Isaiah 55:9

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּי־גָבְהוּ שָׁמַיִם מֵאָרֶץ כֵּן גָּבְהוּ דְרָכַי מִדַּרְכֵיכֶם וּמַחְשְׁבֹתַי מִמַּחְשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם

Transliteration

Because-ḡāḇĕhû šāmayim from-ʾāreṣ so ḡāḇĕhû ḏĕrāḵay from-darḵêḵem and-maḥšĕḇōṯay from-maḥšĕḇōṯêḵem

Grammar Details

*ḡāḇĕhû*: verb, qal perfect, 3rd person common plural - they are higher
*šāmayim*: noun, masculine plural - heavens
*ʾāreṣ*: noun, feminine singular - earth/land
*ḏĕrāḵay*: noun, feminine plural construct with 1st person common singular suffix - my ways
*darḵêḵem*: noun, feminine plural construct with 2nd person masculine plural suffix - your ways
*maḥšĕḇōṯay*: noun, feminine plural construct with 1st person common singular suffix - my thoughts
*maḥšĕḇōṯêḵem*: noun, feminine plural construct with 2nd person masculine plural suffix - your thoughts

Word Meanings

*ḡāḇĕhû*: they are higher/loftier/exalted
*šāmayim*: heavens/sky
*ʾāreṣ*: earth/land/ground
*ḏĕrāḵay*: my ways/paths/courses
*darḵêḵem*: your ways/paths/courses
*maḥšĕḇōṯay*: my thoughts/plans/intentions
*maḥšĕḇōṯêḵem*: your thoughts/plans/intentions

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Ps 103:11 : 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is his lovingkindness toward them that fear him.
Rom 11:31-36 : 31 even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they also may now obtain mercy. 32 For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all. 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him [be] the glory for ever. Amen.
Ps 77:19 : 19 Thy way was in the sea, And thy paths in the great waters, And thy footsteps were not known.
Ps 89:2 : 2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever; Thy faithfulness wilt thou establish in the very heavens.
Matt 11:25 : 25 At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you did hide these things from the wise and understanding, and did reveal them unto babes:
Ps 36:5 : 5 Thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, is in the heavens; Thy faithfulness [reacheth] unto the skies.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Isa 55:7-8
2 verses
92%
7let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah.
Isa 55:10-12
3 verses
77%
10For 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, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing; and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands.
Job 35:5
73%
5Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the skies, which are higher than thou.
Ps 103:11
72%
11For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is his lovingkindness toward them that fear him.
Ps 92:5
72%
5How great are thy works, O Jehovah! Thy thoughts are very deep.
Jer 29:11
71%
11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end.
Job 11:8-9
2 verses
70%
8It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; What canst thou know?
9The measure thereof is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.
Job 22:12
70%
12Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
Ps 113:4-5
2 verses
69%
4Jehovah is high above all nations, And his glory above the heavens.
5Who is like unto Jehovah our God, That hath his seat on high,
Ps 139:6
69%
6[ Such] knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Isa 54:9-10
2 verses
69%
9For this is [as] the waters of Noah unto me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
10For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but my lovingkindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed, saith Jehovah that hath mercy on thee.
Isa 66:1
69%
1Thus saith Jehovah, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will ye build unto me? and what place shall be my rest?
Amos 4:13
68%
13For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought; that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth— Jehovah, the God of hosts, is his name.
Amos 9:6
68%
6[ it is] he that buildeth his chambers in the heavens, and hath founded his vault upon the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth; Jehovah is his name.
Jer 31:37
68%
37Thus saith Jehovah: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then will I also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith Jehovah.
Isa 49:11
68%
11And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.
Ps 131:1
68%
1A Song of Ascents; of David. Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, Or in things too wonderful for me.
Ps 139:17
68%
17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
Isa 40:27
68%
27Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from Jehovah, and the justice [due] to me is passed away from my God?
Ps 77:19
68%
19Thy way was in the sea, And thy paths in the great waters, And thy footsteps were not known.
Ps 94:11
67%
11Jehovah knoweth the thoughts of man, That they are vanity.
Isa 51:6
67%
6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment; and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
Prov 25:3
67%
3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Hag 1:7
67%
7Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Consider your ways.
Ezek 18:29
67%
29Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
Isa 14:14
67%
14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.
Jer 23:24
67%
24Can any hide himself in secret places so that I shall not see him? saith Jehovah. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith Jehovah.
Ps 10:5
67%
5His ways are firm at all times; Thy judgments are far above out of his sight: As for all his adversaries, he puffeth at them.
Ps 33:11
67%
11The counsel of Jehovah standeth fast for ever, The thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Ps 89:11
67%
11The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: The world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
Isa 65:17
66%
17For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Hag 1:5
66%
5Now therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Consider your ways.
Ezek 18:25
66%
25Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
Ps 138:6
66%
6For though Jehovah is high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly; But the haughty he knoweth from afar.
Acts 7:49
66%
49The heaven is my throne, And the earth the {G4228} footstool of my feet: What manner of house will ye build Me? saith the Lord: Or what is the place of my rest?
1 Sam 2:3
66%
3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; Let not arrogancy come out of your mouth; For Jehovah is a God of knowledge, And by him actions are weighed.
Isa 40:22
66%
22[ It is] he that sitteth above the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in;
Rom 11:33
66%
33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!
Ps 57:10
66%
10For thy lovingkindness is great unto the heavens, And thy truth unto the skies.
Isa 59:21
66%
21And as for me, this is my covenant with them, saith Jehovah: my Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith Jehovah, from henceforth and for ever.
Jer 32:19
66%
19great in counsel, and mighty in work; whose eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men, to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
Isa 40:25
66%
25To whom then will ye liken me, that I should be equal [to him]? saith the Holy One.
Mic 1:3
66%
3For, behold, Jehovah cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.
Jer 51:15
66%
15He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding hath he stretched out the heavens: