Isaiah 59:20

20 "And he will come to Zion as Redeemer, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, says 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Isaiah 59:20 In-Context

18 According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, requital to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render requital.

19 So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives.

20 "And he will come to Zion as Redeemer, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, says the LORD.

21 "And as for me, this is my covenant with them, says the LORD: my spirit which is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your children, or out of the mouth of your children's children, says the LORD, from this time forth and for evermore."