Isaiah 40:2
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
“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.”

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her forced labor has been completed; her iniquity has been pardoned. For she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“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.”

New American Standard Bible
“Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her guilt has been removed, That she has received of the LORD’S hand Double for all her sins.”

NASB 1995
“Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the LORD’S hand Double for all her sins.”

NASB 1977
“Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the LORD’s hand Double for all her sins.”

Legacy Standard Bible
“Speak to the heart of Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has been fulfilled, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received from the hand of Yahweh Double for all her sins.”

Amplified Bible
“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, And call out to her, that her time of compulsory service in warfare is finished, That her wickedness has been taken away [since her punishment is sufficient], That she has received from the LORD’S hand Double [punishment] for all her sins.”

Christian Standard Bible
“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and announce to her that her time of hard service is over, her iniquity has been pardoned, and she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and announce to her that her time of forced labor is over, her iniquity has been pardoned, and she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.”

American Standard Version
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she hath received of Jehovah's hand double for all her sins.

Contemporary English Version
Speak kindly to Jerusalem and announce: Your slavery is past; your punishment is over. I, the LORD, made you pay double for your sins."

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and announce to it that its time of hard labor is over and its wrongs have been paid for. It has received from the LORD double for all its sins."

Good News Translation
Encourage the people of Jerusalem. Tell them they have suffered long enough and their sins are now forgiven. I have punished them in full for all their sins."

International Standard Version
"Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her heavy service has been completed, that her penalty has been paid, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins."

Majority Standard Bible
?Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her forced labor has been completed; her iniquity has been pardoned. For she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.?

NET Bible
"Speak kindly to Jerusalem, and tell her that her time of warfare is over, that her punishment is completed. For the LORD has made her pay double for all her sins."

New Heart English Bible
"Speak tenderly to Jerusalem; and call out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins."

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

World English Bible
“Speak comfortably to Jerusalem, and call out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of Yahweh’s hand double for all her sins.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her, "" That her warfare has been completed, "" That her punishment has been accepted, "" That she has received from the hand of YHWH "" Double for all her sins.

Young's Literal Translation
Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her, That her warfare hath been completed, That accepted hath been her punishment, That she hath received from the hand of Jehovah Double for all her sins.

Smith's Literal Translation
Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her that her war was filled up, her iniquity was paid off: that she received from the hand of Jehovah double for all her sins.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her: for her evil is come to an end, her iniquity is forgiven: she hath received of the hand of the Lord double for all her sins.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and call out to her! For her malice has reached its end. Her iniquity has been forgiven. She has received double for all her sins from the hand of the Lord.

New American Bible
Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service has ended, that her guilt is expiated, That she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.

New Revised Standard Version
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Speak comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry to her, for she was filled with violence and delighted in sin; and she has received from the LORD'S hand double punishment for all her sins.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and cry to her, because she was filled with power, and she delighted in sin, and she received from the hand of LORD JEHOVAH double of all her sins”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Bid Jerusalem take heart, And proclaim unto her, That her time of service is accomplished, That her guilt is paid off; That she hath received of the LORD'S hand Double for all her sins.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Speak, ye priests, to the heart of Jerusalem; comfort her, for her humiliation is accomplished, her sin is put away: for she has received of the Lord's hand double the amount of her sins.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Prepare the Way for the LORD
1“Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God. 2“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her forced labor has been completed; her iniquity has been pardoned. For she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.” 3A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 31:34
No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Micah 7:18-19
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion? / He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea.

Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. / They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

Zechariah 1:13-17
So the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me. / Then the angel who was speaking with me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, / but I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease. For I was a little angry, but they have added to the calamity.’ ...

Hosea 2:14-15
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her and lead her to the wilderness, and speak to her tenderly. / There I will give back her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor into a gateway of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.

Isaiah 61:7
Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation, they will rejoice in their share; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.

Isaiah 54:7-8
“For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will bring you back. / In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer.

Isaiah 35:4
Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.”

Isaiah 51:3
For the LORD will comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and melodious song.

Isaiah 52:9
Break forth in joy, sing together, O ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem.

Isaiah 62:12
And they will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of The LORD; and you will be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Luke 1:77-79
to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, / because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, / to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Luke 4:18-19
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, / to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”


Treasury of Scripture

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

comfortably.

Genesis 34:3
And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.

2 Chronicles 30:22
And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.

Hosea 2:14
Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

warfare, or, appointed time

Psalm 102:13
Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

Song of Solomon 2:11-13
For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; …

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

and her iniquity

Isaiah 12:1
And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

Isaiah 33:24
And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.

Isaiah 43:25
I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

double

Isaiah 61:7
For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

Job 42:10-12
And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before…

Jeremiah 16:18
And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things.

Jump to Previous
Accepted Accomplished Bid Comfortably Complete Completed Cry Crying Double Ended Guilt Hand Hard Heart Iniquity Jehovah's Jerusalem Kind LORD's Paid Pardoned Proclaim Punishment Received Removed Rewarded Service Sins Speak Suffering Tenderly Time Twice Warfare Words
Jump to Next
Accepted Accomplished Bid Comfortably Complete Completed Cry Crying Double Ended Guilt Hand Hard Heart Iniquity Jehovah's Jerusalem Kind LORD's Paid Pardoned Proclaim Punishment Received Removed Rewarded Service Sins Speak Suffering Tenderly Time Twice Warfare Words
Isaiah 40
1. The promulgation of the Gospel
3. The preaching of John Baptist foretold
9. The preaching of the apostles foretold
12. The prophet, by the omnipotence of God
18. And his incomparableness
26. Comforts the people.














Speak tenderly to Jerusalem
The phrase "Speak tenderly" in Hebrew is "דַּבְּרוּ עַל־לֵב" (dabberu al-lev), which literally means "speak to the heart." This expression conveys a sense of comfort and compassion, suggesting a message that is meant to soothe and reassure. In the historical context, Jerusalem had experienced much turmoil and suffering due to the Babylonian exile. The call to speak tenderly indicates God's desire to console His people and assure them of His continued love and faithfulness. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's mercy and grace, even in times of judgment.

and proclaim to her
The word "proclaim" in Hebrew is "קִרְאוּ" (qir'u), which means to call out or announce. This is not a mere suggestion but a divine command to deliver a message with authority and clarity. The proclamation is directed specifically to Jerusalem, symbolizing the entire nation of Israel. Historically, prophets were often tasked with delivering God's messages to His people, and this proclamation is a continuation of that prophetic tradition. It underscores the importance of communicating God's promises and intentions to His chosen people.

that her hard service has been completed
The phrase "hard service" refers to the period of suffering and labor that Jerusalem endured, particularly during the Babylonian captivity. The Hebrew word "צְבָאָה" (tzeva'ah) can also mean warfare or hardship, indicating the severity of the trials faced by the Israelites. The completion of this hard service signifies a turning point, a divine intervention where God declares an end to their suffering. This is a message of hope and restoration, emphasizing God's sovereignty and His ability to bring about change and deliverance.

that her iniquity has been pardoned
"Iniquity" in Hebrew is "עֲוֹנָה" (avonah), which denotes guilt or sin. The declaration that her iniquity has been pardoned is a profound statement of forgiveness. In the conservative Christian perspective, this foreshadows the ultimate forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. The concept of pardon here is not just a legal acquittal but a relational restoration between God and His people. It highlights the theme of redemption and the transformative power of God's grace.

that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins
The phrase "received from the LORD’s hand double" can be perplexing, but it is understood as a measure of God's justice and mercy. The "double" could imply that the punishment was sufficient and complete, or it could signify an abundant restoration and blessing that follows the period of judgment. In the ancient Near Eastern context, receiving "double" could also mean receiving a full and complete measure, ensuring that justice is served. This reflects the biblical principle that God disciplines those He loves but also restores and blesses them abundantly. The emphasis on receiving from "the LORD’s hand" underscores God's direct involvement and control over the events, assuring the people of His ultimate plan for their welfare.

(2) Speak ye comfortably . . .--Literally, Speak ye to the heart. The command is addressed to the prophets whom Isaiah contemplates as working towards the close of the exile, and carrying on his work. In Haggai 1:13, Haggai 2:9, and Zechariah 1:13; Zechariah 2:5-10; Zechariah 9:9-12, we may rightly trace the influence of the words as working out their own fulfilment.

That her warfare is accomplished.--The time of war, with all its suffering, becomes the symbol of sufferings apart from actual war. The exile was one long campaign with enemies who were worse than the Babylonian conquerors. In Job 7:1; Job 14:14, the word is applied (rendered by "appointed time") to the battle of life from its beginning to its end. This, too, may be noted as one of the many parallelisms between Isaiah and Job. . . .

Verse 2. - Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; literally, speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem. Address her inmost feelings, her very spirit and soul. Her warfare is accomplished... is pardoned... hath received. These perfects can only be viewed as "perfects of prophetic certainty." According to every theory of the authorship of Isaiah 40-46, they were written before the close of the Captivity, when Israel's warfare was not yet accomplished, her iniquity not yet fully pardoned. Isaiah, however, sees all as already accomplished in the Divine counsels, and so announces it to the people. Israel's warfare, her long term of hard service (comp. Job 7:1), will assuredly come to an end; she will thoroughly turn to God, and then her iniquity will be pardoned, she will be considered to have suffered enough. Double. "It was the ordinary rule under the Law that 'for all manner of trespass' a man condemned by the judges should pay double" (Kay; comp. Exodus 22:9). Heathen legislators adopted the same rule for certain offences (Arist, 'Eth. Nic.,' 3:5, § 8). It is not here intended to assert that the law of Divine judgment is to exact double; but only to assure Israel that, having been amply punished, she need fear no further vengeance (comp. Isaiah 61:7).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Speak
דַּבְּר֞וּ (dab·bə·rū)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

tenderly to
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Jerusalem,
יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

and proclaim
וְקִרְא֣וּ (wə·qir·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

to her
אֵלֶ֔יהָ (’ê·le·hā)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

that
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

her forced labor
צְבָאָ֔הּ (ṣə·ḇā·’āh)
Noun - common singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign

has been completed,
מָֽלְאָה֙ (mā·lə·’āh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of

her iniquity
עֲוֺנָ֑הּ (‘ă·wō·nāh)
Noun - common singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity

has been pardoned;
נִרְצָ֖ה (nir·ṣāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7521: To be pleased with, to satisfy a, debt

for
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

she has received
לָקְחָה֙ (lā·qə·ḥāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

from the hand
מִיַּ֣ד (mî·yaḏ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

double
כִּפְלַ֖יִם (kip̄·la·yim)
Noun - md
Strong's 3718: A duplicate

for all
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

her sins.”
חַטֹּאתֶֽיהָ׃ (ḥaṭ·ṭō·ṯe·hā)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 40:2 Speak comfortably to Jerusalem (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 40:1
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