Isaiah 55:6

¶ Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Seek {H1875} ye the LORD {H3068} while he may be found {H4672}, call {H7121} ye upon him while he is near {H7138}:

Seek ADONAI while he is available, call on him while he is still nearby.

Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.

Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near:

Isaiah 55:6 is a profound invitation and urgent call from God to humanity. It emphasizes a critical window of opportunity for individuals to turn to Him and establish a relationship, highlighting both God's availability and the importance of a timely response.

Context

This verse is situated within the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-66), a section of Isaiah that offers hope and restoration to Israel, particularly looking beyond their Babylonian exile. Chapter 55 itself is a beautiful gospel invitation, following prophecies of God's steadfast covenant and abundant provision. Verses 1-5 extend an open invitation to all who are thirsty and hungry to come and receive freely from God. Verse 6 serves as a pivotal call to action, urging immediate response before the opportunity passes. It naturally leads into the call for repentance and God's boundless pardon in Isaiah 55:7, underscoring the spiritual urgency of seeking God.

Key Themes

  • Timeliness and Urgency: The repeated phrase "while he may be found" and "while he is near" underscores that there is a specific, perhaps limited, period when God is especially accessible or when one's heart is most receptive to Him. This isn't to say God is ever truly "absent," but rather that human receptivity or divine opportunity can fluctuate. This resonates with the New Testament concept of the "accepted time" or "day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
  • Divine Accessibility: The verse assures us that God is indeed "near" and "may be found." He is not distant or hidden from those who genuinely seek Him. This speaks to God's desire for relationship and His readiness to respond to those who call upon Him.
  • Active Seeking: The commands "Seek ye the LORD" and "call ye upon him" require intentional effort. It's not a passive waiting for God, but an active pursuit and invocation. This involves prayer, study of His Word, and a turning of the heart towards Him.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used convey deeper meaning:

  • "Seek" (דרשׁ - darash): This verb implies a diligent inquiry, an earnest pursuit, a thorough investigation, not merely a casual search. It suggests a heartfelt desire to know and understand God.
  • "Call upon" (קרא - qara): This refers to invoking, crying out, or appealing to someone. It signifies prayer, worship, and reliance upon God, acknowledging His authority and power.
  • "Found" (מצא - matsa): To be discovered, met with, or attained. It assures that diligent seeking will result in finding God.
  • "Near" (קרוב - qarov): This word means close at hand, accessible, or readily available. It emphasizes God's immediate presence and willingness to interact.

Related Scriptures

The theme of seeking God with diligence is echoed throughout scripture. For instance, Jeremiah 29:13 promises, "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Similarly, James 4:8 encourages, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." These verses reinforce the reciprocity of God's availability when sought sincerely.

Practical Application

Isaiah 55:6 serves as a powerful reminder for all generations. It urges us not to procrastinate in spiritual matters. Life is uncertain, and opportunities for spiritual awakening or deeper commitment may not always feel as "near" or as accessible. It encourages a proactive approach to faith, emphasizing consistent prayer, genuine repentance, and a diligent pursuit of God's will. For those who feel distant from God, this verse offers hope: He is near and can be found by those who earnestly seek Him. It calls for an immediate and heartfelt response to God's gracious invitation to eternal life and abundant blessing.

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.

  • 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.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back