Anti-Missionary Arguments

Tampering With the Text: Isaiah 59:20

The Anti-missionary’s charge:

Isaiah 59:20 - Misquoting Hebrew Scripture is in Romans 11:26 when Paul said, "And so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written. There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob". The Hebrew Bible tells a completely different story. Isaiah wrote, "A redeemer will come to Zion, and to those of Jacob who repent from willful sin. Is it in or out of Jerusalem?

HaDavar response

This is an interesting question. The Hebrew says "to Zion." The LXX says "for the sake of Zion." The NT says "from Zion." There is a lot going on here.

Paul is not producing a 1-1 quote in the context. He is weaving together several thoughts from the Scriptures rather than quoting one passage. He appears to be referring the reader to such passages as Isa. 59:20, 27:9, 59:21; and Jer. 31:31.

This is a clear use of the first century "fluid" approach to using Scripture that I mentioned earlier (The Four Ways the Brit Chadashah [New Testament] Uses the Hebrew Scriptures). This is an example of "Literal Prophecy plus Summation." Paul is summarizing all that the Scriptures teach about the Second Coming and the institution of the Messianic Kingdom. It is at The Second Coming of Yeshua that he fulfills the role of "Messiah Son of David"-the "King Messiah." He already has fulfilled the role of the suffering Messiah. Paul is directing the reader to a number of verses that paint a complete picture of what the redeemer will accomplish when he comes.

According to the great Messianic Jewish scholar, Dr. Alfred Edersheim, Isaiah 59:19-20 is applied to the Messiah and Messianic times in Sanhedrin 98a and Pesiqta 166b. The Midrash on Lamentations apparently follows suit. There are solid Messianic connections to this verse and Paul affirms that through his use of the quotes.

All in all, the three renderings present no real difficulty because all three are true. Does not the deliverer come "for the sake of Zion," that is to rescue Zion (LXX)? Does he not also come "to Zion" (Masoretic Text)? How else could he save Zion? It is also true that Jesus the Messiah came "out of Zion" (NT)-He is Jewish. Each of the renderings would emphasize one factor or another of the institution of the glorious Messianic Kingdom. There are textual differences but not conceptual differences.