Isaiah 55:4
2 Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.
3 Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant— My loving devotion promised to David.
Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations, a leader and commander of the peoples.
5 Surely 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.”
6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations, a leader and commander of the peoples.
- KJV
- Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
- WEB
- Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples.
- ASV
- Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples.
- DARBY
- Behold, I have given him [for] a witness to the peoples, a prince and commander to the peoples.
- BLB
- Behold, as a witness to the nations I have placed him, a leader and commander of the peoples.
- ÅB
- Se, til et vitne for folkeslag har jeg satt ham[^2], til en fyrste og en hersker over folkeslag.
- OTB
- Se, jeg har utnevnt ham som et vitne for nasjonene, en leder og kommandør for folkene.
- B1930
- Se, til et vidne for folkeslag har jeg satt ham, til en fyrste og en hersker over folkeslag. / < i Messias. ÅPE 1, 5; 3, 14. SLM 2, 8; 72, 8 fg.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Revelation 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,
Read in contextIsaiah 9:6–7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Read in contextHebrews 2:10
In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
Read in contextRevelation 3:14
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation.
Read in contextJeremiah 30:9
Instead, they will serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.
Read in contextDaniel 9:25
Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.
Read in context1 Timothy 6:13
I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:
Read in contextMatthew 28:18–20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Read in context