Yesaya 55:1

The Lord Gives an Invitation

55:1 “Hey, ¹  all who are thirsty, come to the water!

You who have no money, come!

Buy and eat!

Come! Buy wine and milk

without money and without cost! ² 

Yesaya 55:6-7

55:6 Seek the Lord while he makes himself available; ³ 

call to him while he is nearby!

55:7 The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle ⁴ 

and sinful people their plans. ⁵ 

They should return ⁶  to the Lord, and he will show mercy to them, ⁷ 

and to their God, for he will freely forgive them. ⁸ 

[55:1]  ¹ tn The Hebrew term הוֹי (hoy, “woe, ah”) was used in funeral laments and is often prefixed to judgment oracles for rhetorical effect. But here it appears to be a simple interjection, designed to grab the audience’s attention. Perhaps there is a note of sorrow or pity. See BDB 223 s.v.

[55:1]  ² sn The statement is an oxymoron. Its ironic quality adds to its rhetorical impact. The statement reminds one of the norm (one must normally buy commodities) as it expresses the astounding offer. One might paraphrase the statement: “Come and take freely what you normally have to pay for.”

[55:6]  ³ tn Heb “while he allows himself to be found.” The Niphal form has a tolerative force here.

[55:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “Let the wicked one abandon his way.” The singular is collective.

[55:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “and the man of evil his thoughts.” The singular is collective.

[55:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “let him return.” The singular is collective, meaning “let them.”

[55:7]  ⁷ tn The imperfect with vav (ו) conjunctive after the jussive indicates purpose/result.

[55:7]  ⁸ sn The appeal and promise of vv. 6-7 echoes the language of Deut 4:25-31; 30:1-10; and 1 Kgs 8:46-53, all of which anticipate the exile and speak of the prerequisites for restoration.