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 tenderly and kindly to Jerusalem, and announce to her that her time of fighting is over, that her guilt has been forgiven. She has already received from the LORD twice as much punishment as her sins deserved.
God is telling His people to comfort Jerusalem because her punishment is over and she's been forgiven—in fact, she's suffered more than enough for her wrongs.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes during the Babylonian exile when Jerusalem had been destroyed and the Jewish people were captives in Babylon for their disobedience to God. Isaiah is prophesying about a future time when God would restore His people and bring them back to their homeland. The 'double punishment' refers to the complete and thorough discipline they experienced through exile and suffering.
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