Isaiah 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66
Isa 40:1
נַחֲמ֥וּ נַחֲמ֖וּ עַמִּ֑י יֹאמַ֖ר אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
“Comfort! Comfort My people!” says your God.
Paraphrase: My dear exiled people; hear the word of YHWH, the Great King, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God who made a covenant with you at Mount Sinai, the One who is holy, and true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, “Take comfort in your situation; don’t be so discouraged; your situation is not at all hopeless.”
Comments:
Isa 40:2
דַּבְּר֞וּ עַל־לֵ֤ב יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ וְקִרְא֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֤י מָֽלְאָה֙ צְבָאָ֔הּ כִּ֥י נִרְצָ֖ה עֲוֺנָ֑הּ כִּ֤י לָקְחָה֙ מִיַּ֣ד יְהוָ֔ה כִּפְלַ֖יִם בְּכָל־חַטֹּאתֶֽיהָ׃ס
Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her that her service is complete, that her guilt is satisfied for, that she has received from the hand of YHWH double against all her sins.
Paraphrase: Speak these words to the broken heart of My daughter, Jerusalem. Announce to her that her time of enlistment is finished. The exile into which she has been dragged is coming to an end. I am satisfied with the punishment she has endured; My justice is not requiring anything further. Daughter Jerusalem has been punished severely for her sin; now it’s time to return and rebuild.
Comments:
For speaking to the heart, see Genesis 34:3 and Judges 19:3.
Isa 40:3
ק֣וֹל קוֹרֵ֔א בַּמִּדְבָּ֕ר פַּנּ֖וּ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְהוָ֑ה יַשְּׁרוּ֙ בָּעֲרָבָ֔ה מְסִלָּ֖ה לֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
A voice is calling, “In the wilderness, clear a path for YHWH; straighten in the desert a road for our God!”
Paraphrase: “Listen, My daughter! Do you hear it? There is a voice calling out to you! It is saying, ‘Clear the path for the Great King! Clear a path through the wilderness, so YHWH can lead His people back to their homeland. Make the path straight so they can go as quickly as possible back to their homes again. YHWH led His people out of Egypt and through the Red Sea; now He will lead his people out of exile and back to their homes again.
Comments:
Isa 40:4
כָּל־גֶּיא֙ יִנָּשֵׂ֔א וְכָל־הַ֥ר וְגִבְעָ֖ה יִשְׁפָּ֑לוּ וְהָיָ֤ה הֶֽעָקֹב֙ לְמִישׁ֔וֹר וְהָרְכָסִ֖ים לְבִקְעָֽה׃
Every valley will be lifted up and every mountain and hill will be brought low, and the uneven will be made into a level place and the rough places into a plain.
Paraphrase: Don’t worry about all the valleys and hills; when we set out to return, they will all disappear. The valleys will brought up and the mountains will be brought down. All the places where walking is difficult and treacherous will become like a super-highway. There will be no obstacles; even the children will be able to walk and return to the holy land.
Comments:
Isa 40:5
וְנִגְלָ֖ה כְּב֣וֹד יְהוָ֑ה וְרָא֤וּ כָל־בָּשָׂר֙ יַחְדָּ֔ו כִּ֛י פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר׃ס
Isa 40:6
ק֚וֹל אֹמֵ֣ר קְרָ֔א וְאָמַ֖ר מָ֣ה אֶקְרָ֑א כָּל־הַבָּשָׂ֣ר חָצִ֔יר וְכָל־חַסְדּ֖וֹ כְּצִ֥יץ הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃
Isa 40:7
יָבֵ֤שׁ חָצִיר֙ נָ֣בֵֽל צִ֔יץ כִּ֛י ר֥וּחַ יְהוָ֖ה נָ֣שְׁבָה בּ֑וֹ אָכֵ֥ן חָצִ֖יר הָעָֽם׃
Isa 40:8
יָבֵ֥שׁ חָצִ֖יר נָ֣בֵֽל צִ֑יץ וּדְבַר־אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יָק֥וּם לְעוֹלָֽם׃ס
Isa 40:9 עַ֣ל הַר־גָּבֹ֤הַ עֲלִי־לָךְ֙ מְבַשֶּׂ֣רֶת צִיּ֔וֹן הָרִ֤ימִי בַכֹּ֙חַ֙ קוֹלֵ֔ךְ מְבַשֶּׂ֖רֶת יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם הָרִ֙ימִי֙ אַל־תִּירָ֔אִי אִמְרִי֙ לְעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה הִנֵּ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
Isa 40:10 הִנֵּ֨ה אֲדֹנָ֤י יְהוִה֙ בְּחָזָ֣ק יָב֔וֹא וּזְרֹע֖וֹ מֹ֣שְׁלָה ל֑וֹ הִנֵּ֤ה שְׂכָרוֹ֙ אִתּ֔וֹ וּפְעֻלָּת֖וֹ לְפָנָֽיו׃
Isa 40:11 כְּרֹעֶה֙ עֶדְר֣וֹ יִרְעֶ֔ה בִּזְרֹעוֹ֙ יְקַבֵּ֣ץ טְלָאִ֔ים וּבְחֵיק֖וֹ יִשָּׂ֑א עָל֖וֹת יְנַהֵֽל׃ס
Isa 40:12 מִֽי־מָדַ֨ד בְּשָׁעֳל֜וֹ מַ֗יִם וְשָׁמַ֙יִם֙ בַּזֶּ֣רֶת תִּכֵּ֔ן וְכָ֥ל בַּשָּׁלִ֖שׁ עֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֑רֶץ וְשָׁקַ֤ל בַּפֶּ֙לֶס֙ הָרִ֔ים וּגְבָע֖וֹת בְּמֹאזְנָֽיִם׃
Isa 40:13 מִֽי־תִכֵּ֥ן אֶת־ר֖וּחַ יְהוָ֑ה וְאִ֥ישׁ עֲצָת֖וֹ יוֹדִיעֶֽנּוּ׃
Isa 40:14 אֶת־מִ֤י נוֹעָץ֙ וַיְבִינֵ֔הוּ וַֽיְלַמְּדֵ֖הוּ בְּאֹ֣רַח מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וַיְלַמְּדֵ֣הוּ דַ֔עַת וְדֶ֥רֶךְ תְּבוּנ֖וֹת יוֹדִיעֶֽנּוּ׃
Isa 40:15 הֵ֤ן גּוֹיִם֙ כְּמַ֣ר מִדְּלִ֔י וּכְשַׁ֥חַק מֹאזְנַ֖יִם נֶחְשָׁ֑בוּ הֵ֥ן אִיִּ֖ים כַּדַּ֥ק יִטּֽוֹל׃
Isa 40:16 וּלְבָנ֕וֹן אֵ֥ין דֵּ֖י בָּעֵ֑ר וְחַיָּת֔וֹ אֵ֥ין דֵּ֖י עוֹלָֽה׃ס
Isa 40:17 כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם כְּאַ֣יִן נֶגְדּ֑וֹ מֵאֶ֥פֶס וָתֹ֖הוּ נֶחְשְׁבוּ־לֽוֹ׃
Isa 40:18 וְאֶל־מִ֖י תְּדַמְּי֣וּן אֵ֑ל וּמַה־דְּמ֖וּת תַּ֥עַרְכוּ לֽוֹ׃
Isa 40:19 הַפֶּ֙סֶל֙ נָסַ֣ךְ חָרָ֔שׁ וְצֹרֵ֖ף בַּזָּהָ֣ב יְרַקְּעֶ֑נּוּ וּרְתֻק֥וֹת כֶּ֖סֶף צוֹרֵֽף׃
Isa 40:20 הַֽמְסֻכָּ֣ן תְּרוּמָ֔ה עֵ֥ץ לֹֽא־יִרְקַ֖ב יִבְחָ֑ר חָרָ֤שׁ חָכָם֙ יְבַקֶּשׁ־ל֔וֹ לְהָכִ֥ין פֶּ֖סֶל לֹ֥א יִמּֽוֹט׃
Isa 40:21 הֲל֤וֹא תֵֽדְעוּ֙ הֲל֣וֹא תִשְׁמָ֔עוּ הֲל֛וֹא הֻגַּ֥ד מֵרֹ֖אשׁ לָכֶ֑ם הֲלוֹא֙ הֲבִ֣ינֹתֶ֔ם מוֹסְד֖וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
Isa 40:22 הַיֹּשֵׁב֙ עַל־ח֣וּג הָאָ֔רֶץ וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ כַּחֲגָבִ֑ים הַנּוֹטֶ֤ה כַדֹּק֙ שָׁמַ֔יִם וַיִּמְתָּחֵ֥ם כָּאֹ֖הֶל לָשָֽׁבֶת׃
Isa 40:23 הַנּוֹתֵ֥ן רוֹזְנִ֖ים לְאָ֑יִן שֹׁ֥פְטֵי אֶ֖רֶץ כַּתֹּ֥הוּ עָשָֽׂה׃
Isa 40:24 אַ֣ף בַּל־נִטָּ֗עוּ אַ֚ף בַּל־זֹרָ֔עוּ אַ֛ף בַּל־שֹׁרֵ֥שׁ בָּאָ֖רֶץ גִּזְעָ֑ם וְגַם־נָשַׁ֤ף בָּהֶם֙ וַיִּבָ֔שׁוּ וּסְעָרָ֖ה כַּקַּ֥שׁ תִּשָּׂאֵֽם׃ס
Isa 40:25 וְאֶל־מִ֥י תְדַמְּי֖וּנִי וְאֶשְׁוֶ֑ה יֹאמַ֖ר קָדֽוֹשׁ׃
Isa 40:26
שְׂאוּ־מָר֨וֹם עֵינֵיכֶ֤ם וּרְאוּ֙ מִי־בָרָ֣א אֵ֔לֶּה הַמּוֹצִ֥יא בְמִסְפָּ֖ר צְבָאָ֑ם לְכֻלָּם֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יִקְרָ֔א מֵרֹ֤ב אוֹנִים֙ וְאַמִּ֣יץ כֹּ֔חַ אִ֖ישׁ לֹ֥א נֶעְדָּֽר׃ס
Isa 40:27
לָ֤מָּה תֹאמַר֙ יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וּתְדַבֵּ֖ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל נִסְתְּרָ֤ה דַרְכִּי֙ מֵֽיְהוָ֔ה וּמֵאֱלֹהַ֖י מִשְׁפָּטִ֥י יַעֲבֽוֹר׃
Why do you say, Oh Jacob, and you speak, Oh Israel, my way is hid from YHWH and from my God, my justice is passed by?
Paraphrase: My dear people, listen to Me. Why are you always saying that your predicament is unknown to Me? that I don’t have any care or concern for your suffering? Why are you even accusing Me of neglecting to give you the justice you deserve? Now you’re saying that it’s just too late for justice to happen. That ship has sailed and there’s no chance of bringing it back.
Comments:
Isa 40:28
הֲל֨וֹא יָדַ֜עְתָּ אִם־לֹ֣א שָׁמַ֗עְתָּ אֱלֹהֵ֨י עוֹלָ֤ם׀ יְהוָה֙ בּוֹרֵא֙ קְצ֣וֹת הָאָ֔רֶץ לֹ֥א יִיעַ֖ף וְלֹ֣א יִיגָ֑ע אֵ֥ין חֵ֖קֶר לִתְבוּנָתֽוֹ׃
Do you not know? if you do not hear? The God of the ages. YHWH, Creator of the ends of the earth; He does not get weak, and He does not grow weary, There is no investigation into His understanding.
Paraphrase: Don’t you remember who I am? Haven’t you been told many times and taught from your youngest days that I am am the Great King, YHWH? that I am the One who created everything you see on this earth and beyond it? Do you think that the Creator of the universe can get tired? That after a long day of work He needs to sit down and rest? Do you think any human person can plumb the depths of His knowledge or that someone should call for an investigation into His methods of administering His kingdom?
Comments:
“The various degrees of knowledge, with regard to the mode of acquiring it, are, according to Ibn Ezra, respectively expressed in Hebrew by ידע “to know from our own reasoning,” שמע “to know from information and instruction received from others,” הֻנַּד “to be told, without any effort of our own reason.”” source
Isa 40:29
נֹתֵ֥ן לַיָּעֵ֖ף כֹּ֑חַ וּלְאֵ֥ין אוֹנִ֖ים עָצְמָ֥ה יַרְבֶּֽה׃
Giving to the weak, power and to those who have no strength, he causes strength to become great.
Paraphrase: Now how does God administer His kingdom? If you were to search into His methods, what would you find? Well this is what YHWH, the Great King does. He finds those who are sinking under a load of suffering and pain; He swoops in as they collapse and gives them a fresh surge of new power. YHWH finds those who are powerless, the forgotten, the oppressed. To these, He multiplies their strength so that they can stand up again strong and full of vigor.
Comments:
Isa 40:30
וְיִֽעֲפ֥וּ נְעָרִ֖ים וְיִגָ֑עוּ וּבַחוּרִ֖ים כָּשׁ֥וֹל יִכָּשֵֽׁלוּ׃
The young boys grow weak and become tired; the young men are completely staggered.
Paraphrase: Even young boys, with all their energy, get tired and have to take a rest. Strong young men in the prime of their life will stagger and collapse in exhaustion when they are overworked.
Comments:
Note the infinitive absolute.
Isa 40:31
וְקוֹיֵ֤ יְהוָה֙ יַחֲלִ֣יפוּ כֹ֔חַ יַעֲל֥וּ אֵ֖בֶר כַּנְּשָׁרִ֑ים יָר֙וּצוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יִיגָ֔עוּ יֵלְכ֖וּ וְלֹ֥א יִיעָֽפוּ׃פ
but those who wait on YHWH, they will renew their strength; they will ascend on a wing, like eagles; they will run and not get tired; they will go on and not grow weak.
Paraphrase: Such young men have a lot of power, but they still have limits. But let me return to the powerless ones which I mentioned above. Let anyone of them come to Me and let them look to Me for strength; let them lean on My arm. (2 Kings 18:21; Isaiah 36:6) They will find that My omnipotence will enter them. As a result, they will find a new strength flowing through them; their strength will then be like that of the eagles who rise far into the sky on their mighty wings. Now these powerless ones will be able to run, and they will never get tired. Never will they need to stop and take a rest. They will be able to go anywhere without any limitation. They will go on and on without ever becoming weak.
Comments: