Isaiah 55:3

KJV

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [even] the sure mercies of David.

KJV (with Strong's)

Incline {H5186} your ear {H241}, and come {H3212} unto me: hear {H8085}, and your soul {H5315} shall live {H2421}; and I will make {H3772} an everlasting {H5769} covenant {H1285} with you, even the sure {H539} mercies {H2617} of David {H1732}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Open your ears, and come to me; listen well, and you will live - I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the grace I assured David.

Berean Standard Bible

Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant— My loving devotion promised to David.

American Standard Version

Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 55:3 extends a profound divine invitation, urging humanity to actively listen and draw near to God to receive spiritual life. This verse promises the establishment of an everlasting covenant, rooted in the unfailing, steadfast love and faithfulness (mercies) originally promised to King David. It encapsulates God's desire to bestow true, abundant life upon those who respond to His gracious call, highlighting the permanence and reliability of His redemptive plan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 55 stands as a climactic chapter within the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-55), a section primarily addressed to the exiles in Babylon, offering hope and assurance of restoration. Following prophecies of God's sovereign power, His servant's suffering, and the eventual return of His people, Isaiah 55 opens with a universal invitation to all who are spiritually "thirsty" and "without money" ([Isaiah 55:1](/isaiah/55-1 "Isaiah 55:1 - God's Free Invitation")). Verse 3 deepens this call, moving from the general invitation to a specific promise of covenant and life, emphasizing the necessary responsive action of hearing and coming. It serves as a bridge, linking the immediate call to the enduring promises of God's covenant faithfulness, particularly the Davidic covenant, setting the stage for the glorious future described in subsequent verses.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop is the Babylonian exile, a period of profound national and spiritual desolation for Israel. The people were displaced, their temple destroyed, and their covenant relationship with God seemingly broken. In this context, the promise of an "everlasting covenant" would have resonated deeply, offering hope for a renewed and permanent relationship with their God. The concept of "covenant" (`bᵉrîyth`) was central to ancient Near Eastern cultures, signifying a binding agreement often sealed with solemn rituals. The reference to "the sure mercies of David" directly invokes the unconditional Davidic covenant ([2 Samuel 7:12-16](/2_samuel/7-12 "2 Samuel 7:12-16 - The Davidic Covenant")), a foundational promise of an eternal dynasty and kingdom, which was a source of hope even in exile. This promise would have reminded the exiles of God's unwavering commitment to His chosen king and, by extension, to His people.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates several key themes pervasive in Isaiah and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, the theme of **Divine Invitation and Accessibility** is paramount, as God actively calls His people to Himself, offering salvation freely. Secondly, **Spiritual Life and Nourishment** is central, contrasting physical hunger and thirst with the profound, life-giving sustenance found in God's word and presence. This spiritual vitality is presented as the direct result of heeding God's call. Thirdly, **Covenant Faithfulness and Permanence** underscores God's unwavering commitment to His promises, particularly through the establishment of an "everlasting covenant" that ensures a lasting relationship. Finally, the verse carries a strong **Messianic Hope**, linking the promised covenant to the "sure mercies of David," thereby pointing forward to the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises through the coming Davidic King, the Messiah, who would establish an eternal kingdom and bring true spiritual life to all who believe, echoing themes found in [Isaiah 9:6-7](/isaiah/9-6 "Isaiah 9:6-7 - Prophecy of the Messiah's Reign").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Incline (Hebrew, _nâṭâh'_):** This primitive root means "to stretch or spread out," and by implication, "to bend away." In the context of "incline your ear," it conveys an active, intentional effort to lean in, to stretch one's hearing towards something. It's not passive reception but a deliberate posture of attentiveness and readiness to receive and understand. This implies a spiritual turning and focus on God's voice, requiring a conscious choice to prioritize His message.
* **live (Hebrew, _châyâh'_):** This primitive root signifies "to live, whether literally or figuratively," and causatively, "to revive." When paired with "soul" (`nephesh`), it speaks to a profound spiritual vitality and well-being that goes beyond mere physical existence. It denotes a restoration, quickening, and flourishing of the inner being, leading to true purpose, fellowship with God, and eternal life, contrasting with spiritual death or emptiness.
* **mercies (Hebrew, _chêçêd'_):** This rich Hebrew term is derived from `châçad` and encompasses "kindness," "favour," "good deed," but most profoundly, God's "covenantal love," "steadfastness," and "faithfulness." When used in the phrase "sure mercies of David," it emphasizes the unwavering, reliable, and unfailing nature of God's covenant promises to David, signifying His loyal and enduring commitment to His chosen king and his lineage.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Incline your ear, and come unto me:"** This opening clause is a double imperative, a direct command from God. "Incline your ear" (Hebrew: `natah ozen`) is a vivid metaphor for active, intentional listening—not just hearing sounds, but focusing intently to grasp meaning and respond. "And come unto me" is the corresponding action, signifying a physical and spiritual turning towards God, a movement of faith and obedience. It implies a personal, intimate invitation to relationship.
* **"hear, and your soul shall live;"** The second imperative, "hear" (Hebrew: `shama`), reinforces the call to listen, but with the added implication of understanding and obeying. The promised outcome is profound: "and your soul shall live." This is not merely physical survival but the impartation of spiritual vitality, true life, and flourishing for the inner being (`nephesh`). It suggests a deliverance from spiritual death and the gift of abundant, meaningful existence in communion with God.
* **"and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [even] the sure mercies of David."** This final clause reveals the basis and nature of the promised life. God Himself initiates and establishes ("I will make") a "covenant" (`bᵉrîyth`) that is "everlasting" (`ʻôwlâm`), signifying its permanence and unbreakable nature. The phrase "even the sure mercies of David" clarifies the content and foundation of this covenant. It refers to the reliable, unfailing (`ʼâman`) covenantal love and faithfulness (`chêçêd`) that God promised to King David ([2 Samuel 7:16](/2_samuel/7-16 "2 Samuel 7:16 - God's Promise to David")), specifically concerning the eternal nature of his house and kingdom. This connection implies that the everlasting covenant offered to the hearers is deeply rooted in, and finds its ultimate fulfillment through, the promises made to David, pointing towards a Messianic King.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 55:3 employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey its urgent and hopeful message. The verse begins with **imperative mood** ("Incline," "come," "hear"), underscoring the divine authority and the necessity of human response to God's gracious invitation. The phrase "Incline your ear" is a striking **metaphor** for active, intentional listening, urging a posture of attentiveness beyond mere auditory perception. This is complemented by **parallelism** in the structure "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live," where the act of listening is directly linked to the reception of life. Furthermore, the verse is rich in **covenant language**, particularly with the mention of "everlasting covenant" and "sure mercies of David." This specific phrasing, especially "sure mercies," functions as an **allusion** to the Davidic covenant ([2 Samuel 7](/2_samuel/7 "2 Samuel 7 - The Davidic Covenant")), grounding the present promise in God's historical faithfulness and establishing a direct link to the Messianic hope.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 55:3 stands as a cornerstone of biblical theology, powerfully articulating God's initiative in salvation and the pathway to true spiritual life. It underscores the profound truth that life, in its fullest and most enduring sense, is found only in active relationship with God, predicated on listening to His word and responding to His call. The promise of an "everlasting covenant" highlights God's unchanging faithfulness and His desire for a permanent bond with His people, a relationship not contingent on human merit but on divine grace. The explicit reference to "the sure mercies of David" seamlessly connects this universal invitation to God's specific, unconditional promises made to the Davidic line, thereby weaving together the themes of covenant, kingship, and redemption, anticipating their ultimate fulfillment.

* [Deuteronomy 30:19-20](/deuteronomy/30-19 "Deuteronomy 30:19-20 - Choose Life")
* [Jeremiah 31:31-34](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31-34 - The New Covenant")
* [Acts 13:34](/acts/13-34 "Acts 13:34 - The Sure Mercies Applied to Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 55:3 serves as a timeless summons for every generation, calling us to a deeper, more intentional engagement with God. In a world saturated with noise and distractions, the command to "incline your ear" is a vital reminder to cultivate a posture of active listening towards God's voice, primarily through His written word, but also in prayer and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This isn't passive reception but an earnest leaning in, a deliberate effort to understand and internalize His truth. The subsequent call to "come unto me" demands a responsive faith—a personal, active commitment to draw near to God, to trust His promises, and to surrender our lives to His will. By doing so, we are assured that our "soul shall live," experiencing the vibrant, abundant spiritual life that only God can provide, a life sustained by His presence and His unfailing covenant promises. This verse invites us to rest in the certainty of God's "sure mercies," knowing that His faithfulness, demonstrated through His covenant with David, extends to us today, securing our spiritual well-being for eternity.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What specific distractions in your life prevent you from "inclining your ear" to God's voice?**
* **In what practical ways can you "come unto" God more fully in your daily life?**
* **How does the promise that "your soul shall live" challenge or affirm your understanding of true life and spiritual vitality?**
* **How does understanding God's "everlasting covenant" and "sure mercies of David" strengthen your trust in His promises for your own life?**

### FAQ
**What does "Incline your ear" mean practically for believers today?**

Answer: Practically, "Incline your ear" means to adopt a posture of intentional and active listening to God. This involves diligently engaging with Scripture, meditating on its truths, and seeking to understand its application to our lives. It also includes listening through prayer, being attentive to the Holy Spirit's promptings, and discerning God's will in circumstances. It implies setting aside distractions and dedicating focused time and attention to hear what God is communicating, much like leaning in to catch every word of an important message from a trusted friend.

**How does "your soul shall live" relate to salvation and eternal life?**

Answer: The promise "your soul shall live" in Isaiah 55:3 is deeply connected to salvation and eternal life. In the Old Testament, "life" (`châyâh`) often refers to a holistic well-being, a flourishing existence in covenant relationship with God, contrasting with spiritual death or alienation. While it encompasses physical vitality, its primary emphasis here is spiritual. For believers today, this promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in salvation through Jesus Christ. He gives abundant life ([John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Jesus Gives Abundant Life")) and eternal life ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")), quickening souls that were dead in sin ([Ephesians 2:1](/ephesians/2-1 "Ephesians 2:1 - Dead in Sin, Made Alive in Christ")). Thus, to "live" means to be spiritually regenerated, reconciled to God, and to experience an enduring, vibrant relationship with Him that extends into eternity.

**What are the "sure mercies of David" and how do they apply to us?**

Answer: The "sure mercies of David" (Hebrew: `chasdei David ha'ne'emanim`) refer to the steadfast, unfailing, and reliable covenantal promises God made to King David in [2 Samuel 7](/2_samuel/7 "2 Samuel 7 - The Davidic Covenant"). These promises included an eternal dynasty, an enduring kingdom, and a lasting throne for David's descendants. In Isaiah 55:3, these "sure mercies" are not limited to David's direct lineage but are extended to all who "incline their ear" and "come" to God through the everlasting covenant. This signifies that God's faithfulness to His promises, specifically to establish an eternal kingdom, is now offered to all who enter into covenant with Him. For believers today, these mercies apply directly through Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate Son of David, the fulfillment of these promises. His resurrection and eternal reign confirm these mercies as truly "sure" and available to all who believe in Him ([Acts 13:34](/acts/13-34 "Acts 13:34 - Paul's Sermon on the Sure Mercies")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 55:3 finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah and Son of David. The divine invitation to "incline your ear, and come unto me" is perfectly embodied in Christ, who is the very Word of God made flesh ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). He is the one to whom all are called to come for spiritual nourishment and life, declaring, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")). The promise that "your soul shall live" is realized through Christ's atoning work and resurrection, by which He bestows eternal life upon all who believe in Him, transforming dead souls into living ones ([John 5:24](/john/5-24 "John 5:24 - Hearing Jesus' Word and Having Eternal Life")). Furthermore, the "everlasting covenant" is the New Covenant, established through His blood ([Luke 22:20](/luke/22-20 "Luke 22:20 - The New Covenant in Jesus' Blood")), a covenant mediated by a superior priest and built on better promises ([Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6 - Christ, Mediator of a Better Covenant")). Most profoundly, the "sure mercies of David" are fulfilled in Jesus, the true heir of David's throne, whose kingdom is eternal and whose reign is everlasting ([Luke 1:32-33](/luke/1-32 "Luke 1:32-33 - Jesus, Son of David, King Forever")). His resurrection is the ultimate proof that God's promises to David, and thus His mercies, are indeed "sure" and unfailing, extending salvation and eternal life to all who enter into this new and everlasting covenant through faith in Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 32:40

And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

Proverbs 4:20

¶ My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

Matthew 11:28

Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John 10:27

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Acts 13:34

And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, [now] no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

Genesis 17:7

¶ And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

John 5:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.