Isaiah 40:1 kjv
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Isaiah 40:1 nkjv
"Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" Says your God.
Isaiah 40:1 niv
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Isaiah 40:1 esv
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Isaiah 40:1 nlt
"Comfort, comfort my people,"
says your God.
Isaiah 40 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 40:2 | Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her hard service has been completed, | Isa 40:2 |
| Isaiah 51:3 | For the LORD will comfort Zion; he will comfort all her ruins and make her deserts like Eden, | Isa 51:3 |
| Isaiah 61:2 | to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, | Isa 61:2 |
| Jeremiah 31:13 | Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. | Jer 31:13 |
| Jeremiah 33:10-11 | "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ...for this voice of gladness and the voice of joy, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride... | Jer 33:10-11 |
| Luke 3:4 | John, the herald, preaching in the wilderness, announcing to all God's people that their sins would be forgiven. | Lk 3:4 (echoes Isa 40:3) |
| John 1:23 | John answered, "I am not the Messiah." He said, "I am a voice crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make the Lord’s path straight,’" | John 1:23 (fulfills Isa 40:3) |
| Acts 13:15 | and after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to him, saying, "Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, say it." | Acts 13:15 (connects to prophetic voice) |
| 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction... | 2 Cor 1:3-4 |
| Revelation 21:4 | He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, | Rev 21:4 (ultimate comfort) |
| Psalm 40:1 | I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. | Ps 40:1 |
| Psalm 85:12 | The LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. | Ps 85:12 |
| Romans 15:4 | For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. | Rom 15:4 |
| 1 Peter 1:6 | In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you must be tested through various trials, | 1 Pet 1:6 |
| Hebrews 12:12 | Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, | Heb 12:12 |
| Genesis 50:20 | As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good... | Gen 50:20 |
| Exodus 14:14 | The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. | Ex 14:14 |
| Psalm 23:4 | Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. | Ps 23:4 |
| Jeremiah 29:11 | For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. | Jer 29:11 |
| John 14:16 | And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, | John 14:16 |
| Acts 9:31 | Now the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied. | Acts 9:31 |
Isaiah 40 verses
Isaiah 40 1 Meaning
"Comfort, comfort my people" speaks of a divine imperative to bring solace and assurance. It is a call to a prophetic voice to proclaim the coming end of Judah's exile and the restoration of God's people. This comfort is rooted in the certainty of God's love and faithfulness, a promise of renewal and peace after a period of judgment and suffering.
Isaiah 40 1 Context
Chapter 40 marks a significant shift in the book of Isaiah, often considered a new section beginning with themes of hope and restoration after chapters detailing judgment and prophecy against various nations and Judah itself. Historically, these verses are understood to speak to the people of Israel during or immediately following their exile in Babylon. The backdrop is one of profound despair and alienation from their homeland and from God. The pronouncements in this chapter are a divine assurance that the period of punishment is over, and a new era of favor is about to dawn. It speaks to the cessation of their suffering and their return to Jerusalem, prepared by a way made through the wilderness. This imagery points towards God's re-engagement with His people in a powerful, salvific act, comparable to the Exodus from Egypt.
Isaiah 40 1 Word analysis
- Nachamu (נַחֲמוּ): This is the second-person plural imperative form of the Hebrew verb "nacham" (נָחַם). It means "comfort" or "console." The doubling of the verb, "Nachamu, nachamu," emphasizes the urgency, totality, and completeness of the comfort that is to be proclaimed. It is a strong call for assurance and solace.
- `ammi (עַמִּי): This word is a construct form of "`am" (עָם), meaning "my people." It signifies a possessive and intimate relationship between God and Israel, underscoring God's special covenant with them, even amidst their exile and judgment.
Isaiah 40 1 Bonus section
The rhetorical structure of repeating the verb "comfort" serves to amplify the message, akin to how certain phrases are repeated for emphasis in Hebrew poetry and prophecy. This intensifies the sense of urgency and the absolute certainty of the divine promise being conveyed. Scholars note this duplication as a hallmark of intense pleading or commanding. This specific promise of comfort is intricately linked to the subsequent verses that speak of making a highway for the Lord in the wilderness, vividly illustrating the way God prepares His people for His glorious return and reign. This prepares the ground for understanding God not as distant, but as actively intervening and personally bringing solace.
Isaiah 40 1 Commentary
The opening command, "Comfort, O comfort my people," is a divine mandate issued from the heart of God Himself. It is not a mere suggestion but a prophetic decree. This double utterance of "comfort" underscores the depth and breadth of the solace being offered. The audience is God's own "people" (ammi), reminding them of their unique relationship with Him despite their current state of suffering and displacement due to sin and judgment. This comfort heralds the end of their period of punishment and the beginning of a new era of divine favor. It is a message that points forward to God's redemptive acts, culminating in the work of the Messiah, who would bring ultimate comfort and peace. The immediate context sets the stage for announcing the preparation of a way for the Lord to return to His people, promising an end to their hard service and a restoration of joy. This prophetic call to comfort finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection provide eternal comfort and reconciliation with God.