Isaiah 55:1 · Bible study
Isaiah 55:1 Commentary: Buying Without Money
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the paradox of buying without money. This invitation to all who thirst reveals grace that satisfies the deepest spiritual need.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God’s free invitation to all who recognize their spiritual need, offering abundant satisfaction in his grace.
- Key words: “Thirst” (desperate spiritual desire), “come” (response to divine call), “buy” (receive by grace), “without money” (gift, not purchase).
- Main debate: Whether the water, wine, and milk refer primarily to material blessings or spiritual salvation; the majority view sees them as figures of gospel blessings.
- Theological theme: Grace alone; the universal offer of salvation; God’s initiative meets human need.
- Best use: Evangelistic preaching, assurance for those who feel unworthy, comfort for the spiritually dry.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!
WEB World English Bible 2000
“Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters! Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat! Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
KJV King James Version 1769
Ho, every one 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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Ho, every one 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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Ho, every thirsty one, come ye to the waters, And he who hath no money, Come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy Without money and without price, wine and milk.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Ho, every one 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!
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
All you that thirst, come to the waters: and you that have no money make haste, buy, and eat: come ye, buy wine and milk without money, and without any price.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
A TODOS los sedientos: Venid á las aguas; y los que no tienen dinero, venid, comprad, y comed. Venid, comprad, sin dinero y sin precio, vino y leche.
Ó todos vós que tendes sede, vinde às águas; e vós que não tendes dinheiro, vinde, comprai, e comei; vinde, comprai, sem dinheiro e sem preço, vinho e leite.
Vous tous qui avez soif, venez aux eaux,
Wohlan, alle, die ihr durstig seid, kommet her zum Wasser! und die ihr nicht Geld habt, kommet her, kaufet und esset; kommt her und kauft ohne Geld und umsonst beides, Wein und Milch!
O alle gij dorstigen! komt tot de wateren, en gij, die geen geld hebt, komt, koopt en eet, ja komt, koopt zonder geld, en zonder prijs, wijn en melk!
O voi tutti che siete assetati, venite alle acque, e voi che non avete danaro venite, comprate, mangiate! Venite, comprate senza danaro, senza pagare, vino e latte!
Nuż wszyscy pragnący pójdźcie do wód, i wy, co niemacie pieniędzy, pójdźcie, kupujcie a jedzcie; pójdźcie, mówię, kupujcie bez pieniędzy i bez zapłaty, wino i mleko.
Жаждущие! идите все к водам; даже и вы, у которых нет серебра, идите, покупайте и ешьте; идите, покупайте без серебра и без платы вино и молоко.
你們一切 乾渴的 都當就近水 來； 沒有 銀錢 的也可以來。你們都來，買了 吃；不用 銀錢，不用 價值，也來買 酒 和奶。
Ho! everyone in need, come to the waters, and he who has no strength, let him get food: come, get bread without money; wine and milk without price.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 55:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse issues a universal, gracious invitation to spiritual blessing. Barnes calls it “impossible to conceive of language more universal in its nature.” The water, wine, and milk are symbols, not literal commodities, representing the full provision of salvation: refreshment (water), joy (wine), and nourishment (milk). Gill describes the call as “indefinite terms, very openly and publicly,” directed to those who sense their spiritual need. The paradox “buy without money” signals that nothing is offered for sale; rather, reception is by grace alone. Keil and Delitzsch state that “buying without money or any other medium of exchange is an idea which neutralizes itself in the sphere of natural objects,” pointing to divine gifts obtained gratis. The Cambridge Bible calls this passage “truly evangelical” and notes its foreshadowing of New Testament invitations (John 7:37; Rev 22:17).
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Spiritual interpretation: The water, wine, and milk are metaphors for spiritual blessings—forgiveness, joy, and nourishment in the new covenant (majority of commentators: Barnes, Clarke, Gill, Keil, Cambridge). The phrase 'without money' signifies grace.
- Material/literal interpretation: Some earlier exegetes (Hitzig, Knobel, cited by Keil) take the water, wine, and milk as literal produce of the land, promises of material abundance for returning exiles. The context of agricultural images (v.12-13) is cited.
What is clear: The invitation is universal and free, originating in God’s grace, and calls those who recognize their need to come to the Lord for satisfaction that the world cannot provide.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Universal invitation | The call is to 'everyone who thirsts,' without restriction of ethnicity or status. | Some traditions emphasize that this is directed primarily to exiled Israel (Cambridge Bible notes the historical context), while others see a direct prophecy of the Gentile mission (Barnes, Gill, and the larger Christian tradition). |
| Nature of the blessings | Water, wine, and milk are symbols of divine provision that satisfies the soul. | Keil and Delitzsch, along with most Christian commentators, read these as purely spiritual blessings. Others (Hitzig, Knobel, cited by Keil) interpret them as material abundance awaiting the returning exiles. |
| Buying without money | The paradox highlights grace: salvation cannot be purchased but must be received. | How human response relates to divine gift is debated. Some see 'buy' as requiring repentance and surrender (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown), while others focus solely on the freeness of the offer (Barnes, Wesley). |
| Relation to the Davidic covenant | Verse 3 connects this invitation to the 'sure mercies of David,' grounding it in God’s covenant promise. | Interpreters differ on whether 'David' points to the historical king, the messianic hope, or the people of God as a collective (Lange’s commentary notes lexical ambiguity). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Isaiah 55 stands in the final section of the book, addressed to the exiles in Babylon. The people had settled there for decades, following Jeremiah’s instruction to build houses and plant gardens (Jer 29:6). They risked losing their national and religious identity by devoting themselves to selfish, material aims. The prophet calls them back to the true source of life.
The imagery of water, wine, and milk draws on Israel’s agricultural and festive life. Water was essential in a dry land; wine and milk signified abundance and celebration (Isa 25:6). The invitation echoes the wisdom tradition, where wisdom calls out in the streets (Prov 1:21; 8:4). But here the setting is not a city gate but the experience of exile. The people have been “spending money for that which is not bread” (v.2), laboring for what does not satisfy. The prophet summons them to return to the Lord and receive what truly nourishes.
This passage also carries forward the promise of an everlasting covenant, the “sure mercies of David” (v.3). It looks beyond the return from Babylon to the coming of David’s greater Son. New Testament writers and subsequent Christian tradition see in these words a prophetic invitation to the Messiah, who offers living water (John 7:37) and the bread of life (John 6:35). The historical situation of the exiles becomes a type of all human spiritual rootlessness, and the answer is the grace of God freely offered.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Isaiah 55:1. The Masoretic text is stable across witnesses, and the key terms, hoy (alas!/ho!), shivru (buy grain), mechir (price), are uniformly attested. The Septuagint translates the opening as hoi diphontes (“those who thirst”), consistent with the Hebrew. No critical issues affect the interpretation of the passage.
Reception History
Isaiah 55:1 has been treasured in Christian tradition as a preview of the gospel invitation. The early church read it Christologically: the waters point to the living water Jesus offers (John 7:37-38), and the free wine and milk prefigure the Eucharist and the milk of the Word (1 Pet 2:2). In the liturgy, the verse appears in calls to the Lord’s Table, especially during Easter. Hymnody has echoed its themes, most notably in “Ho, Everyone That Thirsteth,” a hymn after the Sheffield tune. The Reformation embraced the verse to underscore grace alone: we bring nothing, we receive everything. Its universal invitation has also grounded evangelistic preaching across traditions, from Wesley’s open-air calls to modern missions.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The universal summons: “Ho, everyone who thirsts.” The call is to all, without exception. Spiritual need is the only prerequisite.
- The paradox of free purchase: “Come, buy and eat… without money and without price.” Salvation is both a gift and a transaction we cannot make, only receive.
- The abundance of provision: Water, wine, milk. God offers not just bare sustenance but joy and richness. The grace of Christ supplies every need.
Five-point outline
- The urgent invitation: The cry “Ho” demands attention. This is not a passive offer but an active summons.
- The condition of thirst: Only those who sense their need respond. Thirst here is spiritual desperation for God (Ps 42:1-2; 63:1).
- The bankruptcy of human resource: “He who has no money.” All are spiritual paupers. No one brings anything to the transaction.
- The grace of free purchase: “Buy and eat.” The verb shivru is used for buying grain, but here it is emptied of cost. We receive what we could never afford.
- The feast of gospel blessings: Wine (joy of the Holy Spirit) and milk (nourishment of the Word) picture the full satisfaction found in Christ.
Illustration hooks
- Market scene: Imagine a town crier announcing a free feast. People rush past because they think there must be a catch. The verse meets that skepticism head-on: no money, no price.
- Thirst in a desert: A traveler dying of thirst comes to a spring. The water costs nothing, but pride or unbelief could keep them from drinking. The invitation is personal and urgent.
- Bankruptcy court: A debtor who owes everything is told the debt is canceled and a banquet is prepared. That is the gospel for those who thought they had to pay.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “I have nothing to offer God, can I really come?”
- “What if I don’t feel thirsty enough or my desire is weak?”
- “How can it be free when everything else in life costs?”
Leading a Discussion
Isaiah 55:1 confronts our deepest assumptions. We believe things of value require payment. But God calls us to come with empty hands and be satisfied. This passage is an invitation to stop trying to earn what only grace can give.
Discussion questions
- In verse 1, who is invited and what qualifies a person to come? What does “thirst” mean in this context?
- Why does God use marketplace language, “buy,” “eat,” “wine and milk”, if no money is involved? What is the paradox?
- Verse 2 contrasts two kinds of spending. What are some modern examples of “spending money for that which is not bread”?
- How does this invitation relate to Jesus’ words in John 7:37-38? What does it show about the continuity of God’s plan?
- The verse says “everyone” and “he who has no money.” Why is it important that the offer includes the poor and the bankrupt? How does this challenge our sense of worthiness?
- How do we “buy without money” today? What does receiving salvation by grace look like in daily life?
- What keeps you from coming to the waters? Is there a spiritual thirst you are trying to satisfy elsewhere?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Ruth 4:1 | Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there. Behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by. Boaz said to him, “Come over here, friend, and sit down!” He came over, and sat down. |
| Psalms 42:1 | For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God. |
| Psalms 42:2 | My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? |
| Psalms 63:1 | A Psalm by David, when he was in the desert of Judah. God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water. |
| Psalms 143:6 | I spread out my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. Selah. |
| Proverbs 1:21 | She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words: |
| Proverbs 1:23 | Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you. |
| Proverbs 8:4 | “I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes argues that the main point of this chapter is to show that Christ's work lays the foundation for a truly universal invitation to salvation. Because the merits of his death are so ample, the offer can be made freely to everyone, regardless of poverty or wealth. For Barnes, the universal language proves that provision has genuinely been made for all, so no one can claim they are excluded or that the offer is insincere.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Ho, euery one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and ye that haue no siluer, come, bye and eate: come, I say, bye wine and milke without siluer and without money.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill reads this as the Lord’s own invitation, not the prophet’s, and specifically directs it to Gentiles who are spiritually thirsty for forgiveness, righteousness, and Christ himself. He interprets “waters” as the Gospel ordinances, not Christ or the Spirit, and stresses that the call is utterly free: those who have no spiritual money are welcomed to buy without price.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argues that water, wine, and milk are not literal blessings of the land but figures for spiritual revival and nourishment. The call to buy without money means these gifts come by grace alone, requiring only a sense of need and a willingness to accept. True satisfaction comes through the obedience of faith, not earthly labor.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that this passage announces a radically new way of receiving salvation: not by performing works but by believing acceptance. He insists the offer of food and drink without money is spiritual, not literal, and that the true purchase price is hearkening to God's word. This marks a shift from the old covenant of law to the new covenant of grace through faith.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry underscores that the call goes out to every person without distinction, Jew and Gentile alike. The only requirement for receiving God's free provision is spiritual thirst, a deep longing for grace. No money, status, or merit is needed; the invitation is universal
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses that true spiritual thirst is a restless, active craving for God's grace. He insists the invitation is free, welcoming even the most worthless and wicked if they thirst. The wine and milk represent gospel blessings: the Holy Spirit's peace and joy, which surpass wine, and God's love that nourishes the soul like milk.