.
• "everyone": (Hebrew: כֹּל, kōl) Encompassing, signifies inclusivity. No one is excluded from this divine invitation.
• "who thirsts": (Hebrew: צָמֵא, ṣāmē’) Present participle, "thirsting." Indicates a state of longing, a spiritual need or emptiness. This isn't just physical thirst but a deep-seated spiritual yearning.
• "come": (Hebrew: בֹּאוּ, bō’û) Imperative, plural. Another strong call to action, an entry point into God's provision.
• "you who have no money": (Hebrew: בְּלִי־כֶסֶף, bəlî-ḵɛfɛs) "Without silver." Emphasizes that this provision is not earned by wealth or merit. It is a gift.
• "come": (Hebrew: בֹּאוּ, bō’û) Repetition of the call to enter.
• "buy": (Hebrew: קְנוּ, qənoû) Imperative, "buy" or "acquire." While free, there's an action of receiving and possessing.
• "and eat": (Hebrew: וְאִכְלוּ, wə’iḵlû) Imperative. Essential sustenance, spiritual nourishment.
• "yes": (Hebrew: כִּי, kî) Causality or explanation. Introduces the reason for the invitation.
• "come": (Hebrew: בֹּאוּ, bō’û) Third occurrence. Reinforces the action required.
• "buy": (Hebrew: קְנוּ, qənoû) "Acquire."
• "wine": (Hebrew: יַיִן, yāyin) Symbolic of richness, celebration, and abundance in scripture.
• "milk": (Hebrew: חָלָב, ḥālāḇ) Represents basic, pure nourishment.
• "without money": (Hebrew: בְּלִי־כֶסֶף, bəlî-ḵɛfɛs) Reiteration of the unearned nature of the provision.
• "without price": (Hebrew: וּבְלִי־מְחִיר, ôūvəli-məḵîr) "And without cost." Reinforces that it is a gracious gift.

Words Group Analysis

• "Come, everyone who thirsts, come": This threefold invitation emphasizes urgency and inclusivity. The repetition is a strong rhetorical device to draw the listener in. It speaks to a universal spiritual need.
• "you who have no money... buy and eat": This contrasts worldly expectations of acquisition with God's provision. It highlights that God's blessings are a gift received by faith, not purchased by wealth or works.
• "buy wine and milk without money and without price": The combination of "wine" and "milk" signifies the full spectrum of spiritual nourishment, from the most basic needs to the richer experiences of fellowship and joy in God. The emphasis on "without money and without price" underscores the theme of grace.

Isaiah 55 2 Bonus Section

The concept of spiritual hunger and thirst is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, underscoring humanity's innate need for connection with God. This verse is echoed in the New Testament by Jesus, particularly in His pronouncements at the Feast of Booths (John 7:37), where He proclaims, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within him." This highlights the continuity of God's salvific plan and how prophetic pronouncements find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ. The imagery of wine and milk also relates to the celebratory feasts and covenants in Israel's history, suggesting a banquet of spiritual richness.

Isaiah 55 2 Commentary

Isaiah 55:2 is a powerful invitation to God's inexhaustible provision of spiritual nourishment. It's an "altar call" from the Old Testament, calling all who feel spiritually empty or have exhausted their worldly pursuits for satisfaction. The emphasis on "no money" and "without price" points directly to God's grace. It is a prefigurement of Jesus Christ, who fulfills this promise as the true bread of life and living water, freely giving sustenance to all who believe. The call to "buy" and "eat" signifies a participatory reception of God's gifts, not a passive one. This spiritual eating and drinking represents embracing God's promises and the spiritual life He offers through faith.

• Practical Example: Imagine feeling depleted and searching for fulfillment in various hobbies or material possessions, but never finding true satisfaction. This verse calls you to stop trying to "buy" happiness and instead come to God, who offers it freely through His word and presence.