The Meaning of Isaiah 55:8 Explained

Isaiah 55:8

KJV: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

YLT: For not My thoughts are your thoughts, Nor your ways My ways, -- an affirmation of Jehovah,

Darby: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah.

ASV: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For my thoughts  [are] not your thoughts,  neither [are] your ways  my ways,  saith  the LORD. 

What does Isaiah 55:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 55:1-13 - The Free Offer Of Pardoning Grace
The Prince of Life, Isaiah 55:4, r.v. Four times in the New Testament this title is applied to our Lord, and always in connection with His Resurrection. See Acts 3:14-15; Acts 5:31; Hebrews 2:9-10; Hebrews 12:2, where the words prince, author, and captain, are various translations of the same Greek word. The meaning of the original word is file leader. He leads out of death into life; out of defeat into victory; out of suffering into perfection; out of the sorrow and pain of discipline into the triumph of the sons of light.
The everlasting covenant, Isaiah 55:3. David's sin could not cancel the sure mercies of God. See 2 Samuel 7:14-16 and 2 Samuel 23:5. God will never go back on that covenant which includes us! See Hebrews 8:1-13. God's mercies in Christ are sure. Listen! Come! Hear! We are not only forever safe, but we are provided against all want.
God's abundant provision is described under several terms: waters, wine, milk, wholesome and satisfying bread, the good, fatness, Isaiah 55:1-2. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ, Ephesians 1:3. And because God's thoughts and ways are not as ours, the result is the transformation of thorns into firs and briars into myrtles. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Isaiah 55:8 mean?

For not My thoughts [are] your thoughts nor [are] your ways My ways says Yahweh
כִּ֣י לֹ֤א מַחְשְׁבוֹתַי֙ מַחְשְׁב֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם וְלֹ֥א דַרְכֵיכֶ֖ם דְּרָכָ֑י נְאֻ֖ם יְהוָֽה

מַחְשְׁבוֹתַי֙  My  thoughts  [are] 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: מַחֲשָׁבָה  
Sense: thought, device.
מַחְשְׁב֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם  your  thoughts 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: מַחֲשָׁבָה  
Sense: thought, device.
וְלֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
דַרְכֵיכֶ֖ם  [are]  your  ways 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
דְּרָכָ֑י  My  ways 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, first person common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
נְאֻ֖ם  says 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.