What does the biblical scripture in the King James Version in the book of Isaiah chapter 55 verse 1 means?

Answer 1

The thing about the "chapters and verses" that were added to the translations of The Bible, is that they sometimes cloud the fact that the original scriptures weren't written with them.

Isaiah's chapter 55 is a continuation of the previous chapter, 54... which leads into chapter 55, saying:

"...ALL THY CHILDREN SHALL BE TAUGHT OF THE LORD; and GREAT SHALL BE THE PEACE OF THY CHILDREN. In Righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for THOU SHALT NOT FEAR... This is the Heritage of the servants of the Lord, and THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS OF ME, saith the Lord." (Isa.54:13-17)

Isaiah is one of the "major prophets" of God... and this is, obviously, a prophecy that has not yet come to pass. Isaiah, here, is talking about the Kingdom of God established on earth by Jesus Christ -- something that hasn't occurred yet.

Jesus is not yet returned with the Kingdom to "teach all the children" His ways... nor has "Peace and Righteousness" been established in the world. "Oppression and fear" still reign supreme on the earth. Nor have the servants of the Lord received their "heritage" [inheritance], because Jesus will bring that with Him when He comes back.

"WHEN the Son of Man shall come in His Glory, and all the holy angels with Him, THEN shall He sit upon the throne of His Glory: and before Him shall be gathered ALL NATIONS [not just His servants; but ALL THE NATIONS ON EARTH. This hasn't happened, yet]: and He shall separate them one from another, as a Shepherd divideth His sheep from the goats... He shall set the sheep on His right hand... THEN shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, INHERIT THE KINGDOM prepared for you from the foundation of the world..." (Matt.25:31-34).

Isaiah is talking about the "return of Jesus Christ to earth with the Kingdom of God"... and the establishment of Justice and Peace on earth.

The subsequent first verse of Isaiah 55 echoes Jesus' Words, that "Last Day of the Feast of Tabernacles," which pictures "Judgment Day" when all the nations on earth shall be Judged by Him when He returns:

"In the Last Day, that great Day of the Feast [of Tabernacles], Jesus stood and cried, saying, IF ANY MAN THIRST, LET HIM COME UNTO ME, AND DRINK. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow Rivers of Living Water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive..." (John 7:37-39).

"...thou hast taken to thee thy Great Power, and HAST REIGNED... thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be Judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth." (Rev.11:17-18)

Now, read Isaiah 55:1: "Ho, EVERYONE 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."

(verse 3) "Incline your ear, and COME UNTO ME: hear, and your soul shall live...".

Isaiah is talking about the "returned Christ" establishing the Kingdom of God on earth... when oppression and fear will be abolished... and Peace and Righteousness will be established on earth.

Matthew Henry says this about Isaiah 55:1:

"All are welcome to the blessings of salvation, to whom those blessings are welcome. In Christ there is enough for all, and enough for each. Those satisfied with the world, that see no need of Christ, do not thirst. They are in no uneasiness about their souls: but where God gives grace, he gives a thirst after it; and where he has given a thirst after it, he will give it. Come to Christ, for he is the Fountain opened, he is the Rock smitten. Come to holy ordinances, to the streams that make glad the city of our God. Come to the healing waters, come to the living waters, Rev.xxii. 17..." (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary; Isaiah 55, Ver.1-5)