Isaiah 55:7
What does Isaiah 55:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Isaiah 55:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Isaiah 55:7 means
This verse specifies the requirement for those seeking God: the wicked must abandon their sinful practices, and the unrighteous their evil thoughts. It emphasizes both external actions and internal motivations. The promise is that upon turning to the Lord, He will show mercy and abundantly pardon. This highlights God's incredible grace and willingness to forgive completely, far beyond human expectation, when genuine repentance occurs.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Let the sinner give up his way, and the evil-doer his purpose: and let him come back to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for there is full forgiveness with him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Forsake doth the wicked his way, And the man of iniquity his thoughts, And he returneth to Jehovah, and He pitieth him, And unto our God for He multiplieth to pardon.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unjust man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God: for he is bountiful to forgive.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to ourGod, for he will abundantly pardon.
Context
Following the call to 'seek the Lord' in verse 6, this verse precisely defines what that seeking entails. It moves from encouragement to specific instruction on repentance. This articulation of human responsibility for change forms a crucial bridge to the subsequent verses, which explain God's radically different and higher nature of thought and forgiveness.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 51:1
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
- Exodus 34:6
And Jehovah passed by before him, and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth;
- Isaiah 40:2
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she hath received of Jehovah’s hand double for all her sins.
- Jonah 3:10
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil which he said he would do unto them; and he did it not.
- Matthew 9:13
But go ye and learn what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice: for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.
- Psalms 130:7
O Israel, hope in Jehovah; For with Jehovah there is lovingkindness, And with him is plenteous redemption.
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