Isaiah 1:27 kjv

Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

Isaiah 1:27 nkjv

Zion shall be redeemed with justice, And her penitents with righteousness.

Isaiah 1:27 niv

Zion will be delivered with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness.

Isaiah 1:27 esv

Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness.

Isaiah 1:27 nlt

Zion will be restored by justice;
those who repent will be revived by righteousness.

Isaiah 1 verses

Isaiah 1 27 Meaning

Isaiah 1:27 proclaims God's divine promise that Zion, representing His covenant people, will undergo a transformative redemption. This restoration is inherently linked to divine justice and executed through it, purifying the nation. Furthermore, it specifically includes those among its inhabitants who truly return to God in repentance. The outcome of this redemption will be a people characterized by genuine righteousness, reflecting God's own character and moral standards. It signifies that God's salvation is not arbitrary but flows from His righteous nature, distinguishing between the obedient and disobedient for the ultimate purpose of restoring a righteous remnant.

Isaiah 1 27 Context

Isaiah 1:27 stands as a profound promise within the introductory chapter of Isaiah, often called "The Great Arraignment." Chapter 1 opens with God's lament over His rebellious people, likening Judah and Jerusalem to a sick, bruised, and morally corrupt nation (Isa 1:4-6). God expresses His weariness with their external rituals and sacrifices, which lack true internal holiness and justice (Isa 1:11-15). He then calls them to repentance, offering cleansing (Isa 1:18). Verses 21-23 denounce Jerusalem's transformation from a faithful city to one characterized by murder, corruption, and injustice, having forsaken true worship and social equity. This severe indictment is followed by a declaration of God's coming judgment (Isa 1:24-26), where He will "purify" and "refine" His people by removing the wicked. Verse 27, therefore, immediately follows this declaration of purifying judgment, assuring that out of this divine crucible, a redeemed and righteous Zion will emerge, specifically those who turn back to God. Historically, Judah faced moral decay and idolatry, leading to various threats, highlighting the urgency of this divine message of judgment intertwined with a glimmer of future hope and restoration for the faithful remnant.

Isaiah 1 27 Word analysis

• Zion (צִיּוֹן, Tziyon): Primarily refers to Mount Zion, one of the hills upon which Jerusalem is built, often symbolizing the entire city, particularly as God's dwelling place. Theologically, it represents God's chosen people, the center of divine worship, and the earthly locus of His covenant relationship. In this context, it embodies the entity that is polluted but promised redemption.

• shall be redeemed (תִּפָּדֶה, tippadeh): From the verb padah (פָדָה), meaning "to ransom," "to buy back," "to deliver," or "to set free." It implies an act of liberation from bondage, whether from slavery, captivity, or, here, from the entanglement and consequences of sin. The passive voice ("shall be redeemed") highlights that God is the active agent of this deliverance. This redemption is a restoration of a rightful relationship.

• with justice (בְּמִשְׁפָּט, b'mishpat): Mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט) is a rich Hebrew term signifying "judgment," "justice," "legal decision," "right order," or "fairness." It's not merely punitive but implies divine rectitude and the upholding of righteous standards. God's redemption of Zion is not apart from justice, but a process through it, often involving purging and purification that demonstrates His righteous character. It ensures proper separation and restoration.

• and her converts (וְשָׁבֶיהָ, v'shaveha): From the verb shuv (שׁוּב), meaning "to turn," "to return," "to repent," or "to turn back." While it can refer to physical return from exile, in this early prophetic context before the major exiles, it primarily emphasizes spiritual turning. Thus, "her converts" are more accurately "her repentant ones" or "those who return" (to God). This highlights that the redemption is not universal for all in Zion but specifically for the penitent remnant within it.

• with righteousness (בִּצְדָקָה, bi'tzedakah): Tzedakah (צְדָקָה) means "righteousness," "uprightness," "ethical conduct," or "integrity." It's frequently paired with mishpat (justice), representing the two pillars of divine governance and ideal human behavior. Here, tzedakah serves both as the quality by which God acts in redeeming (His righteous nature) and the resultant characteristic of the redeemed people (they become righteous).

• "Zion shall be redeemed with justice": This phrase highlights God's method of redemption. It's not a lenient overlook of sin but a redemptive act that upholds divine standards. It implies a process of purification or sifting (as described in the preceding verses, Isa 1:25-26), where God's judgment cleanses the corrupt, allowing true righteousness to emerge. Redemption flows from and through God's inherent justice.

• "and her converts with righteousness": This connects the specific beneficiaries of this redemption to their resultant spiritual state. The "converts" or "repentant ones" are those who willingly turn back to God, aligning their lives with His commands. They are redeemed in such a way that righteousness becomes their defining characteristic, aligning with God's perfect moral standards. This is the ultimate goal: a renewed people who embody ethical integrity.

Isaiah 1 27 Bonus section

This verse beautifully encapsulates the tension and interplay between God's judgment and His redemptive plan, a recurring motif throughout Isaiah. The divine 'fire' that purges in verse 25 is precisely the mishpat (justice) by which Zion is redeemed in verse 27. It's a "refiner's fire" that doesn't consume entirely but purifies the faithful. The double pairing of "justice" (mishpat) and "righteousness" (tzedakah) emphasizes that these are not just human ethical traits, but fundamental attributes of God Himself, and He actively works to bring these qualities into being within His covenant people. This transformation is not external only; "her converts" signifies a change of heart, illustrating that true repentance is a prerequisite for experiencing and manifesting this divine redemption and subsequent righteousness. It anticipates the New Covenant promise where God Himself empowers His people to live righteously from the inside out (Jer 31, Eze 36).

Isaiah 1 27 Commentary

Isaiah 1:27 stands as a core theological statement concerning God's covenantal faithfulness and His commitment to holy living. In the face of Judah's deep-seated corruption and rebellion, God's promise is not of unconditional forgiveness that bypasses justice, but of a redemption profoundly interwoven with it. His intervention will cleanse and purify Zion through a process of refining judgment, removing the dross so that only the pure remains. This separation ensures that redemption is a demonstration of His righteousness, not a compromise of it. The "converts" (or "returning ones," referring to those who genuinely repent and turn back to the Lord) are the recipients of this redemptive grace. The prophecy clarifies that this ultimate salvation will result in a community characterized by moral uprightness, echoing God's own attribute of righteousness. It's a prophetic vision of spiritual revival, transforming a defiled nation into a people mirroring the divine nature through repentance and God's sovereign act of justice-laden redemption. This sets the stage for future prophecies of a messianic king who embodies justice and brings righteousness.