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Isaiah 40 · a question people ask

What does "double for all her sins" (40:2) mean?

In the text

The verse doesn't explain it. It gives three things to call out to Jerusalem: "that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins" (40:2). In Hebrew double is kefel (tap double), a word the Hebrew Bible has only three times; Zophar (Job 11:1) uses it where the WEB has two sides, "For true wisdom has two sides" (Job 11:6). The chapter doesn't say what the double is or how it is measured, and these notes don't work it out. What the chapter does do is set it among words of comfort: it is one of the things to call out when the word is "Speak comfortably to Jerusalem" (40:2), after "Comfort, comfort my people" (40:1).

The verses

““Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak comfortably 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.””
Isaiah 40:1-2 · World English Bible
“Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,”
Job 11:1 · World English Bible
“that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.”
Job 11:6 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 40

Isaiah 40: Comfort, comfort my people

Isaiah 40 uses the same two Hebrew verbs three times: the LORD "doesn’t faint. He isn’t weary" (40:28), "the youths faint and get weary" (40:30), and those who wait for the LORD "will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint" (40:31). In between: "He gives power to the weak" (40:29).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions