Isaiah 55:1 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God calls the thirsty and the penniless to come and be filled, and the only price is to come.
The Context of Isaiah 55:1
These chapters come near the close of Isaiah, words of comfort spoken to a people far from home and weary of exile. The picture is a marketplace, where a voice cries out like a vendor in the street, except this seller asks for no coin at all.
What Does Isaiah 55:1 Mean?
The call begins with a shout that turns heads: 'Ho, every one that thirsteth.' It is aimed at the people who have nothing, the ones who cannot pay, who have spent themselves on things that never satisfied. To them the invitation comes wide open: come to the waters, come and buy wine and milk, come and be filled. The strange and tender thing is the price. There is none. What the thirsty cannot afford, God simply gives.
Centuries later a man stood in the temple courts and cried out in the same open way: 'If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink' (John 7:37). Jesus is the one who makes good on this ancient call, offering living water freely to all who come empty-handed. The deepest thirst we carry was always meant to be answered by Him, and He holds out the cup to anyone willing to reach for it.
Isaiah 55:1 in the Original Language
tsame' (צָמֵא), 'thirsteth' -- to be thirsty, the body's plain ache for water that here pictures the soul's longing for God.
How to Apply Isaiah 55:1 Today
There is good news here for anyone who feels they have nothing to offer God. The invitation is not for the deserving or the well-supplied; it is for the thirsty, and the cost has already been covered. We come as we are, empty-handed, and find ourselves welcomed and filled.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 55:1
What does Isaiah 55:1 mean?
God calls the thirsty and the penniless to come and be filled, and the only price is to come.
What is the context of Isaiah 55:1?
These chapters come near the close of Isaiah, words of comfort spoken to a people far from home and weary of exile. The picture is a marketplace, where a voice cries out like a vendor in the street, except this seller asks for no coin at all.
How can I apply Isaiah 55:1 today?
There is good news here for anyone who feels they have nothing to offer God. The invitation is not for the deserving or the well-supplied; it is for the thirsty, and the cost has already been covered. We come as we are, empty-handed, and find ourselves welcomed and filled.