Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 55:10

"For 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, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater;" — Isaiah 55:10 (ASV)

For as the rain comes down - The meaning of this verse and the following is plain. This refers evidently, as the whole passage does, to the times that will follow the coming of the Messiah.

The hearts of people by nature are what the earth would be without the rains of heaven—barren and sterile. But God says that His truth will certainly accomplish an effect similar to that produced by descending showers. The rain never descends in vain. It makes the earth fertile, beautiful, and lovely. So would it be with His truth in the moral world.

The comparison of truth with descending rain or dews is exceedingly beautiful and occurs frequently in the Bible. See (Deuteronomy 32:2):

My doctrine shall drop as the rain,
My speech shall distil as the dew,
As the small rain upon the tender herb,
And as the showers upon the grass.

Compare (2 Samuel 23:4); (Psalms 72:6); (Isaiah 5:6); the note at (Isaiah 44:3).

And the snow - This is a part of the emblem or symbol designed to denote the fertilizing effect of the truth of God.

The snow, as well as the rain, accomplishes important purposes in rendering the earth fertile. It constitutes a covering that contributes to the warmth and preservation of plants and vegetation in colder latitudes. On the hills and mountains, it accumulates in the winter months to fill the streams or produce the overflowing of rivers in the spring and summer.

This expression should not, however, be pressed too precisely in the interpretation, as if it contained any special spiritual significance. It is a part of the general description of what descends from heaven to render the earth fertile.

From heaven - From the clouds.

And returns not there - That is, not in the form in which they descend on the earth. They do not return there as rain and snow. The main idea is, they do not return without accomplishing the effect which God intends.

And bud - This means to put forth its increase, to cause it to sprout up, or germinate.

The word "bud" is applied rather to the small protuberance on the ends of limbs and branches, which contains the germ of the future leaf or flower.

This word צמח tsâmach means rather “to germinate,” or to cause to vegetate in general. It is applied to the putting forth of vegetation on the earth when the showers descend.