And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and to them that turn from transgression in Jacob, said the LORD.
the Redeemer
Obadiah 1:17 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
Romans 11:26,27 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: …
unto
Deuteronomy 30:1-10 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, …
Ezekiel 18:30,31 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin…
Daniel 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
to those in Jacob who turn from transgression
This phrase highlights the condition for receiving the Redeemer's deliverance: repentance. "Jacob" is a metonym for the nation of Israel, emphasizing the covenant relationship between God and His people. Turning from transgression implies a genuine repentance and a return to God's ways, as seen in the calls to repentance throughout the prophetic books, such as in Joel 2:12-13. This turning away from sin is a prerequisite for experiencing the redemption offered by the Messiah, aligning with the New Testament message of repentance and faith in Christ (Acts 3:19).
declares the LORD
This phrase underscores the authority and certainty of the prophecy. The use of "declares the LORD" is a common prophetic formula that affirms the divine origin of the message. It assures the audience that the promise of redemption is not merely a human hope but a divine decree. This assurance is consistent with the character of God as faithful and true, as seen throughout Scripture, such as in Numbers 23:19 and Hebrews 6:18, where God's promises are depicted as unchangeable and reliable.
- Scripture paints the “Redeemer” as a specific, personal Deliverer—Jesus Christ. Job confessed, “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25), and Isaiah earlier described Him as “pierced for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5).
- New-Testament writers echo this identity: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law” (Galatians 3:13) and “you were redeemed…with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
- Reading Isaiah 59, the context shows human sin (vv. 1-15) answered by God’s own arm bringing salvation (v. 16). The Redeemer isn’t a concept but a Person who steps in when no one else can.
- The verb is active and certain. God promises not a possibility but an arrival.
• Isaiah had already foretold: “For unto us a Child is born…of the increase of His government…there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
• Malachi echoed, “The Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to His temple” (Malachi 3:1).
• The New Covenant records the fulfillment in Bethlehem (Luke 2:11) and anticipates the future return: “This same Jesus…will come back” (Acts 1:11).
- God’s timeline often spans centuries, yet His Word stands unchanged (2 Peter 3:9).
- Zion refers to Jerusalem, the geographical and spiritual heart of God’s dealings with Israel (Psalm 2:6; Psalm 132:13-14).
- Paul cites this very verse: “The Deliverer will come from Zion” (Romans 11:26), linking Christ’s salvation to Israel’s future restoration.
- Revelation completes the picture: “I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion” (Revelation 14:1).
- Zion thus becomes the stage where redemption’s promise and consummation meet.
- “Jacob” emphasizes the covenant nation—physical descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 35:10-12).
- God always preserves a faithful remnant (Isaiah 10:20-22). Paul clarifies, “Not all who are descended from Israel are Israel” (Romans 9:6-8); the Redeemer’s blessing is for covenant people who truly believe.
- The verse affirms God’s continuing commitment to Israel even while the gospel also reaches the nations (Acts 13:46-48).
- Redemption is applied to repentant hearts, not rebellious ones.
• “He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
• Peter preached, “Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away” (Acts 3:19).
• John assures believers, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive” (1 John 1:9).
- Repentance is both a change of mind and direction. The Redeemer’s arrival brings power to turn, yet each person must respond.
- The closing phrase underscores divine authority. When the LORD speaks, His word is final (Isaiah 55:11).
- This declaration anchors every promise above; God Himself stakes His name on the Redeemer’s mission and its guaranteed outcome.
Isaiah 59:20 promises that a personal Redeemer—Jesus Christ—will certainly arrive in Jerusalem, extending salvation to the covenant people of Israel who repent of their sins. The verse ties together God’s unbreakable covenant, the necessity of repentance, and the assured triumph of Christ’s redemptive work, all sealed by the authoritative word of the LORD.
(20) And the Redeemer shall come . . .--The picture of the Theophany is continued--Jehovah comes as a Redeemer (Goel, as in Isaiah 41:14; Isaiah 43:1, Job 19:25) to the true Zion, to those who have turned from their transgression. The verse is noticeable as being quoted, with variations, by St. Paul in Romans 11:26.Verse 20. - And the Redeemer shall come to Zion; rather, and there shall come a Redeemer for Zion, and for those who turn, etc. When the "adversaries "and the "enemies" shall have been punished, repentant Israel shall be saved by the coming of Messiah. As usual, the prophet does not note, or perhaps see, intervals of time, but blends events of various periods into one glorious vision of triumphant deliverance, redemption, and prolonged spiritual life in the Redeemer's kingdom.