Meaning, commentary and cross references
Isaiah 55:9
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
NIV · New International Version
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
WEB · World English Bible
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
What does Isaiah 55:9 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Isaiah 55:9
For as the heavens, are higher than the earth,.... Than which there cannot be conceived a greater distance: so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts; which may denote the heavenliness of the ways and thoughts of God, the eternity and unsearchableness of them, and their excellency and preciousness; as well as the very great distance between his ways and thoughts and men's which this is designed to illustrate.
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Isaiah 55:9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth. This agrees well with that passage in which David, describing the mercy of God, says, (Psalm 103:11) that it is as much more excellent "as the heavens are higher than the earth;" for although the application is different, yet the meaning is the same. In short, God is infinitely compassionate and infinitely ready to forgive; so that it ought to be ascribed exclusively to our unbelief, if we do not obtain pardon from him. [88] There is nothing that troubles our consciences more than when we think that God is like ourselves; for the consequence is, that we do not venture to approach to him, and flee from him as an enemy, and are never at rest. But…
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Isaiah 55:6–12 (WEB)
6Seek the LORD while he may be found. Call on him while he is near. 7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says the LORD. 9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and doesn’t return there, but waters the earth, and makes it grow and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11so is my word that goes out of my mouth: it will not return to me void, but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do. 12For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace. The mountains and the hills will break out before you into singing; and all the trees of the fields will clap their hands.
Cross references
- Psalms 103:11
- Romans 11:31–36
even so these also have now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy.
- Matthew 11:25
At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.
- Psalms 77:19
- Psalms 36:5
- Psalms 89:2