“And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just announcing a future Redeemer, but specifies who will experience that redemption: those in Jacob who "turn from transgression." This highlights that redemption isn't automatic but is linked to a turning away from sin, a crucial condition for experiencing God's saving grace.
“And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After detailing Israel's deep corruption and the resulting abandonment by God, the prophet pivots to a future hope. This verse proclaims that a Redeemer, understood by many as the Messiah, will arrive in Zion to rescue those in Jacob who turn away from their sins. This promise sets the stage for the immediate follow-up, where God establishes a new covenant with His people, empowered by His Spirit and His Word.
In a world often marked by despair and a sense of God's distance, this verse offers a powerful promise. It points to a future intervention, a turning point orchestrated by God Himself.
Even in times of deep transgression and its consequences, God's heart turns toward restoration. The phrase 'And a Redeemer will come' isn't just a statement of fact; it's a divine guarantee. This Redeemer, the Lord Himself, will act on behalf of His people. This isn't a passive waiting; it's an active coming, a deliberate act of love and power to bring His people back from the brink.
God's promise of redemption is vast, but it comes with a specific condition. What does it truly mean to 'turn from transgression' in the eyes of God?
The coming of the Redeemer is specifically linked to 'those in Jacob who turn from transgression.' This isn't about earning salvation, but about a genuine heart-change. It signifies a turning away from sin and a turning towards God. This turning is not a one-time event but an ongoing posture of repentance and a desire to live according to God's ways. The emphasis is on a response to God's call for faithfulness, a seeking of His grace after acknowledging wrongdoing.
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go'el · Hebrew Noun/Participle
A kinsman-redeemer; one who has the responsibility to reclaim, restore, or avenge a family member who has fallen into bondage or suffered loss. Theologically, it points to God’s role in buying back His people from sin and captivity.
pesha' · Hebrew Noun
A violation of divine law or a breaking of the covenant relationship between God and humanity. It represents an act of rebellion or turning away from the standard set by God.
This prophecy bridges centuries, moving from the immediate context of Israel's unfaithfulness and exile to the ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, whose coming signals a new era of redemption for all who turn to Him.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria besieged Jerusalem, a pivotal moment of existential threat for Judah. Though Jerusalem was miraculously spared direct conquest, the event highlighted Judah's vulnerability and the consequences of unfaithfulness.
586 BC
Babylonian Destruction of Jerusalem
The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled much of the population. This marked a devastating national catastrophe and the apparent failure of God's promises.
c. 538 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
Under Cyrus the Great of Persia, many Jewish exiles were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. While a significant restoration, it was a shadow of the former glory and faced many challenges.
c. 63 BC - AD 33— this verse
Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ
The period of Jesus' earthly ministry, his life, teachings, death, and resurrection, which Christians believe fulfill the prophecies of a coming Redeemer and the establishment of a new covenant.
c. AD 48-50
Apostle Paul's Ministry Begins
The apostle Paul begins his extensive missionary journeys, spreading the message of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, to both Jewish and Gentile communities throughout the Roman Empire.
c. AD 95
Book of Revelation Written
The final book of the New Testament, Revelation, was likely written, depicting ultimate cosmic redemption and the final victory of God through Christ, echoing themes of divine intervention and restoration.
This passage directly quotes and applies Isaiah 59:20 to Jesus Christ, presenting Him as the one who comes to turn away ungodliness from Jacob, highlighting the Messianic fulfillment of this promise.
Jeremiah 31:33This verse speaks of God's new covenant where His law will be written on the hearts of His people, a concept that parallels the internal transformation implied by 'turning from transgression' in Isaiah 59:20, made possible by the Redeemer.
Acts 3:26Peter explicitly states that Jesus is the one raised up to bless His people by turning them from their iniquities, directly echoing the promise of a Redeemer who comes to those who turn from transgression.
Colossians 1:13-14This passage describes God rescuing believers from the dominion of darkness and transferring them to the kingdom of His beloved Son, which is a powerful illustration of the redemption and turning from sin promised in Isaiah 59:20.
cambridgeIsaiah 59:20: "And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD."
20 . The consequences for Israel. And the redeemer shall come ] Rather And he shall come as a redeemer (ch. Isaiah 41:14 ). and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob ] LXX. has “and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob,”—a different and more expressive text. So also in the quotation, Romans 11:26 , where the words are applied in a Messianic sense.
clarkeIsaiah 59:20: "And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD."
Unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob "And shall turn away iniquity from Jacob" - So the Septuagint and St. Paul, Romans 11:26 , reading instead of לשבי leshabey and ביעקב beyaacob, והשיב veheshib and מיעקב meyaacob. The Syriac likewise reads והשיב veheshib; and the Chaldee, to the same sense, ולהשיב ulehashib. Our translators have expressed the sense of the…
The verse isn't just announcing a future Redeemer, but specifies who will experience that redemption: those in Jacob who "turn from transgression." This highlights that redemption isn't automatic but is linked to a turning away from sin, a crucial condition for experiencing God's saving grace.
After detailing Israel's deep corruption and the resulting abandonment by God, the prophet pivots to a future hope. This verse proclaims that a Redeemer, understood by many as the Messiah, will arrive in Zion to rescue those in Jacob who turn away from their sins. This promise sets the stage for the immediate follow-up, where God establishes a new covenant with His people, empowered by His Spirit and His Word.
After detailing Israel's deep corruption and the resulting abandonment by God, the prophet pivots to a future hope. This verse proclaims that a Redeemer, understood by many as the Messiah, will arrive in Zion to rescue those in Jacob who turn away from their sins. This promise sets the stage for the immediate follow-up, where God establishes a new covenant with His people, empowered by His Spirit and His Word.
"“And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD." — The verse isn't just announcing a future Redeemer, but specifies who will experience that redemption: those in Jacob who "turn from transgression." This highlights that redemption isn't automatic b…
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Last reviewed October 2026