Isaiah 55:7

Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet addresses the people of Israel, immediately following a call to seek God while He is near (Isaiah 55:6).

The words — יַעֲזֹ֤ב (ya.'a.Zo) translates literally as "let him forsake," and וְ/יָשֹׁ֤ב (ve./ya.Sho) means "and let him return."

The thread — The pattern of abandoning evil and returning to God appears in Proverbs 28:13 and Ezekiel 18:21, while the reciprocal promise of divine response parallels James 4:8.

Why it lands — The text commands the concrete abandonment of sinful conduct and mindset, establishing repentance as the direct prerequisite for receiving mercy rather than a reward for prior moral achievement.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

יַעֲזֹ֤בya.'a.Zolet him forsake רָשָׁע֙ra.Sha'a wicked [person]דַּרְכּ֔וֹdar.K/oway/ his וְאִ֥ישׁve./'Ishand/ a person of אָ֖וֶן'A.venwickedness מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֑יוmach.she.vo.Ta/vthoughts/ his וְיָשֹׁ֤בve./ya.Shoand/ let him return אֶל־'el-to יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh וִֽירַחֲמֵ֔הוּvi./ra.cha.Me./huso/ he may have compassion on/ him וְאֶל־ve./'el-and/ to אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ'e.lo.Hei./nuGod/ our כִּֽי־ki-for יַרְבֶּ֥הyar.Behhe will increase לִסְלֽוֹחַ׃li/s.Lo.achto/ forgive

King James Version

Let 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.

Cross-references

Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
James 4:8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.
Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
Jonah 3:10 When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them.
Isaiah 43:25 I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
Ezekiel 33:14 But if I tell the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and he turns from his sin and does what is just and right—
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
2 Chronicles 7:14 and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.