Isaiah 40 2

Isaiah 40:2 kjv

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

Isaiah 40:2 nkjv

"Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD's hand Double for all her sins."

Isaiah 40:2 niv

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

Isaiah 40:2 esv

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

Isaiah 40:2 nlt

"Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.
Tell her that her sad days are gone
and her sins are pardoned.
Yes, the LORD has punished her twice over
for all her sins."

Isaiah 40 verses

Isaiah 40 2 Meaning

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Declare to her that her time of service is finished, her iniquity is pardoned, and she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

Isaiah 40 2 Context

This verse is found in Isaiah chapter 40, which marks a significant shift in the book from prophecies of judgment to promises of comfort and restoration for Israel. The chapter introduces a new era for the people of God, announcing the impending return from Babylonian exile and the coming of God's glory. This particular verse offers a message of divine solace and forgiveness directed towards Jerusalem, representing God's people. It assures them that their period of hardship, which was a consequence of their sins, is coming to an end. The reference to receiving "double for all her sins" can be understood as the recompense for enduring God's judgment, but more profoundly, as God's abundant mercy exceeding their transgressions. This prepares the way for the glorious future promised in the subsequent verses and ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 40 2 Word Analysis

• "Qumu" (קוּמוּ): "Arise" or "Be raised up." This is an imperative verb in the masculine plural. It signifies a call to action, a rousing from a state of dormancy or despair. It suggests movement and renewal.

• "Dabberu" (דַּבְּרוּ): "Speak" or "Communicate." Also an imperative verb in the masculine plural. It is connected to the word "qol" (voice) later in Isaiah 40. It emphasizes the importance of vocalizing God's message of comfort.

• "Al-lev" (עַל־לֵב): "To the heart." This phrase literally means "upon the heart." It conveys speaking tenderly, reassuringly, or in a way that deeply touches the emotions and understanding. It signifies a communication that goes beyond mere words to inner conviction and solace.

• "Yerushalayim" (יְרוּשָׁלִַם): "Jerusalem." The capital city of Judah, often used metonymically to represent the people of God, both the city and its inhabitants. It is the focus of God's special covenant and future redemptive purposes.

• "U-qra'u" (וּקְרָאוּ): "And call out" or "And proclaim." Another imperative verb in the masculine plural, linked to speaking. It implies a public and authoritative declaration of God's message.

• "Lechah" (לָהּ): "To her." A prepositional phrase with a feminine singular pronoun, referring back to Jerusalem.

• "Keren" (כִּי): "For" or "Because." It introduces the reasons or basis for the preceding command and message.

• "Tsivyah" (צְבָאָהּ): "Her host" or "Her warfare." This word can refer to an army or to service. In this context, it denotes the completion of her allotted time of hardship, servitude, or military service, which had come to an end. The sense is that her appointed term of probation and suffering is over.

• "Tammeth" (תַּמּוּ): "Is completed" or "Is ended." A verb in the feminine singular perfect tense. It indicates finality and conclusion. The period of judgment and punishment is finished.

• "Avonah" (עָוֺן): "Iniquity" or "Guilt." The noun refers to the moral perversity or wrongfulness, and the guilt incurred by it.

• "Shuvpah" (שֻׁפַּ֫ה): "Has been pardoned" or "Has been purged." A feminine singular verb in the Niph'al passive form of "shuv." It means to forgive or to cover over. This highlights God's act of expiating sin.

• "Mi-yad" (מִיַּד): "From the hand." Indicates the source from which something is received.

• "Adonai" (יְהוָה): "LORD." The personal covenant name of God, signifying His faithfulness and power.

• "Laqachah" (לָקְחָה): "She has received." A verb in the feminine singular perfect tense from "laqach," meaning to take or receive.

• "Yether" (יֶתֶר): "Double" or "Excess." This indicates a quantity greater than one, signifying abundance.

• "Kol-avoneyh" (כָּל־עֲוֺנֹתֶ֫יהָ): "All her iniquities" or "All her guilt." Reinforces the extent of what has been addressed.

• Grouped analysis:

  • "Speak tenderly to Jerusalem": The phrase "speak to the heart" implies comforting words, bringing assurance and emotional healing after distress. It's a profound shift from pronouncements of judgment.
  • "Her time of service is ended": "Tsivyah" refers to the period of appointed service or suffering. This signifies that Jerusalem, and by extension, God's people, have completed their punitive phase and are ready for a new beginning. It marks the fulfillment of a divine schedule of discipline.
  • "Her iniquity is pardoned": The word "shuvpah" emphasizes that the guilt and penalty for sin have been taken away by God. This is not merely overlooking sin but an active cleansing.
  • "She has received double for all her sins": This is often interpreted in two ways:
    1. That she received a double punishment for her sins, which now seems contradictory to pardon. However, in prophetic language, "double" can refer to the completed measure of judgment that has been borne.
    2. More significantly, it can represent God's abundant grace and forgiveness exceeding the measure of sin, or the recompense of future blessing that far outweighs past suffering, as seen in Isaiah 61:7. The pardoned state implies a fullness of restoration.

Isaiah 40 2 Bonus Section

The concept of receiving "double" for sins can also be understood as a rhetorical amplification, indicating the completeness of both the past offense and the present redemption. It highlights the totality of God's actions, both in His judgment and in His subsequent overwhelming mercy and restoration. The parallelism in Isaiah 40, moving from desolation to glorious re-establishment, frames this verse as a pivotal announcement of renewed favor and the dawning of a new era of God's presence and power.

Isaiah 40 2 Commentary

This verse is a powerful announcement of God's grace and the end of His disciplinary action against His people. It's not a lessening of sin's gravity, but an affirmation of the efficacy of God's redemptive work. The tenderness in speaking to Jerusalem signifies God's enduring love. The completed "service" (judgment) and the "double" received are expressions of a divine economy where mercy triumphs over judgment for the repentant. This message foreshadows the complete atonement found in Christ, who fully paid the penalty for our sins, allowing for perfect pardon and a new life in Him. The emphasis is on God's initiative in offering comfort and forgiveness, transforming despair into hope.