Isaiah 55:1

“Hey, ¹  all who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come! Buy and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk without money and without cost! ² 

Ru 4:1; Ps 42:1,2; Ps 63:1; Ps 143:6; Pr 1:21-23; Pr 8:4; So 1:2,4; So 5:1; Isa 41:17,18; Isa 52:3; Joe 3:18; Zec 2:6; Zec 9:15; Zec 10:7; Mt 13:44; Mt 26:29; Joh 2:3-10; Joh 4:10-14; Joh 7:37,38; Ro 3:24; 1Co 3:2; Eph 2:4-8; 1Pe 2:2; Re 3:18; Re 21:6; Re 22:1,17

¹ tn The Hebrew term הוֹי (hoy, “woe, ah”) was used in funeral laments and is often prefixed to judgment oracles for rhetorical effect. But here it appears to be a simple interjection, designed to grab the audience’s attention. Perhaps there is a note of sorrow or pity. See BDB 223 s.v.

² sn The statement is an oxymoron. Its ironic quality adds to its rhetorical impact. The statement reminds one of the norm (one must normally buy commodities) as it expresses the astounding offer. One might paraphrase the statement: “Come and take freely what you normally have to pay for.”