Isaiah 55:1

¶ 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.

Ho {H1945}, every one that thirsteth {H6771}, come {H3212} ye to the waters {H4325}, and he that hath no money {H3701}; come {H3212} ye, buy {H7666}, and eat {H398}; yea, come {H3212}, buy {H7666} wine {H3196} and milk {H2461} without money {H3701} and without price {H4242}.

"All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You without money, come, buy, and eat! Yes, come! Buy wine and milk without money - it's free!

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!

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 presents a profound and urgent invitation from God to all humanity. It opens with an exclamation, "Ho," (Hebrew: Hoy) which serves as an impassioned call to attention, signaling a message of great significance and urgency. This verse is a cornerstone of God's gracious offer, particularly relevant to the exilic or post-exilic audience of Isaiah, who were likely experiencing spiritual and physical drought.

Context

This chapter, often called "The Great Invitation," follows themes of God's servant, His faithfulness, and His ultimate victory. It stands as a beacon of hope and restoration for a people weary from exile and longing for renewal. The imagery of "waters," "wine," and "milk" would have been incredibly potent in an arid, ancient Near Eastern context, symbolizing essential nourishment and abundant provision in stark contrast to the barrenness of human endeavors and the futility of idolatry (as further elaborated in Isaiah 55:2).

Key Themes

  • Universal Invitation: The call is to "every one that thirsteth," indicating that God's offer of spiritual satisfaction is not exclusive but available to all who recognize their need.
  • Divine Grace and Freeness: The repeated phrase "without money and without price" underscores that God's most precious gifts—spiritual sustenance, joy, and eternal life—are not earned through human effort or merit but are freely given. This aligns with the New Testament concept of salvation by grace through faith.
  • Spiritual Thirst and Satisfaction: "Thirst" symbolizes a deep spiritual longing, a hunger for truth, peace, and meaning that only God can satisfy. The "waters," "wine," and "milk" represent the diverse and complete provision God offers for the soul.
  • Abundant Provision: God provides not just the bare necessities ("waters") but also abundance and joy ("wine") and pure nourishment ("milk"), signifying a rich and fulfilling spiritual life.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "buy" (shaver) is used paradoxically here. While it means to purchase, its conjunction with "without money and without price" highlights that the transaction is not commercial but a gift of grace. The value of what is offered is immeasurable, yet the cost to the recipient is zero. This emphasizes the divine initiative and the recipient's role in simply receiving.

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 55:1 serves as a timeless reminder of God's boundless grace and His desire to meet our deepest spiritual needs. It challenges us to:

  • Acknowledge Our Thirst: Recognize that worldly pursuits and material possessions cannot truly satisfy the soul. We must identify our spiritual hunger and longing.
  • Respond to the Invitation: Just as Jesus later invited, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink", this verse urges us to come to God, who is the source of living water (John 4:14).
  • Embrace God's Free Gift: Release the burden of trying to earn God's favor or salvation. His provision is a gift to be received by faith, offering true satisfaction and joy for our lives.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 7:37

    ¶ In the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

  • John 7:38

    He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

  • Revelation 21:6

    And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

  • Revelation 22:17

    And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

  • Isaiah 44:3

    For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

  • John 4:10

    Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

  • John 4:14

    But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back