61:7 Instead of shame, you will get a double portion; 1
instead of humiliation, they will rejoice over the land they receive. 2
Yes, 3 they will possess a double portion in their land
and experience lasting joy.
40:2 “Speak kindly to 4 Jerusalem, 5 and tell her
that her time of warfare is over, 6
that her punishment is completed. 7
For the Lord has made her pay double 8 for all her sins.”
41:15 “Look, I am making you like 9 a sharp threshing sledge,
new and double-edged. 10
You will thresh the mountains and crush them;
you will make the hills like straw. 11
51:19 These double disasters confronted you.
But who feels sorry for you?
Destruction and devastation,
famine and sword.
But who consoles you? 12
45:1 This is what the Lord says to his chosen 13 one,
to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold 14
in order to subdue nations before him,
and disarm kings, 15
to open doors before him,
so gates remain unclosed:
1 tn Heb “instead of your shame, a double portion.”
2 tn Heb “and [instead of] humiliation they will rejoice [over] their portion.” The term תָחָת (takhat, “instead of”) is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
3 tn Heb “therefore” (so KJV, NASB); NIV “and so.”
4 tn Heb “speak to the heart of Jerusalem.” Jerusalem is personified as a woman.
5 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
6 tn Heb “that she is filled [with] her warfare.” Some understand צָבָא (tsavah, “warfare”) as meaning “hard service” or “compulsory labor” in this context.
7 tn Heb “that her punishment is accepted [as satisfactory].”
8 tn Heb “for she has received from the hand of the Lord double.” The principle of the double portion in punishment is also seen in Jer 16:18; 17:18 and Rev 18:6. For examples of the double portion in Israelite law, see Exod 22:4, 7, 9 (double restitution by a thief) and Deut 21:17 (double inheritance portion for the firstborn).
7 tn Heb “into” (so NIV); ASV “have made thee to be.”
8 tn Heb “owner of two-mouths,” i.e., double-edged.
9 sn The mountains and hills symbolize hostile nations that are obstacles to Israel’s restoration.
10 tc The Hebrew text has אֲנַחֲמֵךְ (’anakhamekh), a first person form, but the Qumran scroll 1QIsaa reads correctly יִנַחֲמֵךְ (yinakhamekh), a third person form.
13 tn Heb “anointed” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV “his appointed king.”
14 sn The “right hand” is a symbol of activity and strength; the Lord directs Cyrus’ activities and assures his success.
15 tn Heb “and the belts of kings I will loosen”; NRSV “strip kings of their robes”; NIV “strip kings of their armor.”