Isaiah 55:6
Isaiah 55:6 in Multiple Translations
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
¶ Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near:
Make search for the Lord while he is there, make prayer to him while he is near:
Look for the Lord while you can still find him; call out to him while he's nearby.
Seeke ye the Lord while he may be found: call ye vpon him while he is neere.
Seek ye Jehovah, while He is found, Call ye Him, while He is near,
Seek the LORD while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found: call upon him, while he is near.
Seek to know me while it is still possible for you to do that; call to me while I am near!
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 55:6
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
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Isaiah 55:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
דִּרְשׁ֥וּ
יְהוָ֖ה
בְּ/הִמָּצְא֑/וֹ
קְרָאֻ֖/הוּ
בִּֽ/הְיוֹת֥/וֹ
קָרֽוֹב
דִּרְשׁ֥וּ
dârash
H1875
to seek
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
יְהוָ֖ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
בְּ/הִמָּצְא֑/וֹ
mâtsâʼ
H4672
to find
Prep | V-Niphal-Inf-a | Suff
קְרָאֻ֖/הוּ
qârâʼ
H7121
to call
V-Qal-Impv-2mp | Suff
בִּֽ/הְיוֹת֥/וֹ
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff
קָרֽוֹב
qârôwb
H7138
near
Adj
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 55:6
דִּרְשׁ֥וּ
dârash
H1875
"to seek"
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
To seek or ask is the meaning of this Hebrew word, often used to describe seeking God or worshiping him. It can also mean to investigate or enquire about something.
Definition: 1) to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to resort to, frequent (a place), (tread a place) 1a2) to consult, enquire of, seek 1a2a) of God 1a2b) of heathen gods, necromancers 1a3) to seek deity in prayer and worship 1a3a) God 1a3b) heathen deities 1a4) to seek (with a demand), demand, require 1a5) to investigate, enquire 1a6) to ask for, require, demand 1a7) to practice, study, follow, seek with application 1a8) to seek with care, care for 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to allow oneself to be enquired of, consulted (only of God) 1b2) to be sought, be sought out 1b3) to be required (of blood)
Usage: Occurs in 152 OT verses. KJV: ask, [idiom] at all, care for, [idiom] diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-) mancer, question, require, search, seek (for, out), [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 9:5; Ezra 10:16; Psalms 9:11.
יְהוָ֖ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
בְּ/הִמָּצְא֑/וֹ
mâtsâʼ
H4672
"to find"
Prep | V-Niphal-Inf-a | Suff
Matsa means to find or attain something, whether it is a physical object, a person, or a condition, as seen in various KJV translations.
Definition: 1) to find, attain to 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to find 1a1a) to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought) 1a1b) to find (what is lost) 1a1c) to meet, encounter 1a1d) to find (a condition) 1a1e) to learn, devise 1a2) to find out 1a2a) to find out 1a2b) to detect 1a2c) to guess 1a3) to come upon, light upon 1a3a) to happen upon, meet, fall in with 1a3b) to hit 1a3c) to befall 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be found 1b1a) to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered 1b1b) to appear, be recognised 1b1c) to be discovered, be detected 1b1d) to be gained, be secured 1b2) to be, be found 1b2a) to be found in 1b2b) to be in the possession of 1b2c) to be found in (a place), happen to be 1b2d) to be left (after war) 1b2e) to be present 1b2f) to prove to be 1b2g) to be found sufficient, be enough 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to find, attain 1c2) to cause to light upon, come upon, come 1c3) to cause to encounter 1c4) to present (offering)
Usage: Occurs in 425 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on. See also: Genesis 2:20; Deuteronomy 22:3; 2 Kings 9:35.
קְרָאֻ֖/הוּ
qârâʼ
H7121
"to call"
V-Qal-Impv-2mp | Suff
This Hebrew word means to call out to someone or something, often by name. It's used in many situations, like calling for help or reading aloud. In Genesis, God calls out to Adam in the Garden.
Definition: : call_to/invite/entreat 1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound 1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God) 1a3) to proclaim 1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read 1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow 1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to call oneself 1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named 1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen
Usage: Occurs in 689 OT verses. KJV: bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 49:1; Judges 1:26.
בִּֽ/הְיוֹת֥/וֹ
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
קָרֽוֹב
qârôwb
H7138
"near"
Adj
This Hebrew word means near, describing something close in place, time, or relationship. It is used in the book of Genesis to describe family relationships. The word is used to describe a close connection.
Definition: 1) near 1a) of place 1b) of time 1c) of personal relationship 1c1) kinship
Usage: Occurs in 76 OT verses. KJV: allied, approach, at hand, [phrase] any of kin, kinsfold(-sman), (that is) near (of kin), neighbour, (that is) next, (them that come) nigh (at hand), more ready, short(-ly). See also: Genesis 19:20; Psalms 75:2; Psalms 15:3.
Study Notes — Isaiah 55:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 55:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 55:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 55:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 55:6
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 55:6
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 55:6
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 55:6
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 55:6
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 55:6
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 55:6
- Sermons on Isaiah 55:6
Context — Invitation to the Needy
4Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations, a leader and commander of the peoples.
5Surely you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, has bestowed glory on you.”
6Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
7Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. 8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 29:12–14 | Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and places to which I have banished you, declares the LORD. I will restore you to the place from which I sent you into exile.” |
| 2 | Psalms 145:18 | The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth. |
| 3 | Isaiah 45:19 | I have not spoken in secret, from a place in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in a wasteland.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I say what is right. |
| 4 | Psalms 32:6 | Therefore let all the godly pray to You while You may be found. Surely when great waters rise, they will not come near. |
| 5 | Psalms 14:2 | The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. |
| 6 | Isaiah 65:24 | Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear. |
| 7 | Matthew 7:7–8 | Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. |
| 8 | 2 Corinthians 6:1–2 | As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation! |
| 9 | Amos 5:6 | Seek the LORD and live, or He will sweep like fire through the house of Joseph; it will devour everything, with no one at Bethel to extinguish it. |
| 10 | 1 Chronicles 28:9 | As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. |
Isaiah 55:6 Summary
Isaiah 55:6 is an invitation from God to seek Him and call on Him while He is near. This means turning to Him with all our heart and making Him the center of our lives, trusting in His goodness and love. Just like a child runs to a loving parent, we can run to God and know that He will listen and respond, as seen in Matthew 7:7-8. By seeking the LORD, we can experience His presence, love, and forgiveness, and live a life that honors Him, as seen in Psalm 16:11.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'seek the LORD' in Isaiah 55:6?
Seeking the LORD means to turn to Him with all our heart, soul, and mind, as seen in Deuteronomy 4:29, and to make Him the center of our lives, trusting in His goodness and love, just as Psalm 119:10 encourages us to seek Him with our whole heart.
Why is it important to call on the LORD 'while He is near'?
Calling on the LORD while He is near emphasizes the importance of responding to God's presence and invitation in our lives, as Hebrews 3:7-8 warns us not to harden our hearts when we hear His voice, and as seen in the urgency of 2 Corinthians 6:2 to receive God's grace today.
Is this verse only for unbelievers, or can believers also seek the LORD in this way?
While Isaiah 55:6 is an invitation to all people to seek the LORD, believers can also seek Him in a deeper way, as seen in Matthew 7:7-8, where Jesus encourages us to ask, seek, and knock, and in Jeremiah 29:12-13, where we're promised that when we call on the LORD, He will listen and respond.
How can we be sure that the LORD is 'near' and willing to be found?
The Bible assures us that God is always near to those who call on Him in truth, as seen in Psalm 145:18, and that He is a God who is full of mercy, love, and compassion, as seen in Psalm 103:8-14, and that He desires a personal relationship with each of us, as seen in Revelation 3:20.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have been seeking the LORD recently, and what are some ways that I can seek Him more intentionally in my daily life?
- In what ways do I sense the LORD's nearness in my life, and how can I respond to His presence with faith, hope, and love?
- What are some distractions or obstacles that might be hindering my ability to seek the LORD, and how can I overcome them with the help of God's Word and Spirit?
- How can I share the invitation of Isaiah 55:6 with others, and encourage them to seek the LORD while He may be found?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found,.... The Lord is to be sought unto at all times, whenever the people of God meet together, especially on sabbath days, and while the external ministry of the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. The condition and limit in the obtaining of the spiritual benefits (Isaiah 55:1-3): (1) Seek the Lord.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the Lord: having discoursed of the office and work of Christ, and showed that he should call people and nations to himself, and to God, he now endeavours to persuade the people to hearken to his call, and to seek the Lord, i.e. to labour to get the knowledge of God’ s will, and to obtain his grace and favour; neither of which things were to be done but in and through Christ. And this invitation or exhortation is general, like that , reaching to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles, implying that both of them had lost him and his favour, and were gone astray from him. Seek him, ye Gentiles, whom he now inviteth so to do, and will assist in finding him. And seeing the Gentiles seek him earnestly, let their example provoke you Jews to imitate them therein, and take heed that you do not reject him, whom they will receive and own. While he may be found; in this day of grace, whilst he offereth mercy and reconciliation to you; which he will not always do. Compare , &c.; . While he is near; near to you by his gracious presence and offers in his ordinances, ready and desirous to receive you to mercy upon the following conditions.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 55:6
Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:Ver. 6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found.] Seek not his omnipresence - for that ye need not do, since he is not far from any one of us - but his gracious presence, his face and favour; seek to be in the fear of the Lord and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, in communion with him, and conformity unto him, and give not over till you find it. Seek him seriously, seek him seasonably. There is a time when men shall seek the Lord with their flocks and herds, and yet not find him, when once he hath withdrawn himself from them. Call ye upon him while he is near.] In a time of acceptance, before he hath sworn that he will not be spoken with. God is but a while with men in the opportunities of grace.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 55:6
(6) While he may be found . . .—The appeal shows that the promised blessings are not unconditional. There may come a time (as in Matthew 25:11) when “too late will be written on all efforts to gain the inheritance which has been forfeited by neglect (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 55:6
Verse 6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found] Rab. David Kimchi gives the true sense of this passage: "Seek ye the Lord, because he may be found: call upon him, because he is near. Repent before ye die, for after death there is no conversion of the soul."
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 55:6
6, 7. The call to repentance, because of the nearness of the kingdom of God. while he may be found … while he is near] in the “acceptable time” the “day of salvation” (ch. Isaiah 49:8). Comp. further Jeremiah 29:12-14.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the Lord - The commencement of religion in the heart is often represented as seeking for God. or inquiring for his ways Deuteronomy 4:29; Job 5:8; Job 8:5; Psalms 9:10; Psalms 14:2; Psalms 27:8.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 55:6
6-9. Seek ye the Lord — Now. This time of spiritual restoration, when God is more manifestly near than usual, is the best time, because a crisis time.
Sermons on Isaiah 55:6
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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A Craving for the Presence - Part 1 by David Wilkerson | This sermon emphasizes the importance of craving the presence of the Lord amidst challenging times, highlighting the need to prioritize seeking God's presence over solely relying o |
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A Touch From God (Full) by David Wilkerson | This sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking God's presence and being willing to fully surrender to Him, leaving behind defilement and busyness. It highlights the need for a de |
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A Craving for the Presence - Part 2 by David Wilkerson | This sermon emphasizes the importance of craving and seeking the presence of the Lord in our lives, rather than just relying on legal contracts or promises. It highlights the need |
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God Wants to Make Covenant With You! by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant in serving God. Under the Old Covenant, people tried to please God through thei |
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Calling on the Name of the Lord by Jim Cymbala | This sermon emphasizes the power and importance of calling on the name of the Lord in times of trouble and need. It recounts personal experiences and biblical principles that highl |
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The Lord's Word Shall Prevail by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher invites the audience to join a counter-culture revolution that is happening worldwide. He encourages them to set their minds and stir their hearts thro |
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Losing the Anointing - Part 2 (High Quality) by David Wilkerson | This sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking a fresh anointing from God, recounting personal experiences of revival and the need for a renewed passion for ministry. The speaker |