Isaiah 55:9

King James 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

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: King James VersionBest for: Original-language word studies

🎯 Translation Approach

Classic King James Version text presented with Strong's numbering to link English words to their underlying Hebrew and Greek terms. Prioritizes literal/formal correspondence while enabling original-language word study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Each English term is keyed to a Strong's number, enabling direct lookup of the underlying Hebrew or Greek word.
KJV text basis: Employs the classic King James Version wording known for formal equivalence and literary style.
Study-focused layout: Optimized for research and analysis, prioritizing lexical access over uninterrupted readability.
Concordance compatibility: Strong's numbers map to widely available concordances and lexicons for deeper study.

✅ Strengths

Strong linkage to original Hebrew/Greek via Strong's numbers
High concordance with source wording
Well-suited for in-depth word studies and exegesis
Widely recognized and referenced KJV text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language can be difficult for modern readers
Reference numbers can disrupt continuous reading
Less suitable for public or devotional reading compared to modern translations

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Students of biblical languages
Pastors and teachers
Serious Bible students
Researchers needing lexical linkage
Readers preferring KJV tradition

Consider alternatives for

New believers
Casual devotional reading
Children and young readers
English language learners

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Ps 103:11 : 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
Rom 11:31-36 : 31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding 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 to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Ps 77:19 : 19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known{H8738)}.
Ps 89:2 : 2 For I have said{H8804)}, Mercy shall be built up{H8735)} for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish{H8686)} in the very heavens.
Matt 11:25 : 25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Ps 36:5 : 5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

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 the LORD, 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 the LORD.
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, that it may give 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 field shall clap their hands.
Job 35:5
73%
5Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.
Ps 103:11
72%
11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
Ps 92:5
72%
5O LORD, how great{H8804)} are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep{H8804)}.
Jer 29:11
71%
11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Job 11:8-9
2 verses
70%
8It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; 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%
4The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
Ps 139:6
69%
6Such 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 should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
10For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
Isa 66:1
69%
1Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of 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, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.
Amos 9:6
68%
6It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.
Jer 31:37
68%
37Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
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 degrees of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high 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 the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
Ps 77:19
68%
19Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known{H8738)}.
Ps 94:11
67%
11The LORD knoweth{H8802)} 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%
3The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Hag 1:7
67%
7Thus saith the LORD 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 be like the most High.
Jer 23:24
67%
24Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
Ps 10:5
67%
5His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
Ps 33:11
67%
11The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Ps 89:11
67%
11The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded{H8804)} them.
Isa 65:17
66%
17For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Hag 1:5
66%
5Now therefore thus saith the LORD 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%
6Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
Acts 7:49
66%
49Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what 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 the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
Isa 40:22
66%
22It is he that sitteth upon 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 knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Ps 57:10
66%
10For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
Isa 59:21
66%
21As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; 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 the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
Jer 32:19
66%
19Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine 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, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
Mic 1:3
66%
3For, behold, the LORD 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 hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.