Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. New Living Translation Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. English Standard Version “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; Berean Standard Bible Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. King James Bible Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: New King James Version Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. New American Standard Bible Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. NASB 1995 Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. NASB 1977 Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Legacy Standard Bible Seek Yahweh while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Amplified Bible Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call on Him [for salvation] while He is near. Christian Standard Bible Seek the LORD while he may be found; call to him while he is near. Holman Christian Standard Bible Seek the LORD while He may be found; call to Him while He is near. American Standard Version Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near: Contemporary English Version Turn to the LORD! He can still be found. Call out to God! He is near. English Revised Version Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: GOD'S WORD® Translation Seek the LORD while he may be found. Call on him while he is near. Good News Translation Turn to the LORD and pray to him, now that he is near. International Standard Version "Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. NET Bible Seek the LORD while he makes himself available; call to him while he is nearby! New Heart English Bible Seek the LORD while he may be found; call you on him while he is near: Webster's Bible Translation Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSeek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. World English Bible Seek Yahweh while he may be found. Call on him while he is near. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionSeek YHWH while He may be found, "" Call Him while He is near, Young's Literal Translation Seek ye Jehovah, while He is found, Call ye Him, while He is near, Smith's Literal Translation Seek ye Jehovah in his being found, and call him in his being near. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSeek ye the Lord, while he may be found: call upon him, while he is near. Catholic Public Domain Version Seek the Lord, while he is able to be found. Call upon him, while he is near. New American Bible Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. New Revised Standard Version Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSeek the LORD; and when you find him, call upon him while he is near; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Seek LORD JEHOVAH, and whenever you have found him, call upon him, OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, Call ye upon Him while He is near; Brenton Septuagint Translation Seek ye the Lord, and when ye find him, call upon him; and when he shall draw nigh to you, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Invitation to the Needy…5Surely you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, has bestowed glory on you.” 6Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. 7Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.… Cross References Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Acts 17:27 God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. Psalm 32:6 Therefore let all the godly pray to You while You may be found. Surely when great waters rise, they will not come near. Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me. Amos 5:4 For this is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live! 2 Chronicles 15:2 So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain. Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger. Luke 11:9-10 So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Psalm 105:4 Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. 1 Chronicles 28:9 As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Treasury of Scripture Seek you the LORD while he may be found, call you on him while he is near: seek Isaiah 45:19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. 1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. 2 Chronicles 19:3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God. while he is near Isaiah 12:6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. Isaiah 46:13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. Deuteronomy 4:7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? Jump to Previous Found Prayer Search SeekJump to Next Found Prayer Search SeekIsaiah 55 1. The prophet, with the promises of Christ, calls to faith6. And to repentance 8. The happy success of those who believe Seek the LORD while He may be found; This phrase emphasizes the urgency of seeking God. In the context of Isaiah, the Israelites were being called to repentance and renewal of their covenant relationship with God. Historically, this was a time when the people were facing the consequences of their disobedience, including exile. The call to seek the LORD suggests a window of opportunity that may not always be available. This aligns with other scriptures such as Amos 5:4, which also urges seeking God for life. Theologically, it underscores the concept of God's grace being available but not indefinitely, highlighting the importance of responding to God's call promptly. call on Him while He is near. Persons / Places / Events 1. IsaiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah's ministry spanned the reigns of several kings of Judah. He is known for his prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah and the salvation of the Lord. 2. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant name of God in the Hebrew Bible, representing His eternal, self-existent nature and His relationship with His people. 3. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel during Isaiah's time, often the primary audience of his prophecies. 4. Exile Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of Isaiah includes the looming threat of exile for the people of Judah due to their disobedience. 5. Repentance An underlying theme in Isaiah 55, calling the people to turn back to God and seek His forgiveness and guidance. Teaching Points Urgency of Seeking GodThe phrase "while He may be found" suggests a limited time offer, urging believers to prioritize their relationship with God before it's too late. God's Nearness The assurance that God is "near" encourages believers to approach Him with confidence, knowing that He is accessible and willing to engage with them. Call to Repentance This verse is a call to turn away from sin and towards God, emphasizing the importance of repentance in the believer's life. Active Pursuit Seeking and calling on God requires intentionality and effort, reminding believers that a passive approach to faith is insufficient. Faith and Trust Trusting in God's promise to be found by those who seek Him strengthens faith and encourages a deeper reliance on His presence and guidance. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Isaiah 55:6?2. How can we "seek the LORD" daily in our personal lives? 3. What does "call on Him while He is near" imply about God's availability? 4. How does Isaiah 55:6 connect with James 4:8 about drawing near to God? 5. Why is urgency important in seeking God according to Isaiah 55:6? 6. How can Isaiah 55:6 guide our evangelism efforts to others? 7. What does Isaiah 55:6 mean by "seek the LORD while He may be found"? 8. How does Isaiah 55:6 challenge our understanding of God's availability? 9. Why is urgency emphasized in Isaiah 55:6? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 55? 11. Can you find the Lord before it's too late? 12. Can you find the Lord before it's too late? 13. How can I earnestly seek and find God? 14. What does "Word will not return void" mean? What Does Isaiah 55:6 Mean Seek the LORD• The command is active and personal. “Seek the LORD” is not a casual glance; it is a deliberate pursuit of the God who has already revealed Himself (Psalm 105:4: “Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always”). • Seeking God means turning from self-reliance to God-reliance. Isaiah’s wider context (55:1-5) invites thirsty souls to come for free grace; verse 6 calls for a wholehearted response (Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart”). • The pursuit is life-giving. Amos 5:4, records the same plea: “Seek Me and live!” Jesus echoes it in Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” promising God’s provision in return. While He May Be Found • Opportunity is not endless. God sets a gracious window for repentance (2 Corinthians 6:2: “Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!”). • Hardening the heart risks missing that window (Hebrews 3:15: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts”). Proverbs 1:24-28 warns that delaying obedience can leave a person calling too late. • The phrase underscores God’s patience but also His justice. Mercy extended today will not be offered forever; therefore urgency is loving, not harsh. Call on Him • “Call” expresses dependence. We cry out because only God can save (Romans 10:13: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”). • Calling is covenantal; it assumes relationship. Psalm 50:15, links prayer and deliverance: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you.” • The promise is inclusive. Joel 2:32, opens the door to “everyone” who calls, anticipating the gospel’s reach to all nations. While He Is Near • God’s nearness is real, yet it must be embraced. Acts 17:27, notes that God “is not far from each one of us.” • Nearness invites intimacy and cleansing (James 4:8: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you”). The verse implies that refusal leads to distance, as Jerusalem discovered when it ignored Messiah’s visit (Luke 19:42). • The assurance is comforting: we are not chasing a distant deity. The Creator stoops low so we can reach Him, but we must respond before the moment passes. summary Isaiah 55:6 issues an urgent, gracious invitation: actively pursue the Lord, because right now He is within reach. Delay risks missing the God-given window, but immediate, wholehearted seeking and calling bring salvation and fellowship. (6) While he may be found . . .--The appeal shows that the promised blessings are not unconditional. There may come a time (as in Matthew 25:11) when "too late will be written on all efforts to gain the inheritance which has been forfeited by neglect (2Corinthians 6:2).Verse 6. - Seek ye the Lord. Again the strain changes. The people are once more addressed, but in a tone of reproach. Israel must "seek the Lord" without delay, or the opportunity will be past; God will have withdrawn himself from them. He "will not alway be chiding, neither keepeth he his anger for ever" (Psalm 103:9).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Seekדִּרְשׁ֥וּ (dir·šū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship the LORD יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel while He may be found; בְּהִמָּצְא֑וֹ (bə·him·mā·ṣə·’ōw) Preposition-b | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present call on Him קְרָאֻ֖הוּ (qə·rā·’u·hū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | third person masculine singular Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read while He is בִּֽהְיוֹת֥וֹ (bih·yō·w·ṯōw) Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be near. קָרֽוֹב׃ (qā·rō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7138: Near Links Isaiah 55:6 NIVIsaiah 55:6 NLT Isaiah 55:6 ESV Isaiah 55:6 NASB Isaiah 55:6 KJV Isaiah 55:6 BibleApps.com Isaiah 55:6 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 55:6 Chinese Bible Isaiah 55:6 French Bible Isaiah 55:6 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 55:6 Seek you Yahweh while he may be (Isa Isi Is) |