My Ways Are Not Your Ways: What Does Isaiah 55:8 Mean?

Isaiah 55:8 reads, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” King James Version (KJV)

TranslationIsaiah 55:8
ESVFor my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
NASB“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
NIV“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
NLT“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

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My Ways Are Not Your Ways: Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

55:6-13 Here is a gracious offer of pardon, and peace, and of all happiness. It shall not be in vain to seek God, now his word is calling to us, and his Spirit is striving with us.

But there is a day coming when he will not be found. There may come such a time in this life; it is certain that at death and judgment the door will be shut. There must be not only a change of the way, but a change of the mind.

We must alter our judgments about persons and things. It is not enough to break off from evil practices, we must strive against evil thoughts. To repent is to return to our Lord, against whom we have rebelled. If we do so, God will multiply to pardon, as we have multiplied to offend.

But let none trifle with this plenteous mercy, or use it as an occasion to sin. Men’s thoughts concerning sin, Christ, and holiness, concerning this world and the other, vastly differ from God’s; but in nothing more than in the matter of pardon.

We forgive, and cannot forget; but when God forgives sin, he remembers it no more. The power of his word in the kingdoms of providence and grace, is as certain as in that of nature. Sacred truth produces a spiritual change in the mind of men, which neither rain nor snow can make on the earth.

It shall not return to the Lord without producing important effects. If we take a special view of the church, we shall find what great things God has done, and will do for it.

The Jews shall come to their own land; this shall represent the blessings promised. Gospel grace will make a great change in men. Delivered from the wrath to come, the converted sinner finds peace in his conscience; and love constrains him to devote himself to the service of his Redeemer.

Instead of being profane, contentious, selfish, or sensual, behold him patient, humble, kind, and peaceable. The hope of helping in such a work should urge us to spread the gospel of salvation.

And do thou help us, O Spirit of all truth, to have such views of the fulness, freeness, and greatness of the rich mercy in Christ, as may remove from us all narrow views of sovereign grace.

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Isaiah 55:8 | Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

For—referring to Isa 55:7.

You need not doubt His willingness “abundantly to pardon” (compare Isa 55:12); for, though “the wicked” man’s “ways,” and “the unrighteous man’s thoughts,” are so aggravated as to seem unpardonable, God’s “thoughts” and “ways” in pardoning are not regulated by the proportion of the former, as man’s would be towards his fellow man who offended him; compare the “for” (Ps 25:11; Ro 5:19).

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Daniel Isaiah Joseph

Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. He was a pastor for 10 years. As a professor, he has taught Bible and theology courses at two Christian universities. Please see his About page for details.

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