“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes that both rain and snow from heaven don't just fall and disappear; they are sent with a specific, fruitful purpose. This imagery highlights that God's word, like these elements, is always effective, designed to nourish and bring forth life and provision.
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following a powerful invitation to seek God and accept His abundant mercy, Isaiah uses the natural phenomenon of rain and snow to illustrate how God's Word, once spoken, will inevitably accomplish its intended purpose. Just as these elements nourish the earth and produce growth, God's promises, even in times of exile, are guaranteed to bring about a spiritual and physical restoration.
Imagine the sky opening up. What if what comes down always achieves its goal?
Isaiah 55:10 uses the imagery of rain and snow, not just as weather, but as powerful agents with a divine purpose. These elements descend from heaven, but they don't just disappear. Their purpose is to 'water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout.' This isn't random; it's a deliberate action with a predictable, life-giving outcome.
If nature's provisions are so reliable, how much more reliable is God's own Word?
The analogy of rain and snow directly connects to God's Word. Just as these natural elements are sent with a mission and do not return void, so too does God's Word have an inherent, powerful effect.
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This passage assures us that God's communication isn't just information; it's power. When God speaks, His words carry the divine energy to bring about the reality they describe.
Understand the original words
geshem · Hebrew Noun
Precipitation or moisture from above that sustains life. Biblically, it is often a symbol of divine blessing, spiritual renewal, and the life-giving nature of God's Word.
zera' · Hebrew Noun
The botanical product of the earth used for cultivation and sustenance; it represents God's provision and the tangible outcome of spiritual or physical labors blessed by Him.
This passage uses a similar metaphor of divine teaching coming down like rain and dew, emphasizing its life-giving and nurturing effect on the people, mirroring the natural effect of rain on the earth in Isaiah.
Jeremiah 23:29This verse directly compares God's word to fire and a hammer, highlighting its powerful and transformative impact, contrasting with Isaiah's gentler imagery of rain but reinforcing the idea that God's word is never ineffective.
John 6:35Jesus declares Himself as the 'bread of life,' directly linking the spiritual sustenance offered by God to the imagery of bread in Isaiah 55:10, showing that God's provision goes beyond physical nourishment.
2 Corinthians 9:10This New Testament passage parallels Isaiah's imagery by speaking of God providing 'seed to the sower and bread for food,' connecting the agricultural metaphor to God's provision for both our needs and our ability to give.
wesleyIsaiah 55:10: "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:"
55:10 The snow - Which in its season contributes to the fruitfulness of the earth. Returneth not - Without effect. And bread - That it may bring forth store of bread - corn, both for mens present supplies, and for seed for the next year.
gillIsaiah 55:10: "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:"
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither,.... Rain and snow come down from the clouds in the heavens, and do not return again until they have done what they are sent to do, or have produced the following effects; otherwise they may be exhaled…
The verse emphasizes that both rain and snow from heaven don't just fall and disappear; they are sent with a specific, fruitful purpose. This imagery highlights that God's word, like these elements, is always effective, designed to nourish and bring forth life and provision.
Following a powerful invitation to seek God and accept His abundant mercy, Isaiah uses the natural phenomenon of rain and snow to illustrate how God's Word, once spoken, will inevitably accomplish its intended purpose. Just as these elements nourish the earth and produce growth, God's promises, even in times of exile, are guaranteed to bring about a spiritual and physical restoration.
Following a powerful invitation to seek God and accept His abundant mercy, Isaiah uses the natural phenomenon of rain and snow to illustrate how God's Word, once spoken, will inevitably accomplish its intended purpose. Just as these elements nourish the earth and produce growth, God's promises, even in times of exile, are guaranteed to bring about a spiritual and physical restoration.
"“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater," — The verse emphasizes that both rain and snow from heaven don't just fall and disappear; they are sent with a specific, fruitful purpose. This imagery highlights that God's word, like these elements,…
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Last reviewed October 2026