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Isaiah 59 · a question people ask

Who is speaking in 59:9-15?

In the text

The verses speak as we and us: "Therefore justice is far from us" (59:9). They speak to you, "For our transgressions are multiplied before you" (59:12), and of the LORD and "our God": "transgressing and denying the LORD, and turning away from following our God" (59:13). The verses don't name the speakers, and the WEB puts no quotation marks round their words. The first verses of the chapter (59:1-8) speak of you and they and don't name who speaks either. From the middle of 59:15 the chapter tells what the LORD saw and did, and only 59:20-21 are marked as the LORD's own words. These notes don't name any of the voices beyond what the verses say.

The verses

““A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from disobedience in Jacob,” says the LORD. “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit who is on you, and my words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your offspring, nor out of the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from now on and forever.””
Isaiah 59:20-21 · 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