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Isaiah 59 · a question people ask

Is 59:17 the armor Paul tells his readers to put on?

In the text

In 59:17 the one who puts it on is the one the chapter has just named: "The LORD saw it" (59:15), "He saw that there was no man" (59:16), and "He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head" (59:17). Paul (Ephesians 1:1) tells those he writes to, "Put on the whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:11), and names "the breastplate of righteousness" (Ephesians 6:14) and "the helmet of salvation" (Ephesians 6:17). In a letter from Paul, Silvanus and Timothy (1 Thessalonians 1:1) the words are "putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation" (1 Thessalonians 5:8). Neither letter names Isaiah. The WEB has the breastplate with righteousness and the helmet of salvation in both Isaiah and Ephesians: in Isaiah the LORD puts them on, and in Ephesians Paul tells his readers to. These notes say no more than the verses say.

The verses

“Yes, truth is lacking; and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor. Therefore his own arm brought salvation to him; and his righteousness sustained him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head. He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle.”
Isaiah 59:15-17 · World English Bible
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:”
Ephesians 1:1 · World English Bible
“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 1:1 · World English Bible
“But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.”
1 Thessalonians 5:8 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 59

Isaiah 59: A Redeemer will come to Zion

In 59:2 separated is badal, the verb of "God divided the light from the darkness" (Genesis 1:4). The righteousness and salvation the speakers say are far off (59:9-14) are, in the same Hebrew words, what the LORD puts on (59:17). And of Isaiah's 13 Redeemer verses, only 59:20 has "A Redeemer", with no your, his, our or of Israel.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions