Isaiah 55:6

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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

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:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 55:6 presents a profound and urgent divine invitation, calling humanity to actively pursue a relationship with the Lord while the opportunity for intimate communion and spiritual discovery is readily available. It underscores God's inherent accessibility and willingness to be found by those who earnestly seek Him, simultaneously highlighting the critical importance of a timely and responsive heart to His gracious overtures. This verse serves as a pivotal summons within Isaiah's broader message of restoration and abundant grace, urging immediate engagement with the divine before a season of heightened receptivity or divine initiative passes.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 55:6 is nestled within the latter portion of the Book of Isaiah, often referred to as Second Isaiah (chapters 40-66), a section predominantly focused on comfort, hope, and the promise of restoration for Israel after the Babylonian exile. Chapter 55 itself is a magnificent "gospel" chapter, extending a universal invitation to all who are spiritually thirsty and hungry to come and partake freely of God's abundant provision and steadfast covenant mercies, as introduced in [Isaiah 55:1-5](/isaiah/55-1 "Isaiah 55:1-5 - God's Invitation to All"). Following this open invitation to spiritual nourishment, verse 6 serves as a crucial call to action, emphasizing the urgency of responding to God's gracious offer. It naturally transitions into the call for repentance and the assurance of God's boundless pardon in [Isaiah 55:7](/isaiah/55-7 "Isaiah 55:7 - God's Abundant Pardon for the Wicked"), thereby reinforcing the spiritual imperative of seeking God without delay. The entire chapter functions as a climactic appeal for Israel to return to their covenant Lord, promising unparalleled blessings.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Isaiah 55 is the period of the Babylonian exile, a time of profound despair, displacement, and spiritual questioning for the Judean people. Having experienced the consequences of their disobedience, many were far from their homeland, temple, and traditional expressions of worship. In this context of national desolation and spiritual apathy, God, through the prophet Isaiah, delivers a message of hope that transcends their immediate circumstances. The call to "seek the LORD" and "call upon Him" would have resonated deeply with a people who felt distant from God, reminding them that despite their exile, God remained accessible and desirous of their repentance and return. The urgency implied in "while he may be found" and "while he is near" would have been particularly poignant, perhaps alluding to the limited duration of the exile or a specific window of divine favor for national restoration, challenging them to seize the moment of God's redemptive initiative.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Isaiah and biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Accessibility and Initiative**, assuring that God is not a distant, unapproachable deity but is "near" and "may be found" by those who genuinely seek Him. This underscores God's desire for relationship and His readiness to respond to human outreach. Secondly, it emphasizes **Human Responsibility and Urgency**, presenting the act of seeking and calling as an active, intentional pursuit. The repeated temporal clauses ("while he may be found," "while he is near") introduce a critical element of timeliness, suggesting that there is a specific, perhaps limited, period when God's presence is most acutely felt or when one's heart is most receptive to His call. This concept of a divinely appointed "acceptable time" for repentance and salvation finds resonance in later biblical texts, such as [2 Corinthians 6:2](/2_corinthians/6-2 "2 Corinthians 6:2 - The Acceptable Time of Salvation"). Finally, the verse implicitly touches upon the theme of **Covenant Faithfulness and Restoration**, inviting Israel back into a right relationship with their covenant God, which is foundational to the promises of future blessing and national renewal found throughout Isaiah.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Seek (Hebrew, _dârash'_):** This word is a primitive root implying a diligent, earnest inquiry or pursuit. It suggests a thorough investigation and a heartfelt desire to know and understand, extending beyond a casual search to an active, intentional quest. In a spiritual context, it means to inquire of God, to consult Him, to worship Him, and to earnestly desire His presence and will.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the proper name of God, the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), signifying "the Self-Existent One" or "the Eternal." It emphasizes God's unchanging nature, His covenant faithfulness, and His sovereign authority. To "seek the LORD" is to seek the personal, covenant-keeping God of Israel, not merely a concept or an abstract deity.
* **Found (Hebrew, _mâtsâʼ'_):** This verb means to come forth to, appear, exist, or to attain and acquire. In the context of seeking God, it signifies that diligent pursuit will indeed result in discovery, encounter, and the attainment of His presence and favor. It assures the seeker that God is responsive and will make Himself known.
* **Call (Hebrew, _qârâʼ'_):** This primitive root means to call out to, to address by name, to invoke, or to appeal. It encompasses prayer, worship, and crying out to God in reliance upon Him. It implies an acknowledgment of God's authority and power, and a direct appeal for His intervention or presence.
* **Near (Hebrew, _qârôwb'_):** This adjective means close at hand, accessible, or readily available. It emphasizes God's immediate presence and His willingness to interact and respond. It conveys the idea that God is not distant or hidden, but within reach for those who genuinely turn to Him.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found":** This clause issues an imperative command for active, diligent pursuit of God. The phrase "while he may be found" introduces a temporal element, suggesting a specific window of opportunity or a period of heightened divine accessibility. It implies that while God is always omnipresent, there are seasons or moments when His presence is particularly manifest, His call is especially clear, or human hearts are uniquely receptive to His overtures. This is not to suggest God is ever truly absent, but rather that the conditions for a fruitful encounter may not always be equally favorable.
* **"call ye upon him while he is near":** This second clause reinforces the first through parallelism, reiterating the urgency and the nature of the engagement. "Call ye upon him" specifies the means of seeking—through prayer, invocation, and direct appeal. The accompanying phrase "while he is near" underscores God's immediate proximity and readiness to respond. It emphasizes that God is not remote or indifferent but is actively present, waiting to hear and interact with those who reach out to Him. Both clauses together form a powerful, urgent invitation to seize the present moment for spiritual engagement.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 55:6 is rich with literary artistry that enhances its profound message. The most prominent device is **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the second clause ("call ye upon him while he is near") reiterates and reinforces the meaning of the first ("Seek ye the LORD while he may be found") using different but related terms. This repetition emphasizes the core message of urgent spiritual pursuit and God's accessibility. The verse also employs **Imperative Mood**, using direct commands ("Seek ye," "call ye") to convey the urgency and non-negotiable nature of the divine summons. This direct address creates a sense of personal responsibility and immediate action for the audience. Furthermore, the temporal phrases "while he may be found" and "while he is near" function as a form of **Admonition** or **Warning**, subtly implying that this window of opportunity, though gracious, is not indefinite. This creates a powerful tension between God's boundless grace and the human responsibility to respond in a timely manner.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 55:6 stands as a timeless theological truth, affirming God's profound desire for relationship with humanity and His active pursuit of those who are lost. It highlights the divine initiative in making Himself accessible, while simultaneously placing a crucial emphasis on human responsibility to respond to this grace. The verse challenges any notion of a distant or indifferent deity, instead portraying a God who is intimately "near" and readily "found" by those who genuinely seek Him. This dynamic interplay between divine grace and human response is a foundational principle of biblical theology, echoing throughout the Old and New Testaments as a call to repentance, faith, and ongoing communion. The urgency embedded in the verse reminds us that while God's patience is immense, there is a kairos (opportune) moment for spiritual awakening and decision that should not be squandered.

* [Deuteronomy 4:29](/deuteronomy/4-29 "Deuteronomy 4:29 - Seeking God with All Your Heart")
* [Jeremiah 29:13](/jeremiah/29-13 "Jeremiah 29:13 - Promise of Finding God")
* [James 4:8](/james/4-8 "James 4:8 - Drawing Near to God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 55:6 is a clarion call to every generation, urging us to prioritize our spiritual lives and to engage with God with intentionality and urgency. In a world filled with distractions and competing priorities, this verse reminds us that the most significant pursuit is that of knowing and experiencing God. The emphasis on "while he may be found" and "while he is near" serves as a poignant reminder that opportunities for spiritual growth, repentance, and deeper communion are precious and should not be deferred. It encourages a proactive, rather than passive, approach to faith, inviting us to cultivate a lifestyle of seeking God through prayer, studying His Word, and listening for His voice. For those who feel distant or disconnected from God, this verse offers immense hope: He is not far off, but is "near" and desires to be "found" by all who earnestly seek Him. It challenges us to examine our hearts: Are we truly seeking Him, or are we allowing the fleeting moments of divine invitation to pass us by? The call is to an immediate, heartfelt, and sustained response to God's gracious and ever-present invitation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does "seeking the LORD" practically look like in my daily life?**
* **In what ways do I tend to procrastinate or delay responding to God's invitations or promptings?**
* **How does the assurance that God is "near" and "may be found" impact my willingness to approach Him, especially during times of doubt or struggle?**
* **What might it mean for God to be "found" or "near" in a personal sense for me right now?**

### FAQ
**Does "while he may be found" imply that there's a time when God cannot be found?**

Answer: This phrase does not suggest that God is ever truly absent or that His nature changes to become unfindable. God is omnipresent and eternally accessible in His essence. Rather, "while he may be found" speaks to the human condition and the divine initiative. It refers to a period of heightened receptivity on the part of individuals or a specific season of divine grace and overture. It highlights the urgency of responding when God's Spirit is particularly moving, when conviction is strong, or when circumstances create an openness to spiritual truth. Missing this "acceptable time" (as referenced in [2 Corinthians 6:2](/2_corinthians/6-2 "2 Corinthians 6:2 - The Acceptable Time")) might mean a hardening of the heart, a diminishing of spiritual sensitivity, or a passing of a unique opportunity for a profound encounter with God. It's a call to seize the moment of grace, not a threat of God's withdrawal.

**What is the difference between "seeking" and "calling upon" the LORD?**

Answer: While closely related and often used in conjunction, "seeking" and "calling upon" represent distinct but complementary aspects of engaging with God. "Seeking" (Hebrew _dârash_) implies an active, diligent pursuit, an earnest inquiry, and a deep desire to know God, His will, and His ways. It involves turning one's entire being towards Him, studying His Word, and striving to understand His character. "Calling upon" (Hebrew _qârâʼ_) refers more specifically to direct verbal invocation, prayer, and appealing to God. It signifies crying out to Him, acknowledging His authority, and relying on His power and presence. Together, they describe a holistic approach to relationship with God: an internal, heartfelt pursuit combined with external, verbal communication and reliance. One is the posture of the heart, the other is the expression of that posture.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 55:6, with its urgent call to "seek the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the very embodiment of God's nearness and accessibility. In the Old Testament, God was "near" through His covenant, His Law, and His presence in the tabernacle and temple; but in Christ, God became uniquely and intimately "near" to humanity, dwelling among us (as profoundly stated in [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). Jesus Himself declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, Truth, and Life")). He is the one through whom God is truly "found," for to see Jesus is to see the Father ([John 14:9](/john/14-9 "John 14:9 - Seeing Jesus is Seeing the Father")). The "acceptable time" and "day of salvation" that [2 Corinthians 6:2](/2_corinthians/6-2 "2 Corinthians 6:2 - The Acceptable Time of Salvation") speaks of is precisely the era inaugurated by Christ's advent, life, death, and resurrection, an era where God's grace is supremely manifest and His Spirit is poured out, enabling all who call upon the name of the Lord to be saved ([Romans 10:13](/romans/10-13 "Romans 10:13 - Calling on the Name of the Lord")). Thus, to "seek the LORD" today is to seek Christ, to respond to His gospel invitation, and to draw near to God through Him, the ultimate revelation of God's nearness and the only means by which He can truly be found for salvation.

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 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.