Isaiah 59:20
“And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Redeemer comes to Zion and to all who turn away from their sins.
Context
A turning point in Isaiah's vision. After describing God's justice, Isaiah now announces the coming of the Redeemer. Zion represents God's covenant people, and Jacob, the whole community of Israel. The condition is repentance: turning from transgression.
What Does Isaiah 59:20 Mean?
The word Redeemer, go'el in Hebrew, carries the weight of family duty and restoration. A kinsman redeemer was one who rescued a relative from slavery or poverty, restoring them to their rightful place. God promises that such a Redeemer will come, not as a distant judge but as one who enters our place, comes to Zion, the place where his people dwell. Yet the promise has a condition: he comes to those who turn from transgression. This is not a promise for all who remain stubborn, but for those who acknowledge their sin and turn away from it. Repentance is not earning redemption, but it is the posture in which we receive it. It is the opening of the hand that had been clenched in defiance.
Jesus is our Redeemer, the Go'el who came to Zion and to every place his people gather. His coming fulfills this word completely. He came not to condemn those who repent but to save them. His resurrection is the ultimate act of redemption, the restoration that goes deeper than any earthly rescue. But the condition remains: we must turn. We must acknowledge our transgression and turn our face toward him. In that turning, we find ourselves restored to our rightful place as God's beloved children.
In the Original Language
go'el (Hebrew), 'Redeemer' -- a kinsman who rescues relatives from bondage or distress, restoring them to family and property; one who avenges wrongs and restores justice
Application
The offer of redemption waits for our response. God's Redeemer has come and comes still to those who turn from their transgressions. We do not need to remain in the bondage of our sins. The movement toward Christ, the simple act of turning, opens the door to restoration and belonging in God's family.