Isaiah 11 15

Isaiah 11:15 kjv

And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.

Isaiah 11:15 nkjv

The LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt; With His mighty wind He will shake His fist over the River, And strike it in the seven streams, And make men cross over dry-shod.

Isaiah 11:15 niv

The LORD will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea; with a scorching wind he will sweep his hand over the Euphrates River. He will break it up into seven streams so that anyone can cross over in sandals.

Isaiah 11:15 esv

And the LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt, and will wave his hand over the River with his scorching breath, and strike it into seven channels, and he will lead people across in sandals.

Isaiah 11:15 nlt

The LORD will make a dry path through the gulf of the Red Sea.
He will wave his hand over the Euphrates River,
sending a mighty wind to divide it into seven streams
so it can easily be crossed on foot.

Isaiah 11 verses

Isaiah 11 15 meaning

Isaiah 11:15 proclaims a divine intervention to clear all obstacles for the return of God's scattered people, uniting them in a glorious second exodus. The Lord will utterly overpower and remove major physical and symbolic barriers – the Red Sea (represented by its "tongue") and the mighty Euphrates River – much like the miraculous Red Sea crossing during the first Exodus. This act demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty over nature and nations, making a clear and easy path for His covenant people to return home, without hindrance or difficulty. It speaks to a future, decisive act of salvation and restoration.

Isaiah 11 15 Context

Isaiah chapter 11 primarily focuses on the coming of the Messiah, portrayed as a "shoot from the stump of Jesse" (v. 1). This Messiah will rule with righteousness and justice, bringing peace, harmony (even between natural enemies, v. 6-9), and establishing a glorious kingdom. Verse 10 speaks of this root of Jesse becoming a signal for the nations. Verses 11-16 then describe the grand ingathering of God's people, Israel and Judah, from across the globe, uniting them after their dispersions. They will be brought back from places like Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the coastlands of the sea. Isaiah 11:15 specifically describes the dramatic, miraculous manner in which two major historical and geographical obstacles to this return – the "Sea of Egypt" and the "River" (Euphrates) – will be removed, directly referencing and surpassing the power displayed in the first Exodus event. This preparation makes safe passage for the scattered remnant from the west and the east. The broader context of Isaiah is one of both judgment upon sin and glorious future restoration for God's chosen people.

Isaiah 11 15 Word analysis

• And the Lord (וַיהוָה, va-YHVH): Introduces God's direct, personal action. YHVH is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness to His promises, particularly those of deliverance and restoration.
• will utterly destroy (הֶחֱרִים, hecherîm): From the Hebrew root Hiphil, signifying an intensive, decisive act of devotion, often to destruction. It denotes a total and permanent removal, going beyond mere drying to an act of complete elimination of the obstacle.
• the tongue (לְשׁוֹן, l'shôn): A geographical term for an inlet, gulf, or narrow arm of the sea. Metaphorically, it refers to the extremity or a prominent part of something.
• of the Sea of Egypt (יַם מִצְרַיִם, yam Mitsráyim): Generally understood as the Red Sea, particularly its northern arm (Gulf of Suez). This signifies a primary barrier to freedom, recalling the original Exodus.
• and will wave (וְהֵנִיף, v'hênîph): Implies a powerful, authoritative gesture, like an ensign or signal, but also with connotations of shaking or lifting for judgment or dominion. It is a decisive divine movement.
• his hand (יָדוֹ, yâdô): The "hand of the Lord" is a common biblical idiom for divine power, intervention, and authority.
• over the River (עַל־הַנָּהָר, `al-hanNâHâr): Most often refers to the Euphrates River when used without specification, a mighty and formidable barrier for those returning from the Babylonian captivity (Assyria). It represents a barrier to the East.
• with his scorching breath (בִּגְבוּחַ רוּחוֹ, bigvûach rûchô - alternative translation, possibly from another textual tradition or commentary interpretation often used: בְּרוּחוֹ הַחֲרִישִׁים b'rûchô haḥarishîm - "with His hot wind" or "fierce/dry wind"). Regardless of specific phrasing, it indicates a powerful, fiery, and drying wind, reminiscent of the "east wind" that divided the Red Sea (Ex 14:21) or the "blast of his nostrils" (Ex 15:8). It implies destructive heat and drying power.
• and strike it (וְהִכָּהוּ, v'hikkâhû): To smite, strike down, suggesting a forceful, definitive blow or action.
• into seven channels (לְשִׁבְעָה נְחָלִים, l'shiv`ah n'ḥalîm): "Seven" signifies completeness or perfection in Hebrew thought. Here, it implies not just drying, but a complete restructuring of the river into numerous, shallow, easily fordable streams, ensuring every part of it is traversable.
• and make men pass over dryshod (וְהִדְרִיךְ בְּנַעֲלָיו, v'hidrîk b'na`alâv): Literally, "and He will cause them to tread with their sandals." This vivid imagery emphasizes a perfectly dry and easy passage, mirroring the Red Sea and Jordan crossings where people walked "on dry ground," without getting their feet wet. It highlights ease, safety, and thoroughness.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The Lord will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt": This phrase speaks to divine conquest over a significant historical barrier of bondage (Egypt) and a formidable natural obstacle (the Red Sea). It is a direct and forceful overcoming of an adversary and a literal body of water. "Utterly destroy" conveys an extreme and comprehensive removal, echoing the judgments God enacted against Egypt.
• "and will wave his hand over the River with his scorching breath": This extends God's powerful, authoritative action to another great obstacle, the Euphrates River. "Waving his hand" is a gesture of command and power. "Scorching breath" denotes divine power, a fierce wind that not only dries but potentially withers and breaks the power associated with the river, connecting to God's judgment and transformative power, paralleling the strong wind that parted the Red Sea.
• "and strike it into seven channels, and make men pass over dryshod": This describes the concrete, miraculous result. The river is not merely dried, but engineered into multiple easy paths. "Seven channels" conveys absolute completeness in making the river passable, ensuring that no part remains an impediment. "Dryshod" emphatically recalls the miraculous dry crossings of the Exodus and Jordan, assuring a safe, easy, and unopposed return for the scattered remnant, contrasting with the dangers of the original exodus where the Egyptians were swallowed by the sea.

Isaiah 11 15 Bonus section

The imagery in Isaiah 11:15 operates on multiple levels. It is a literal promise of future geographical alteration for the return from exile, but also serves as a potent theological statement about God's ability to overcome any obstacle, whether physical, spiritual, or geopolitical, that prevents His people from entering into their destiny. The echoes of the Red Sea crossing (Ex 14-15) are undeniable, creating a typological connection where the first Exodus acts as a foreshadowing and guarantee of this even greater future redemption. This passage highlights the theme of "Yahweh the Warrior" who actively clears a path for His beloved. In a broader sense, it assures believers across all ages that God can make a way where there seems to be no way, clearing all barriers, spiritual and physical, for the ultimate establishment of His kingdom and the full gathering of His people. The "tongue of the Sea of Egypt" can also symbolically represent any lingering remnants of past oppression or the source of future opposition, which God vows to utterly dismantle.

Isaiah 11 15 Commentary

Isaiah 11:15 vividly portrays the omnipotence of the Lord in preparing for the grand eschatological return of His people. This verse is a magnificent prophetic promise, declaring a second, greater exodus event, surpassing the historical one in its scope and divine demonstration. It directly addresses the immense physical and geopolitical barriers (the Red Sea, representing Egyptian influence and bondage, and the Euphrates, symbolizing the power of Assyria/Babylon and their captivity) that separated Israel and Judah from their land. God, through His mighty hand and fiery breath, will completely neutralize these obstacles, transforming impossible crossings into easy, dry pathways. The mention of "seven channels" implies a thorough, perfectly managed, and universally accessible path, not merely a single breach. This prophetic scene underscores God's unfailing commitment to gather His scattered people and reaffirms His sovereign control over all creation and all nations for the ultimate fulfillment of His covenant promises. It signifies both judgment upon oppressors and a glorious salvation for the redeemed, creating a highway for the King to bring His people home.