Isaiah 59:20

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 59:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith Jehovah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And a Redeemer will come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith Jehovah.
Isaiah 59:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 59

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20And a Redeemer will come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith Jehovah.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, &c.] Not Cyrus, as some; but the Messiah, as it is applied in the Talmudf1174 and in other Jewish writersf1175, and as Aben Ezra rightly interprets it; and so Kimchi, who also understands by the enemy, in the preceding verse, Gog and Magog; and this must be understood not of the first coming of Christ to redeem his people by his blood from sin, Satan, and the law; but of his spiritual coming to Zion to the church of God in the latter day, at the time of the conversion of the Jews, as appears from the quotation, and application of it by the apostle, (<451125>Romans 11:25,26) and with it compare (<661401>Revelation 14:1): and unto them that turn from…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“to Zion-- Rom 11:26 quotes it, "out of Zion." Thus Paul, by inspiration, supplements the sense from Psa 14:7 : He was, and is come to Zion, first with redemption, being sprung as man out of Zion. The Septuagint translates "for the sake of Zion." Paul applies this verse to the coming restoration of Israel spiritually. them that turn from-- (Rom 11:26). "shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob"; so the Septuagint, Paul herein gives the full sense under inspiration. They turn from transgression, because He first turns them from it, and it from them (Psa 130:4; Lam 5:21).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And the Redeemer shall come - On the meaning of the word rendered here ‘Redeemer,’ see the notes at Isaiah 43:1. This passage is applied by the apostle Paul to the Messiah Romans 11:26; and Aben Ezra and Kimchi, among the Jews, and Christians generally, suppose that it refers to him. To Zion - On the word ‘Zion,’ see the notes at Isaiah 1:8. The Septuagint renders this, Ἔνεκεν Σιὼν Heneken Siōn - ‘On account of Zion.’ The apostle Paul Romans 11:26, renders this, ‘There shall come out of Zion (ἐκ Σιὼν ek Siōn) the Deliverer,’ meaning that he would arise among that people, or would not be a foreigner. The idea in Isaiah, though substantially the same, is rather that he would come as a…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The Redeemer - Christ, of whom the apostle expounds it, Rom 11:26, the prophets usually concluding their promises of temporal deliverances with the promises of spiritual, especially such, of which the temporal were evident types. Isaiah 59:21”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the Redeemer: Oba 1:17-21; Rom 11:26, Rom 11:27 unto: Deu 30:1-10; Eze 18:30, Eze 18:31; Dan 9:13; Act 2:36-39, Act 3:19, Act 3:26, Act 26:20; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 12:14 Isaiah 59:21”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification