Isaiah 55 in the early church

[Vulgate: Isaias]

77 passages quote, allude to, or echo Isaiah 55, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13

Isaiah 55:1

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 55:1Exhortation to the Greeks 10.94 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 190–200
Isa 55:1Miscellanies 1.1.10 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Isa 55:1To Quirinus 3.100 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidenceca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later)
Isa 55:1Divine Institutes 3.26.11 · Lactantiusecho, low confidenceca. 303–311
Isa 55:1Divine Institutes 7.27.12 · Lactantiusallusion, high confidenceca. 303–311
Isa 55:1Demonstration 7.8 · Aphrahatecho, low confidence337-345
Isa 55:1Catechetical Lecture 18.32 · Cyril of Jerusalemquotation, high confidenceca. 350
Isa 55:1Oration 40.27 · Gregory of Nazianzusquotation, high confidenceca. 362–383
Isa 55:1Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.13.5 · Epiphanius of Salamisallusion, medium confidence374-377
Isa 55:1On Elijah and Fasting 33 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Isa 55:1On Joseph 42 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Isa 55:1Explanation of Twelve Psalms 48.2.2 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 387-397
Isa 55:1Sermon 37.20 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 391-430
Isa 55:1Formulae of Spiritual Understanding 3 · Eucherius of Lyonquotation, high confidenceca. 420-430

Isaiah 55:2

Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 55:2Prophetic Extracts 4.28 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidencebefore 325 (probably ca. 310–320)
Isa 55:2–5Demonstration of the Gospel 2.2.19 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 314–324
Isa 55:2Catechetical Lecture 18.32 · Cyril of Jerusalemquotation, high confidenceca. 350

Isaiah 55:3

Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 55:3Dialogue with Trypho 11.2 · Justin Martyrallusion, medium confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 55:3Dialogue with Trypho 12.1 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 55:3Dialogue with Trypho 14.4 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 55:3Against Marcion 3.20 · Tertullianquotation, high confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Isa 55:3Against Marcion 4.1 · Tertullianquotation, high confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Isa 55:3On the Trinity 9 · Novatianquotation, high confidenceca. 240–250
Isa 55:3Prophetic Extracts 4.28 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidencebefore 325 (probably ca. 310–320)
Isa 55:3Book of Heresies 129.2 · Philastrius of Bresciaquotation, high confidenceca. 380s

Isaiah 55:4

Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations, a leader and commander of the peoples.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 55:4Dialogue with Trypho 12.1 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 55:4Dialogue with Trypho 14.4 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 55:4Against Marcion 3.20 · Tertullianquotation, high confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Isa 55:4Lines 285–308 · Commodianallusion, high confidence3rd century (disputed)
Isa 55:4On the Trinity 9 · Novatianquotation, high confidenceca. 240–250
Isa 55:4–5To Quirinus 1.21 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidenceca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later)
Isa 55:4Prophetic Extracts 4.28 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidencebefore 325 (probably ca. 310–320)
Isa 55:4–5Demonstration of the Gospel 2.3.42 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 314–324

Isaiah 55:5

Surely 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.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 55:5Dialogue with Trypho 12.1 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 55:5Dialogue with Trypho 14.4 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 55:5Against Marcion 3.20 · Tertullianquotation, high confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Isa 55:5On the Trinity 9 · Novatianquotation, high confidenceca. 240–250
Isa 55:5Prophetic Extracts 4.28 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidencebefore 325 (probably ca. 310–320)
Isa 55:5Demonstration 16.5 · Aphrahatquotation, high confidence337-345
Isa 55:5Book 2, chapter 18 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceca. 440-450
Isa 55:5Part 3, chapter 35 · Quodvultdeus of Carthagequotation, high confidenceca. 445-450

Isaiah 55:6

Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 55:6Dialogue with Trypho 14.5 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 55:6To Autolycus 3.11 · Theophilus of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 180–185
Isa 55:6Miscellanies 2.22.135 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Isa 55:6–7To Quirinus 3.11 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidenceca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later)
Isa 55:6–7Demonstration 14.2 · Aphrahatquotation, high confidence337-345
Isa 55:6Homily 7 · Gregory of Nyssaquotation, high confidenceca. 379–394
Isa 55:6On the Trinity 15.2 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 399–419

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 55:7Dialogue with Trypho 14.5 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 55:7To Autolycus 3.11 · Theophilus of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 180–185
Isa 55:7Miscellanies 2.22.135 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Isa 55:7Three Letters to Sympronianus 1.5 · Pacian of Barcelonaquotation, high confidenceca. 360-390
Isa 55:7Three Letters to Sympronianus 3.16 · Pacian of Barcelonaquotation, high confidenceca. 360-390
Isa 55:7On the Trinity 15.2 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 399–419

Isaiah 55:8

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 55:8Dialogue with Trypho 14.5 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 55:8Against Heresies 2.13.3 · Irenaeus of Lyonsallusion, high confidenceca. 180–190
Isa 55:8Homilies on Numbers 9.1 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Isa 55:8Ancoratus 48.7 · Epiphanius of Salamisquotation, high confidence374
Isa 55:8On Noah 9 · Ambroseallusion, low confidenceca. 378-384
Isa 55:8–9Book of Heresies 93.5 · Philastrius of Bresciaquotation, high confidenceca. 380s

Isaiah 55:9

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

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 55:9Dialogue with Trypho 14.5 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 55:9Miscellanies 2.22.136 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Isa 55:9Homily 10 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, medium confidenceca. 390–394
Isa 55:9Letters 8.3 · Paulinus of Nolaecho, low confidenceca. 394–413
Isa 55:9Tractates 3 · Gaudentius of Bresciaquotation, high confidenceca. 397-410

Isaiah 55:10

For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 55:10Dialogue with Trypho 14.6 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 55:10Against Heresies 4.25.3 · Irenaeus of Lyonsallusion, high confidenceca. 180–190
Isa 55:10Commentary on 2 Corinthians 9:10–11 · Ambrosiasterallusion, medium confidenceca. 366–384
Isa 55:10Exposition of Psalm 118 13.24.3 · Ambroseecho, medium confidenceca. 386-397
Isa 55:10–11Part 2, chapter 18 · Quodvultdeus of Carthagequotation, high confidenceca. 445-450

Isaiah 55:11

so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 55:11Dialogue with Trypho 14.6 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160

Isaiah 55:12

You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 55:12Dialogue with Trypho 14.7 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 55:12Exhortation to Martyrdom 18 · Origenquotation, high confidence235
Isa 55:12Hexameron (Exameron) 4.3 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 387-390

Isaiah 55:13

Instead of the thornbush, the cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, the myrtle will spring up; this will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 55:13Dialogue with Trypho 14.7 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 55:13Homily on the Song of Songs 2 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240–250
Isa 55:13Homily 9 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, high confidenceca. 390–394