Isaiah 40:1–2
“Comfort my people”: speak to the heart of Jerusalem, her iniquity is paid off
Study it word by word1“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your Elohim.
2“Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and call out to her that her service is completed, that her iniquity is paid off, that she has received from the hand of YHWH double for all her sins.”
In its context
…
3A voice calls out: “In the wilderness clear the way of YHWH; make straight in the Arabah a highway for our Elohim.
4Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be made low; and the crooked will become a plain, and the rough places a broad valley.
Its words in the original
- נַחֲמוּnachamu· relent, be sorry, comfort
A verb of deep feeling, with two uses: "comfort" someone, and "be sorry" for something or "relent". Said of God, it expresses his grief at evil or that he does not carry out a punishment he had announced; not that he had made a mistake (compare Numbers 23:19).
- עַמִּami· people
People: a human group joined by kinship, history and destiny. "My people", said by God, is Israel. Also the people as a crowd, or troops.
- יֹאמַרyomar· say
Say, speak. The most common verb for bringing in what someone says; sometimes "think" (say to oneself) or "command".
- אֱלֹהֵיelohe· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.
- דַּבְּרוּdabru· speak
Speak, talk, say; also promise or command.
- לֵבlev· heart
Heart. In Hebrew it is not only the place of feelings: it is the center of the person, where one thinks, decides and wills; also the middle of something.
- יְרוּשָׁלִַםyerushalaim· Jerusalem
Jerusalem: a city in the hill country that later became David's capital and the place of the temple.
- קִרְאוּkiru· call, proclaim
Call: speak out to someone, summon, invite, give a name, proclaim; also read aloud. "Call on the name of YHWH" is to pray to him and worship him.
- מָלְאָהmala· fill, be full
Fill or be full; also fulfill or complete (a time, a word given).
- צְבָאָtsevaa· host, army
A great ordered company, like an army. "All their host" is everything that fills the heavens and the earth: the stars and the created beings. From this word comes the title "YHWH of hosts" (YHWH Tsevaot).
- נִרְצָהnirtsa· accept, be pleased with
Receive with pleasure, accept; take delight in someone. Also pay off a debt.
- עֲוֺנָavona· iniquity
Iniquity: wickedness, a serious wrong. The same word covers the wrong, the guilt it leaves and the punishment it brings.
- לָקְחָהlakcha· take
Take: seize, take along, receive. Also "take a wife" (marry).
- יַּדyad· hand, power
Hand. Figuratively, power or control ("into the hand of" = into the power of); also side, part, or share. Also a projecting piece, such as a tenon.
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- כִּפְלַיִםkiflayim· double
Double, twice as much of something.
- חַטֹּאתֶיchatote· sin, sin offering
Sin: missing the mark of what God asks; also the guilt and the punishment. In the laws the same word also names the sacrifice offered for sin.