Isaiah 59:20 kjv
And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 59:20 nkjv
"The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," Says the LORD.
Isaiah 59:20 niv
"The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins," declares the LORD.
Isaiah 59:20 esv
"And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression," declares the LORD.
Isaiah 59:20 nlt
"The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem
to buy back those in Israel
who have turned from their sins,"
says the LORD.
Isaiah 59 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| The Redeemer | ||
| Job 19:25 | "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth." | God as personal redeemer |
| Ps 19:14 | "...be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." | God as source of deliverance |
| Isa 41:14 | "...your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel." | Repeated emphasis on God as Israel's Redeemer |
| Isa 43:14 | "...the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel..." | God's specific role for Israel |
| Isa 47:4 | "Our Redeemer—the LORD of hosts is his name—is the Holy One of Israel." | Emphasizes God's power and holiness |
| Isa 54:5 | "For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel..." | God as covenant husband and redeemer |
| Col 1:13-14 | "...delivered us from...darkness...in whom we have redemption..." | Redemption through Christ |
| Heb 9:12 | "...entered once for all into the holy places, having obtained eternal redemption." | Christ's eternal redemption |
| Coming to Zion | ||
| Ps 14:7 | "Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!" | Zion as source of salvation |
| Zech 9:9 | "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!...your king is coming to you..." | Messianic king entering Zion |
| Matt 21:5 | (Quoting Zech 9:9 for Jesus' entry) "...your King is coming to you..." | Fulfillment of king coming to Zion |
| Heb 12:22 | "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God..." | Heavenly Zion as spiritual reality |
| Turning from Transgression / Repentance | ||
| 2 Chron 7:14 | "...if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray...and turn from their wicked ways..." | Condition for God's blessing |
| Ezek 18:30-32 | "Repent and live!...Make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!" | Call to personal repentance |
| Joel 2:12-13 | "Return to me with all your heart...Rend your hearts and not your garments." | Sincere repentance |
| Acts 3:19 | "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out..." | Apostolic call to repentance |
| Acts 26:20 | "...that they should repent and turn to God..." | Public call for turning to God |
| Messianic Fulfillment & God's Initiative | ||
| Rom 11:26-27 | "And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob; and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.'" | NT direct quotation/fulfillment |
| Isa 59:16 | "He saw that there was no man...Therefore his own arm brought him salvation..." | God's sole initiative in salvation |
| Jer 31:33 | "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts..." | God initiates inner change for New Covenant |
| Jn 6:44 | "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him..." | Divine enablement for coming to Christ |
| Phil 2:13 | "For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work..." | God's work in repentance |
| Eph 2:8-9 | "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God..." | Salvation is God's gift |
Isaiah 59 verses
Isaiah 59 20 Meaning
This verse declares a solemn promise from the LORD that a Redeemer will definitively come to Zion and to those within the house of Jacob who choose to repent and turn away from their rebellious sins. It signifies a future divine intervention for salvation, conditioned upon the turning of the people's hearts back to God. This promise holds profound implications for both historical Israel and the ultimate redemption through Christ.
Isaiah 59 20 Context
Isaiah chapter 59 vividly portrays the spiritual depravity of Judah. The prophet denounces their widespread iniquity, injustice, and lack of truth (vv. 1-8), leading to separation from God and failure to experience His salvation (vv. 9-15a). Seeing no human intercessor or power to bring righteousness, the LORD Himself intervenes (vv. 15b-17), displaying His own justice and wrath against His adversaries (vv. 18-19). Verse 20 marks a turning point from God's judgment on His enemies to His promised redemption for His penitent people, leading into the covenant promise of His Spirit and Word for generations to come (v. 21). Historically, this passage likely addresses the challenges and sins faced by the people of Judah, perhaps during or after the Babylonian exile, urging them to look to God's promised deliverance, contingent on their repentance, as they longed for national restoration. It subtly confronts the futility of human-centered solutions or reliance on foreign gods for deliverance.
Isaiah 59 20 Word analysis
- And a Redeemer: The Hebrew word is גֹּאֵל (Go'el), referring to a kinsman-redeemer. This role in ancient Israel included defending family honor, avenging blood, buying back forfeited property, and redeeming relatives from slavery (e.g., Ruth, Lev 25). Theologically, the Go'el is one who restores, rescues, or vindicates. In this context, it speaks of a powerful divine agent who will set things right, delivering God's people from the bondage of sin and its consequences. It strongly anticipates the coming Messiah.
- will come: The Hebrew יָבֹא (yavo) is a strong verb in the imperfect tense, denoting a definite future action, a promise of a certain arrival. It emphasizes God's proactive initiative in bringing about salvation, rather than humanity initiating the rescue.
- to Zion: In Hebrew, צִיּוֹן (Tziyon) refers to the elevated part of Jerusalem where the temple was located. It is often used to symbolize God's holy city, His dwelling place, and metaphorically represents God's covenant people, whether nationally (Israel) or spiritually (the church in the New Testament). The arrival of the Redeemer to Zion signifies restoration and divine presence within His chosen people.
- and to those in Jacob: יַעֲקֹב (Ya'akov) refers to the patriarch Jacob, whose descendants are the nation of Israel. Here, it refers to the entirety of God's covenant people. The conjunction "and to those" indicates a specific subset or condition within Jacob.
- who turn from transgression: The Hebrew וּלְשָׁבֵי פֶשַׁע (ūləšāḇê pešaʿ) is crucial.
- turn from: שָׁבֵי (shavei) is a participle of the verb שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to turn," "to return," "to repent." It denotes a decisive change of direction, a spiritual reorientation back to God.
- transgression: פֶשַׁע (peshaʿ) is a powerful word for sin, signifying rebellion, revolt, or a deliberate breaking of a covenant or relationship. It suggests an act of defiance against a superior authority. The phrase implies that the Redeemer's saving work is specifically for those who forsake their rebellion.
- declares the LORD: The Hebrew נְאֻם יְהוָה (ne'um YHWH) is a prophetic formula, authenticating the statement as a direct oracle from God. YHWH is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness and power to fulfill His promises. It stamps the preceding statement with absolute divine authority and certainty.
- A Redeemer will come to Zion: This phrase points to a divine act of salvation directed towards God's chosen people, ensuring His presence and help where His name dwells.
- those in Jacob who turn from transgression: This condition highlights that the promised redemption is not for all of physical Israel indiscriminately but specifically for the penitent among them. It emphasizes the need for a spiritual awakening and moral conversion.
Isaiah 59 20 Bonus section
The Go'el concept is highly significant; in the Hebrew mind, a redeemer was not just a rescuer but also one who fulfilled a legal and familial obligation. When applied to God, it means He takes on the role of a relative who reclaims His people, often at a great cost to Himself (ransom). This foreshadows the immense price paid by Christ, the ultimate Redeemer, through His atoning sacrifice. The tension between national identity ("Jacob") and spiritual condition ("who turn from transgression") is crucial. While the promise initially targets the physical descendants, the spiritual requirement highlights that true membership in God's covenant community is not merely genetic but heart-based, focusing on active repentance and faith. This paves the way for the New Covenant understanding that true Israel includes all who believe in the Messiah, Jew and Gentile alike.
Isaiah 59 20 Commentary
Isaiah 59:20 presents a pivotal prophecy, offering hope for divine deliverance after a vivid portrayal of Israel's pervasive sin and God's resultant judgment. The LORD promises a "Redeemer," the powerful and just Go'el, who will personally intervene. This Redeemer's coming is not a universal declaration but is specifically directed "to Zion" (representing God's chosen people) and, more particularly, "to those in Jacob who turn from transgression." This emphasizes that God's saving act, while entirely His initiative, requires a response of genuine repentance from His people. It points directly to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who comes to redeem His people from their sins, a truth confirmed by Paul in Romans 11:26-27, demonstrating a future, complete salvation for Israel through their turning to Christ. The ultimate spiritual renewal is contingent on abandoning rebellion against God.