Devine Scripture

Isaiah 55:10

What does Isaiah 55:10 mean?

A plain-English look at Isaiah 55:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Isaiah 55:10 means

This verse uses the reliable cycle of rain and snow to illustrate a divine principle. Just as precipitation falls from the heavens, accomplishes its designed purpose of watering the earth, causing growth, and producing seed and bread, and does not return without impact, so too is God's word effective. It signifies that God's word is not mere suggestion but carries inherent power to achieve His intended results.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and does not go back again, but gives water to the earth, and makes it fertile, giving seed to the planter, and bread for food;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

For, as come down doth the shower, And the snow from the heavens, And thither returneth not, But hath watered the earth, And hath caused it to yield, and to spring up, And hath given seed to the sower, and bread to the eater,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return no more thither, but soak the earth, and water it, and make it to spring, and give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

Context

After establishing God's transcendent nature in verses 8 and 9, this verse shifts to demonstrating God's power through His words. It moves from character to action, using a common meteorological phenomenon as a clear object lesson. This natural example provides the foundation for the explicit statement about the efficacy of God's word in the subsequent verse.

v.9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

v.10This passage

v.11so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Hosea 10:12

    Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

  • Psalms 65:9

    Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it, Thou greatly enrichest it; The river of God is full of water: Thou providest them grain, when thou hast so prepared the earth.

  • Isaiah 5:6

    and I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor hoed; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

  • Isaiah 30:23

    And he will give the rain for thy seed, wherewith thou shalt sow the ground; and bread of the increase of the ground, and it shall be fat and plenteous. In that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures;

  • Isaiah 61:11

    For as the earth bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

  • Psalms 72:6

    He will come down like rain upon the mown grass, As showers that water the earth.

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