Isaiah 1:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness.

NIV: Zion will be delivered with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness.

NASB: Zion will be redeemed with justice And her repentant ones with righteousness.

CSB: Zion will be redeemed by justice, those who repent, by righteousness.

NLT: Zion will be restored by justice; those who repent will be revived by righteousness.

KJV: Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

NKJV: Zion shall be redeemed with justice, And her penitents with righteousness.

Jerusalem during the time of Isaiah has become a place of injustice, plagued by corrupt officials (Isaiah 1:23). The Lord has declared His intention to restore Jerusalem to a place of justice and righteousness, with faithful judges and counselors. This will come after a time of purging away those who are unfaithful as a metalworker burns away the impurities from silver (Isaiah 1:25).

Now Isaiah says that the outcome for those now living in Jerusalem will depend on their actions. The Lord will return justice to the city by justice. That is, He will redeem His people by bringing destruction on those who deserve it and sparing those who have been faithful. Isaiah is holding out hope to the people, stating that repentance will lead to redemption and not destruction.

Isaiah 1:21–31 focuses on the city of Jerusalem as representative of the people of Judah in Israel. Once faithful to God and known for justice, the city has become a prostitute and a town in which murderers walk free and leaders are friends with thieves. The Lord declares that He will purify the corruption from the city and return it to a place of justice. Those who repent will be redeemed. Those who don't will be broken and consumed. Those who have worshipped false gods will be embarrassed and then destroyed.

After identifying himself as the son of Amoz, Isaiah begins his vision from the Lord with the introduction of God's lawsuit against the people of Israel. His children are living in rebellion against Him. They are saturated in sin and have forsaken the Lord. Their spiritual sickness will lead to their destruction, though a few will be saved. Their offerings are meaningless because of their sinful lifestyles. If they repent now, they will be redeemed. If not, they will be destroyed. The Lord will restore justice to once righteous Jerusalem. All who do not repent will be consumed.

Isaiah 1 begins Isaiah's massive book of prophecy with the Lord presenting a lawsuit against His people Israel in Judah for breach of covenant. They live in rebellion against Him and are saturated in sin. They refuse to treat their spiritual illness and will be decimated by their enemies. Their offerings are meaningless. They must stop doing evil and start doing what is good. The Lord will burn off the corrupt from Jerusalem and return it to a place of justice and righteousness. Those who refuse to repent will be broken and destroyed.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 11/21/2024 3:30:43 PM