Focused Passage

Isaiah 59:16-21

Sin Separates, Justice Fails, and the LORD Himself Comes as Redeemer

From correcting the false assumption that the LORD is unable to save, to exposing sin as the barrier, to detailing violent and deceitful injustice, to confessing darkness and guilt, to the LORD seeing the absence of justice, to his divine warrior intervention, to the Redeemer coming to Zion and establishing his Spirit and words forever.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

16He saw that there was no man; He was amazed that there was no one to intercede. So His own arm brought salvation, and His own righteousness sustained Him.

17He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.

18So He will repay according to their deeds: fury to His enemies, retribution to His foes, and recompense to the islands.

19So shall they fear the name of the LORD where the sun sets, and His glory where it rises. For He will come like a raging flood, driven by the breath of the LORD.

20“The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD.

21“As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit will not depart from you, and My words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and grandchildren, from now on and forevermore,” says the LORD.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 16

Original words

He sawוַיַּרְא֙H7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthatכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthere was noאֵ֣יןH369Adverbmanאִ֔ישׁH376Noun - masculine singularHe was amazedוַיִּשְׁתּוֹמֵ֖םH8074Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthatכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionthere was no oneאֵ֣יןH369Adverbto intercedeמַפְגִּ֑יעַH6293Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularSo His own armזְרֹע֔וֹH2220Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularbrought salvationוַתּ֤וֹשַֽׁעH3467Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularand His own righteousnessוְצִדְקָת֖וֹH6666Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular. . .הִ֥יאH1931Pronoun - third person feminine singularsustained Himסְמָכָֽתְהוּ׃H5564Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Verse 17

Original words

He put onוַיִּלְבַּ֤שׁH3847Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularrighteousnessצְדָקָה֙H6666Noun - feminine singularlike a breastplateכַּשִּׁרְיָ֔ןH8302Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singularand the helmetוְכ֥וֹבַעH3553Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof salvationיְשׁוּעָ֖הH3444Noun - feminine singularon His headבְּרֹאשׁ֑וֹH7218Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularHe put onוַיִּלְבַּ֞שׁH3847Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulargarmentsבִּגְדֵ֤יH899Noun - masculine plural construct. . .תִּלְבֹּ֔שֶׁתH8516Noun - feminine singularof vengeanceנָקָם֙H5359Noun - masculine singularand wrapped Himselfוַיַּ֥עַטH5844Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularin a cloakכַּמְעִ֖ילH4598Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singularof zealקִנְאָֽה׃H7068Noun - feminine singular
Verse 18

Original words

So He will repayיְשַׁלֵּ֔םH7999Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularaccording toכְּעַ֤לH5921Preposition-ktheir deedsגְּמֻלוֹת֙H1578Noun - feminine plural-כְּעַ֣לH5921Preposition-kfuryחֵמָ֣הH2534Noun - feminine singularto His enemiesלְצָרָ֔יוH6862Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularretributionגְּמ֖וּלH1576Noun - masculine singularto His foesלְאֹֽיְבָ֑יוH341Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularand recompenseגְּמ֥וּלH1576Noun - masculine singular-יְשַׁלֵּֽם׃H7999Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularto the islandsלָאִיִּ֖יםH339Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Or coastlands
Verse 19

Original words

So shall they fearוְיִֽירְא֤וּH3372Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralthe nameשֵׁ֣םH8034Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwhere the sun setsמִֽמַּעֲרָב֙H4628Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular. . .שֶׁ֖מֶשׁH8121Noun - common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerand His gloryכְּבוֹד֑וֹH3519Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularwhere [it] risesוּמִמִּזְרַח־H4217Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerForכִּֽי־H3588ConjunctionHe will comeיָב֤וֹאH935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularlike a ragingצָ֔רH6862Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularfloodכַנָּהָר֙H5104Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singulardrivenנֹ֥סְסָהH5127Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singularby the breathר֥וּחַH7307Noun - common singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or When the enemy comes like a raging flood, the Spirit of the LORD will drive him back
Verse 20

Original words

The Redeemerגּוֹאֵ֔לH1350Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularwill comeוּבָ֤אH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularto Zionלְצִיּוֹן֙H6726Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singularto those in Jacobבְּיַֽעֲקֹ֑בH3290Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularwho turnוּלְשָׁבֵ֥יH7725Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructfrom transgressionפֶ֖שַׁעH6588Noun - masculine singulardeclaresנְאֻ֖םH5002Noun - masculine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • LXX to remove godlessness from Jacob; cited in Romans 11:26
Verse 21

Original words

As for Meוַאֲנִ֗יH589Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singularthisזֹ֣אתH2063Pronoun - feminine singularis My covenantבְּרִיתִ֤יH1285Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularwith themאוֹתָם֙H854Preposition | third person masculine pluralsaysאָמַ֣רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularMy Spiritרוּחִי֙H7307Noun - common singular construct | first person common singular[will not depart]אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativefrom youעָלֶ֔יךָH5921Preposition | second person masculine singularand My wordsוּדְבָרַ֖יH1697Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularthatאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeI have putשַׂ֣מְתִּיH7760Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularin your mouthבְּפִ֑יךָH6310Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularwill notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particledepartיָמ֡וּשׁוּH4185Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralfrom your mouthמִפִּיךָ֩H6310Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularor from the mouthsוּמִפִּ֨יH6310Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructof your childrenזַרְעֲךָ֜H2233Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular[and]וּמִפִּ֨יH6310Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructvvvזֶ֤רַעH2233Noun - masculine singular constructgrandchildrenזַרְעֲךָ֙H2233Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularfrom now onמֵעַתָּ֖הH6258Preposition-m | Adverbandוְעַד־H5704Conjunctive waw | Prepositionforevermoreעוֹלָֽם׃סH5769Noun - masculine singularsaysאָמַ֣רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Romans 11:27
  • Literally My Spirit, who is upon you,

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.