Isaiah 55:9
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.

New Living Translation
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

English Standard Version
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Berean Standard Bible
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

King James Bible
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

New 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.

New American Standard Bible
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

NASB 1995
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

NASB 1977
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Legacy Standard Bible
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Amplified Bible
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Christian Standard Bible
“For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

American Standard Version
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Contemporary English Version
Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours.

English Revised Version
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts."

Good News Translation
As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways and thoughts above yours.

International Standard Version
"For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Majority Standard Bible
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

NET Bible
for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans.

New Heart 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.

Webster's Bible Translation
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“For [as] high [as] the heavens have been above the earth, "" So high have been My ways above your ways, "" And My thoughts above your thoughts.

Young's Literal Translation
For high have the heavens been above the earth, So high have been My ways above your ways, And My thoughts above your thoughts.

Smith's Literal Translation
As the heavens were high above the earth, so my ways were high above your ways, and my purposes above your purposes.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so are my ways exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For just as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so also are my ways exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.

New American Bible
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

New Revised Standard Version
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because as Heaven is higher than the Earth, just so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But as the heaven is distant from the earth, so is my way distant from your ways, and your thoughts from my mind.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Invitation to the Needy
8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. 9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. 10For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat,…

Cross References
Romans 11:33
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!

Psalm 103:11
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.

Job 11:7-9
Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? / They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? / Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

1 Corinthians 2:9
Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Ephesians 3:18-19
will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth / of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Psalm 36:5
Your loving devotion, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; / in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.

Psalm 139:6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Ecclesiastes 11:5
As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

1 Corinthians 1:25
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

Psalm 92:5
How great are Your works, O LORD, how deep are Your thoughts!

Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.

Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Psalm 145:3
Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.


Treasury of Scripture

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Psalm 36:5
Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Psalm 77:19
Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.

Psalm 89:2
For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

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Isaiah 55
1. The prophet, with the promises of Christ, calls to faith
6. And to repentance
8. The happy success of those who believe














For as the heavens are higher than the earth
This phrase draws a vivid comparison between the vastness of the heavens and the earth. In Hebrew, "heavens" (שָׁמַיִם, shamayim) often refers to the sky or the abode of God, symbolizing the infinite and the divine. The "earth" (אֶרֶץ, erets) represents the finite and the human realm. This contrast emphasizes the immeasurable gap between God's domain and human existence. Historically, the ancients viewed the heavens as a realm of mystery and divine presence, reinforcing the idea of God's transcendence and the limitations of human understanding.

so My ways are higher than your ways
The term "ways" (דֶּרֶךְ, derek) in Hebrew signifies a path or course of life, often used metaphorically to describe one's conduct or moral direction. God's "ways" are His divine plans and purposes, which are inherently superior to human ways. This superiority is not just in terms of morality but also in wisdom and understanding. The historical context of Isaiah's prophecy often involved calling Israel back to trust in God's superior plans, especially when human strategies seemed more appealing or logical.

and My thoughts than your thoughts
"Thoughts" (מַחֲשָׁבָה, machashabah) in Hebrew refers to intentions, plans, or purposes. God's "thoughts" are His divine intentions, which are beyond human comprehension. This phrase reassures believers of the depth and wisdom of God's plans, which are always for the ultimate good, even when they are not immediately apparent. In the scriptural context, this serves as a reminder of the need for humility and trust in God's overarching plan, especially during times of uncertainty or trial.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“For
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

[as] the heavens
שָׁמַ֖יִם (šā·ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

are higher
גָבְה֥וּ (ḡā·ḇə·hū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1361: To soar, be lofty, to be haughty

than the earth,
מֵאָ֑רֶץ (mê·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

so
כֵּ֣ן (kên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

My ways
דְרָכַי֙ (ḏə·rā·ḵay)
Noun - common plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

are higher
גָּבְה֤וּ (gā·ḇə·hū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1361: To soar, be lofty, to be haughty

than your ways
מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֔ם (mid·dar·ḵê·ḵem)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

and My thoughts
וּמַחְשְׁבֹתַ֖י (ū·maḥ·šə·ḇō·ṯay)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4284: A contrivance, a texture, machine, intention, plan

than your thoughts.
מִמַּחְשְׁבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (mim·maḥ·šə·ḇō·ṯê·ḵem)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 4284: A contrivance, a texture, machine, intention, plan


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 55:8
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