Isaiah 40:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 40:1-2

Isaiah 40:1-2. Comfort ye, &c. “The prophet, in the foregoing chapter, had delivered a very explicit declaration of the impending dissolution of the kingdom of Judah, and of the captivity of the royal house of David, and of the people, under the king of Babylon. As the subject of his subsequent prophecies was to be chiefly of the consolatory kind, he opens them with giving a promise of the restoration of the kingdom, and the return of the people from that captivity, by the merciful... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:1-11

40:1-48:22 RETURN FROM BABYLONBetween Chapters 39 and 40 there is a gap of about one hundred and fifty years. The scene suddenly changes from Jerusalem in the time of Hezekiah (701 BC) to the distant kingdom of Babylon where the Judeans are held captive. (For the background to the Babylonian captivity see introductory notes, ‘Captivity and return’.) From now on no distinction is made between the northern kingdom Israel and the southern kingdom Judah. The emphasis rather is on encouraging all... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 40:2

comfortably to = to the heart of: i.e. affectionately. Compare Genesis 34:3 ; Genesis 50:21 .Judges 19:3 .Hosea 2:14 . cry = proclaim. Note the same word, and truth, in Isaiah 40:3 . warfare = hard service or forced service. iniquity. Hebrew. avah . App-44 . the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . double = in full. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for that which is complete, thorough, ample. See Isaiah 61:7 . Genesis 43:22 .Job 11:6 ; Job 41:13 .Jeremiah 16:18 ; Jeremiah 17:18... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 40:1-2

Isaiah 40:1-2. Comfort ye, &c.— These are the words of the prophet, relating what he saw, or what he heard, in this scene of the manifestation of the kingdom of God, with its signs and concomitants. He relates, that he heard the voice of Jehovah directed to certain ministers of his, commanding them to comfort his people on account of the approaching advent of the kingdom of God. This command is from the Father by the Holy Spirit, and it is directed to those teachers of the church, whose... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:2

2. comfortably—literally, "to the heart"; not merely to the intellect. Jerusalem—Jerusalem though then in ruins, regarded by God as about to be rebuilt; her people are chiefly meant, but the city is personified. cry—publicly and emphatically as a herald cries aloud ( :-). warfare—or, the appointed time of her misery ( :-, Margin; Job 14:14; Daniel 10:1). The ulterior and Messianic reference probably is the definite time when the legal economy of burdensome rites is at an end (Galatians 4:3;... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 40:1-2

God’s intention for Israel 40:1-2The first strophe of this poem (Isaiah 40:1-2) sets the tone for the rest of the chapter and for the rest of the book. It is an introduction to an introduction (cf. ch. 1). In spite of affliction that lay ahead for the Judahites, God’s ultimate purpose for them was life, not death-and salvation, not enslavement. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 40:1-11

The comforting Lord 40:1-11This first section of encouraging revelation stresses the comfort that God has planned for His people Israel. We can break it down into three strophes (sections). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 40:2

Jerusalem, the personification of God’s people, the Israelites, needed persuading to respond to the Lord’s love for her. Her lover had not cast her off. Judah’s period of educational discipline involving duress (the Babylonian Captivity) was over. Punishment for her iniquity (by the sacrifice of the Lord’s servant) had been accepted as satisfactory."Here is the first intimation of the truth to be more fully revealed in the fifty-third chapter of the book." [Note: Young, 3:23.] Indeed, Israel... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 40:1-22

The hope of return is grounded by the prophet upon the fact that Jehovah is the only God, the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Disposer of the fate of nations, who guides the course of history according to His will. The tone of this section is argumentative, the respective claims of Jehovah and of the heathen gods being discussed as in a court of justice. The object of the argument is to encourage the Jews in their exile by showing that, since Jehovah is thus supreme, no obstacles will be... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 40:1-24

Israel’s Restoration from Exile in BabylonOn the authorship and date of these chapters see Intro. According to their subject matter, they fall naturally into three divisions of almost equal length (Isaiah 40-48, 49-57, , 58-66), the close of each division being marked by an intimation that the wicked shall not share in the blessings promised to God’s people. read more

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