Ésaïe 55:6

Darby's French Translation

Cherchez l'Éternel tandis qu'on le trouve; invoquez-le pendant qu'il est proche.

Parallel Translations

La Bible David Martin (1744)
Cherchez l'Eternel pendant qu'il se trouve, invoquez-le tandis qu'il est pr�s.

La Bible Ostervald (1996)
Cherchez l'�ternel pendant qu'il se trouve; invoquez-le, tandis qu'il est pr�s!

Louis Segond (1910)
Cherchez l'Eternel pendant qu'il se trouve; Invoquez-le, tandis qu'il est pr�s.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Seek: Isaiah 45:19, 1 Chronicles 28:9, 2 Chronicles 19:3, Job 8:5, Psalms 14:2, Psalms 27:8, Psalms 32:6, Psalms 95:7, Jeremiah 29:12-14, Amos 5:6, Matthew 5:25, Matthew 7:7, Matthew 7:8, Matthew 25:11, Matthew 25:12, Luke 13:25, John 7:33, John 7:34, John 8:21, John 12:35, John 12:36, 2 Corinthians 6:1, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Hebrews 2:3, Hebrews 3:13

while he is near: Isaiah 12:6, Isaiah 46:13, Deuteronomy 4:7, Psalms 75:1, Psalms 145:18, Psalms 148:14, Ezekiel 8:6, Ephesians 3:13

Reciprocal: Exodus 33:7 - sought Deuteronomy 4:29 - But if Deuteronomy 30:2 - return unto 1 Kings 8:48 - And so return 2 Kings 17:13 - Turn ye 1 Chronicles 16:10 - let the heart 2 Chronicles 7:14 - turn from 2 Chronicles 12:14 - to seek 2 Chronicles 14:4 - seek 2 Chronicles 15:2 - if ye seek him 2 Chronicles 15:4 - found of them 2 Chronicles 30:6 - turn again 2 Chronicles 33:13 - he was entreated Ezra 10:2 - yet now there is hope Job 22:23 - return Job 23:3 - where Job 36:10 - commandeth Psalms 7:12 - If Psalms 9:10 - hast Psalms 34:18 - is nigh Psalms 50:16 - wicked Psalms 53:2 - seek Psalms 69:13 - in an Psalms 69:32 - your heart Psalms 105:3 - let the heart Proverbs 1:23 - Turn Proverbs 8:17 - those Proverbs 10:5 - gathereth Song of Solomon 3:1 - but Song of Solomon 3:4 - but Isaiah 1:16 - put away Isaiah 1:19 - General Isaiah 51:1 - ye that seek Jeremiah 3:1 - yet return Jeremiah 18:11 - return Jeremiah 24:7 - for they Jeremiah 25:5 - Turn Jeremiah 29:13 - ye shall Jeremiah 29:14 - I will be Jeremiah 33:3 - Call Jeremiah 36:3 - they may Jeremiah 50:4 - seek the Lamentations 3:25 - unto Ezekiel 14:6 - Repent Ezekiel 18:21 - if the Ezekiel 33:11 - turn ye Ezekiel 36:37 - I will yet Daniel 4:27 - break Hosea 10:12 - time Hosea 12:6 - turn Hosea 14:1 - return Joel 2:12 - turn Amos 5:4 - Seek Jonah 3:8 - let Zephaniah 2:3 - Seek ye Zechariah 1:3 - Turn Zechariah 7:7 - Should ye not hear the words Malachi 3:7 - Return unto me Matthew 6:5 - when Matthew 9:13 - but Matthew 21:29 - he repented Matthew 22:9 - General Matthew 25:9 - but Luke 3:13 - Exact Luke 5:32 - General Luke 11:9 - seek Luke 12:58 - give Luke 15:20 - But Luke 19:42 - in this Luke 23:43 - To day John 4:10 - thou wouldest John 8:11 - go Acts 3:19 - be Acts 8:22 - pray Acts 9:11 - for Acts 24:25 - when Romans 3:11 - seeketh Romans 10:12 - call upon him 2 Corinthians 5:20 - as Ephesians 1:7 - the forgiveness Ephesians 2:4 - who 1 Timothy 1:14 - exceeding Titus 2:12 - denying Hebrews 3:7 - To day Hebrews 4:16 - obtain Hebrews 6:1 - repentance James 1:5 - let James 4:8 - Draw nigh to God James 5:11 - the Lord is 1 John 3:22 - whatsoever

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found,.... The Lord is to be sought unto at all times, whenever the people of God meet together, especially on sabbath days, and while the external ministry of the word lasts, and life itself; so the Targum,

"seek the fear of the Lord, while ye are alive.''

Kimchi compares it with Ecclesiastes 9:10. The Jewish writers, as Aben Ezra and others, generally interpret it before the sealing of the decree, or before the decree is gone forth. It may be understood of place, as well as time, and be rendered, "seek the Lord in the place where he may be found" l; God is to be found, as Aben Ezra observes, in all places, and at all times; under the Old Testament there was a particular place appointed for the worship of God, the tabernacle and temple, where he was to be sought unto, and might be found; under the New Testament, all places are alike, and wherever the church and people of God meet together, there he is to be sought, and there he may be found, even in his house and ordinances:

call ye upon him while he is near; the same thing designed by different words: seeking and calling design not only prayer, but the whole of public worship, and the time and place when and where the Lord is to be found, and is near. Aben Ezra thinks it refers to the Shechinah in the sanctuary. Perhaps it may have some respect to the time of Christ's incarnation, and his being in the land of Judea; and to the destruction of the temple by the Romans, when the Lord could be no more sought unto, and found in that place; or when the Christians were obliged to move from Jerusalem, because of the siege of it; and when the Jews had no more an opportunity of hearing the Gospel there.

l So in the Jerusalem Talmud, as quoted by Abendana on the place,

"seek the Lord, where he is found, in the synagogues, and in the schools; call upon him, where he is near, in the synagogues, and in the schools.''

And so another Jewish writer, mentioned by him, interprets the words,

"whilst the Shechinah is found in the sanctuary; before he hides his face, and causes his Shechinah to remove from you.''

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Seek ye the Lord - The commencement of religion in the heart is often represented as seeking for God. or inquiring for his ways Deuteronomy 4:29; Job 5:8; Job 8:5; Psalms 9:10; Psalms 14:2; Psalms 27:8. This is to be regarded as addressed not to the Jewish exiles only or uniquely, but to all in view of the coming and work of the Messiah. That work would be so full and ample that an invitation could be extended to all to seek after God, and to return to him. It is implied here:

1. That people are by nature ignorant of God - since they are directed to ‘seek’ for him.

2. That if people will obtain his favor it must be sought. No man becomes his friend without desiring it; no one who does not earnestly seek for it.

3. That the invitation to seek God should be made to all. In this passage it is unlimited (compare Isaiah 55:7). Where there are sinners, there the invitation is to be offered.

4. That the knowledge of God is of inestimable value. He would not command people to seek that which was worthless; he would not urge it with so much earnestness as is here manifested if it were not of inexpressible importance.

While he may be found - It is implied here:

1. That God may now be found.

2. That the time will come when it will be impossible to obtain his favor.

The leading thought is, that under the Messiah the offer of salvation will be made to people fully and freely. But the period will come when it will be withdrawn. If God forsakes human beings; if he wholly withdraws his Spirit; if they have committed the sin which hath never forgiveness; or if they neglect or despise the provisions of mercy and die in their sins, it will be too late, and mercy cannot then be found. How unspeakably important, then, is it to seek for mercy at once - lest, slighted now, the offer should be withdrawn. or lest death should Overtake us, and we be removed to a world where mercy is unknown! How important is the present moment - for another moment may place us beyond the reach of pardon and of grace! How amazing the stupidity of men who suffer their present moments to pass away unimproved, and who, amidst the gaieties and the business of life, permit the day of salvation to pass by, and lose their souls! And how just is the condemnation of the sinner! If a man will not do so simple a thing as to ask for pardon, he ought to perish. The universe will approve the condemnation of such a man; and the voice of complaint can never be raised against that Holy Being who consigns such a sinner to hell.

Call ye upon him - That is, implore his mercy (see Romans 10:13; compare Joel 2:32). How easy are the terms of salvation! How just will be the condemnation of a sinner if he will not call upon God! Assuredly, if people will not breathe out one broken-hearted petition to the God of heaven that they may be saved, they have only to blame themselves if they are lost. The terms of salvation could be made no easier; and man can ask nothing more simple.

While he is near - In an important sense God is equally near to us at all times. But this figurative language is taken from the mode of speaking among people, and it denotes that there are influences more favorable for seeking him at some periods than others. Thus God comes near to us in the preaching of his word, when it is borne with power to the conscience; in his providences, when he strikes down a friend and comes into the very circle where we move, or the very dwelling where we abide; when he lays his hand upon us in sickness, he is near us by day and by night; in a revival of religion, or when a pious friend pleads with us, God is near to us then, and is calling us to his favor. These are favorable times for salvation; times which, if they are suffered to pass by unimproved, return no more; periods which will all soon be gone, and when they are gone, the sinner irrecoverably dies.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 55:6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found — Rab. David Kimchi gives the true sense of this passage: "Seek ye the Lord, because he may be found: call upon him, because he is near. Repent before ye die, for after death there is no conversion of the soul."