Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that our "labor" for things that don't satisfy is essentially a form of "spending money," revealing that worldly pursuits are costly investments that yield no lasting return. God invites us to exchange this futile effort for His nourishment, which requires attentive listening rather than monetary payment.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is extending an urgent invitation from God, urging listeners to turn away from their fruitless pursuits. He contrasts the costly yet unsatisfying nature of worldly endeavors – spending resources for what offers no true sustenance – with God's gracious provision. This invitation is a pivotal moment, setting the stage for God's promise of abundant spiritual nourishment and an everlasting covenant in the following verses.
Ever feel like you're working hard, spending energy, but still coming up empty? This verse cuts right to the heart of that feeling.
Isaiah challenges the people directly: 'Why spend your money for what isn't bread, and your labor for what doesn't satisfy?' This isn't just about literal food and money. It's a powerful metaphor for how we chase after things that seem valuable but ultimately leave us hungry and unfulfilled.
This is a call to examine where we're investing our precious resources and whether those pursuits are truly feeding our souls or just making us hungrier.
After pointing out the futility of chasing empty promises, the prophet offers a radical alternative. It's an invitation to a feast unlike any other.
The turning point in Isaiah 55:2 comes with a simple, yet profound, command: 'Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.' God Himself is speaking, offering an abundance that surpasses anything the world can provide.
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Jesus directly echoes Isaiah's concern, asking 'Take care, and beware of all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions,' highlighting that worldly pursuits and material wealth cannot truly satisfy.
John 4:14This passage offers a profound contrast to the verse, with Jesus describing the 'living water' he offers as something that will become 'a spring of water welling up to eternal life,' directly opposing the temporary and unsatisfying nature of what people chase after.
Ecclesiastes 2:11Solomon's reflection on his pursuits in pleasure, work, and wealth reveals a similar conclusion: 'Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind! and there was nothing to be gained under the sun,' underscoring the futility of labor that doesn't yield lasting satisfaction.
Matthew 6:24Jesus directly addresses the divided heart, stating 'No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and money,' which speaks to the core of Isaiah's message about prioritizing spiritual nourishment over the pursuit of earthly gain that ultimately dissatisfies.
Proverbs 9:1-6This passage presents a parallel invitation from Wisdom, who has prepared a feast and sent out her servants, saying, 'Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine I have mixed,' mirroring Isaiah's call to accept God's provision for true sustenance instead of pursuing lesser things.
clarkeIsaiah 55:2: "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness."
So here לא עץ lo ets means him who is far from being an inert piece of wood, but is an animated and active being; not an instrument, but an agent. Isaiah 55:2Wherefore do ye spend - Why should ye be so zealously attached to a doctrine from which your souls derive neither com…
pulpitIsaiah 55:2: "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness."
Verse 2. - Wherefore do ye spend money? literally, wherefore do ye weigh silver?-silver being the ordinary currency, and money transactions, in default of a coinage, being by weight (cf. Genesis 23:16; Zechariah 11:12). For that which is not bread; i.e. "for that which has no…
The verse highlights that our "labor" for things that don't satisfy is essentially a form of "spending money," revealing that worldly pursuits are costly investments that yield no lasting return. God invites us to exchange this futile effort for His nourishment, which requires attentive listening rather than monetary payment.
The prophet Isaiah is extending an urgent invitation from God, urging listeners to turn away from their fruitless pursuits. He contrasts the costly yet unsatisfying nature of worldly endeavors – spending resources for what offers no true sustenance – with God's gracious provision. This invitation is a pivotal moment, setting the stage for God's promise of abundant spiritual nourishment and an everlasting covenant in the following verses.
The prophet Isaiah is extending an urgent invitation from God, urging listeners to turn away from their fruitless pursuits. He contrasts the costly yet unsatisfying nature of worldly endeavors – spending resources for what offers no true sustenance – with God's gracious provision. This invitation is a pivotal moment, setting the stage for God's promise of abundant spiritual nourishment and an everlasting covenant in the following verses.
"Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food." — The verse highlights that our "labor" for things that don't satisfy is essentially a form of "spending money," revealing that worldly pursuits are costly investments that yield no lasting return. God…
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Last reviewed October 2026