Isaiah 59:20

20 "Then a Savior will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from rebellion," declares the LORD.

Isaiah 59:20 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 59:20

And the Redeemer shall come to Zion
Not Cyrus, as some; but the Messiah, as it is applied in the Talmud F13 and in other Jewish writers F14, 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, ( Romans 11:25 Romans 11:26 ) (See Gill on Romans 11:25) (See Gill on Romans 11:26) and with it compare ( Revelation 14:1 ) : and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord;
that is, to such among the Jews, the posterity of Jacob, who repent of their sins, and turn from them; and particularly their sin of the rejection of the Messiah, and the disbelief of him, and turn to him, and believe in him as their Saviour and King. The Targum is,

``and the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and to turn the transgressors of the house of Jacob to the law;''
but rather the turn will be to the Gospel of Christ.
FOOTNOTES:

F13 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 98. l. & Yoma, fol. 86. 2.
F14 Echa Rabbati, fol. 47. 2.

Isaiah 59:20 In-Context

18 He will pay them back according to their deeds. He will pay back his opponents with wrath and punish his enemies. He will pay back the people who live on the coastlands.
19 The people of the west will fear the name of the LORD. Those in the east will fear his glory. He will come like a rushing stream. The wind of the LORD pushes him.
20 "Then a Savior will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from rebellion," declares the LORD.
21 "This is my promise to them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I put in your mouth will not leave you. They will be with your children and your grandchildren permanently," says the LORD.
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