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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "speak to the heart" reveals God's desire for profound, intimate comfort, not just a factual announcement. This deep solace extends to the idea that Jerusalem has received "double" not as extra punishment, but as a symbol of God's complete satisfaction with the penalty paid, signifying a full reconciliation.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is tasked with delivering a message of profound comfort to Jerusalem, which has endured a long and brutal exile. This divine word is not meant for the literal city but for its people, personified as Jerusalem. It proclaims that their period of suffering and divine discipline, their "warfare," is now over, and their guilt has been fully addressed and pardoned by God.
Imagine someone you love is going through a tough time. How do you speak to them? Isaiah's message starts with a very specific kind of comfort.
The command is to "speak tenderly" (or "speak to the heart") to Jerusalem. This isn't just a casual word; it's a deep, intimate form of communication meant to soothe and restore.
Comforting the Afflicted
Warfare sounds intense and long. What does it mean for Jerusalem's 'warfare' to be over, especially when they are still in exile?
The word translated "warfare" here refers to a period of service, hardship, or struggle – like a military enlistment or a life of toil. For Jerusalem, this signifies the end of their divinely appointed time of punishment and exile.
The Appointed Time
Ask a follow-up
The verse speaks of iniquity being pardoned and receiving 'double.' Does this mean double punishment, or something else entirely?
This is a crucial message of grace: not only is Jerusalem's punishment ending, but her iniquity is pardoned. And the "double" received isn't a heavier penalty, but a testament to God's abundant mercy and the completeness of His forgiveness.
More Than Enough Mercy
Understand the original words
lebab · Hebrew Noun/Idiomatic phrase
Literally 'to the heart'; an idiomatic expression denoting intimacy, sincerity, and compassionate engagement, often used when God speaks to the emotions and deepest needs of His people.
tsaba · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew word refers to a time of forced labor, military service, or, metaphorically, a period of hardship, distress, or servitude under discipline. Here it signifies the end of the duration of Judah's judgment.
avon · Hebrew Noun
An act of wrongdoing, perversity, or moral guilt that separates a person from God; it carries the sense of turning away from the standard of God's holiness, requiring atonement or pardon.
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel; it signifies His eternal existence, faithfulness, and the holiness that defines His relationship with His people.
chattath · Hebrew Noun
Often used to refer to missing the mark of God's holy standard; it implies a failure to live in obedience to God’s law, resulting in separation from Him and needing divine forgiveness.
This prophecy, delivered during the Babylonian exile, announces the end of Jerusalem's suffering and the pardon of her sins. The 'double' punishment signifies that God's chastisement, though severe, has accomplished its purpose, and His merciful judgment now offers restoration and vindication.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem. This event brought immense suffering and fear to the people of Jerusalem, highlighting their vulnerability and the consequences of their actions.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Jerusalem and deports King Jehoiachin and a significant portion of the population, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar returns to Jerusalem, destroys the city and the Temple, and deports the remaining population to Babylon. This event is a profound catastrophe, leaving the people in despair and questioning God's presence and promises.
c. 580-570 BC
Exilic Prophecies of Isaiah 40-55
The prophet Isaiah, likely in exile in Babylon, delivers or compiles these powerful messages of comfort and future hope. The prophecies speak directly to the condition of the exiles, offering assurance of God's faithfulness and a coming restoration.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, overthrows the Babylonian empire. This event signals a major shift in the geopolitical landscape and creates the opportunity for the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland.
538 BC
Cyrus' Decree allowing return
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks the beginning of the return from exile and the gradual restoration of the Judean community.
This passage also speaks of God repaying sins 'double,' highlighting the theme of recompense for iniquity, similar to Isaiah's message of pardon after punishment.
Luke 15:11-32The Parable of the Prodigal Son beautifully illustrates the concept of a loving father's abundant forgiveness and welcome for a returning sinner, mirroring the 'speaking tenderly' and 'pardoning' in Isaiah.
Romans 5:8This verse directly states that God demonstrates His love by Christ dying for us while we were still sinners, underscoring the theme of God's initiative in pardon and reconciliation, even before full repentance.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20Paul speaks of the ministry of reconciliation, urging believers to be ambassadors for Christ, echoing Isaiah's message to 'speak tenderly' and 'cry' out God's message of forgiveness to others.
Revelation 18:4-6This passage describes judgment upon Babylon, but it also contains a call for God's people to come out of her, implying a release from her sins and a promise of relief, which contrasts with and sheds light on the full pardon offered to Jerusalem.
cambridgeIsaiah 40:2: "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."
2 . speak ye comfortably to ] Lit. “speak to the heart of.” To “speak to one’s own heart” is to whisper or meditate ( 1 Samuel 1:13 ); to speak to the heart of another is to soothe, or persuade, or comfort. For the meaning of the phrase, see Genesis 34:3 ; Jdg 19:3 ; 2 Samuel 19:7 ; Hosea 2:14 ; and…
barnesIsaiah 40:2: "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."
Speak ye comfortably - Hebrew, על־לב ‛al-lēb as in the margin, 'To the heart.' The heart is the seat of the affections. It is there that sorrow and joy are felt. We are oppressed there with grief, and we speak familiarly of being pained at the heart and of being of a glad or merry heart. To speak…
The phrase "speak to the heart" reveals God's desire for profound, intimate comfort, not just a factual announcement. This deep solace extends to the idea that Jerusalem has received "double" not as extra punishment, but as a symbol of God's complete satisfaction with the penalty paid, signifying a full reconciliation.
The prophet Isaiah is tasked with delivering a message of profound comfort to Jerusalem, which has endured a long and brutal exile. This divine word is not meant for the literal city but for its people, personified as Jerusalem. It proclaims that their period of suffering and divine discipline, their "warfare," is now over, and their guilt has been fully addressed and pardoned by God.
The prophet Isaiah is tasked with delivering a message of profound comfort to Jerusalem, which has endured a long and brutal exile. This divine word is not meant for the literal city but for its people, personified as Jerusalem. It proclaims that their period of suffering and divine discipline, their "warfare," is now over, and their guilt has been fully addressed and pardoned by God.
"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." — The phrase "speak to the heart" reveals God's desire for profound, intimate comfort, not just a factual announcement. This deep solace extends to the idea that Jerusalem has received "double" not as…
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Last reviewed October 2026