King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Complete Jewish Bible:
Seek ADONAI while he is available, call on him while he is still nearby.
Berean Standard Bible:
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
American Standard Version:
Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near:
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Seek{H1875} ye the LORD{H3068} while he may be found{H4672}, call{H7121} ye upon him while he is near{H7138}:
Cross-References (KJV):
Jeremiah 29:12
- Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jeremiah 29:14
- And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
Psalms 145:18
- The LORD [is] nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Isaiah 45:19
- I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
Psalms 32:6
- For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
Psalms 14:2
- The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, [and] seek God.
Isaiah 65:24
- And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Isaiah 55:6
Isaiah 55:6 is a verse that captures a pivotal theme in the prophetic book of Isaiah, which is the call to repentance and the invitation to seek the Lord. This verse is part of a larger section, Isaiah 55, which is set within the context of the exile of the Israelites. During this period, the people of Judah were either in exile in Babylon or had returned to a devastated Jerusalem after the fall of the city. The historical context is one of despair and uncertainty, as the people struggled to understand their identity and future without the temple and the Davidic kingship.
The verse itself, "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near," is a powerful summons to the people of Israel—and by extension, to all humanity—to turn back to God. The urgency of the call is underscored by the suggestion that there is a window of opportunity to seek the Lord, implying that this opportunity may not last indefinitely. The nearness of God indicates His willingness to be found and to respond to the calls of His people if they would only reach out to Him.
The themes present in this verse include God's accessibility, His mercy, and His desire for a relationship with humanity. It also emphasizes human responsibility—the need for individuals to actively seek God and to call upon Him in prayer and repentance. This call to seek the Lord is not just for personal salvation but also for the restoration of the community. It is a message of hope, promising divine favor and forgiveness to those who turn to God in their time of need. The verse reflects the broader prophetic message of Isaiah, which consistently points to the possibility of redemption and renewal when the people return to the covenant relationship with their God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1875
There are 152 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּרַשׁ
Transliteration: dârash
Pronunciation: daw-rash'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship; ask, [idiom] at all, care for, [idiom] diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-) mancer, question, require, search, seek (for, out), [idiom] surely. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H4672
There are 425 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָצָא
Transliteration: mâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: maw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present; [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on. - Strong's Number: H7121
There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָרָא
Transliteration: qârâʼ
Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say. - Strong's Number: H7138
There are 76 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָרוֹב
Transliteration: qârôwb
Pronunciation: kaw-robe'
Description: or קָרֹב; from קָרַב; near (in place, kindred or time); allied, approach, at hand, [phrase] any of kin, kinsfold(-sman), (that is) near (of kin), neighbour, (that is) next, (them that come) nigh (at hand), more ready, short(-ly).