Isaiah 5:13

5:13 Therefore my ¹  people will be deported ² 

because of their lack of understanding.

Their ³  leaders will have nothing to eat, ⁴ 

their ⁵  masses will have nothing to drink. ⁶ 

Isaiah 21:14

21:14 Bring out some water for the thirsty.

You who live in the land of Tema,

bring some food for the fugitives.

Isaiah 44:3

44:3 For I will pour water on the parched ground ⁷ 

and cause streams to flow ⁸  on the dry land.

I will pour my spirit on your offspring

and my blessing on your children.

Isaiah 32:6

32:6 For a fool speaks disgraceful things; ⁹ 

his mind plans out sinful deeds. ¹⁰ 

He commits godless deeds ¹¹ 

and says misleading things about the Lord;

he gives the hungry nothing to satisfy their appetite ¹² 

and gives the thirsty nothing to drink. ¹³ 

Isaiah 55:1

The Lord Gives an Invitation

55:1 “Hey, ¹⁴  all who are thirsty, come to the water!

You who have no money, come!

Buy and eat!

Come! Buy wine and milk

without money and without cost! ¹⁵ 

[5:13]  ¹ sn It is not certain if the prophet or the Lord is speaking at this point.

[5:13]  ² tn The suffixed (perfect) form of the verb is used; in this way the coming event is described for rhetorical effect as occurring or as already completed.

[5:13]  ³ tn The third masculine singular suffix refers back to “my people.”

[5:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “Their glory will be men of hunger.” כָּבוֹד (kavod, “glory”) is in opposition to הָמוֹן (hamon, “masses”) and refers here to the rich and prominent members of the nation. Some prefer to repoint מְתֵי (mÿtey, “men of”) as מִתֵי (mitey, “dead ones of”).

[5:13]  ⁵ tn The third masculine singular suffix refers back to “my people.”

[5:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “and their masses will be parched [by] thirst.”

[44:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “the thirsty.” Parallelism suggests that dry ground is in view (see “dry land” in the next line.)

[44:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “and streams”; KJV “floods.” The verb “cause…to flow” is supplied in the second line for clarity and for stylistic reasons.

[32:6]  ¹³ tn Or “foolishness,” in a moral-ethical sense. See 9:17.

[32:6]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “and his heart commits sin”; KJV, ASV “his heart will work iniquity”; NASB “inclines toward wickedness.”

[32:6]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “in order to do [or “so that he does”] what is godless [or “defiled”].”

[32:6]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “so that he leaves empty the appetite [or “desire”] of the hungry.”

[32:6]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “and the drink of the thirsty he causes to fail.”

[55:1]  ¹⁹ tn The Hebrew term הוֹי (hoy, “woe, ah”) was used in funeral laments and is often prefixed to judgment oracles for rhetorical effect. But here it appears to be a simple interjection, designed to grab the audience’s attention. Perhaps there is a note of sorrow or pity. See BDB 223 s.v.

[55:1]  ²⁰ sn The statement is an oxymoron. Its ironic quality adds to its rhetorical impact. The statement reminds one of the norm (one must normally buy commodities) as it expresses the astounding offer. One might paraphrase the statement: “Come and take freely what you normally have to pay for.”