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 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 11:15 | And the LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the sea of Egypt; and with his mighty wind he will shake his hand over the river, and will smite it in the seven streams, and cause men to tread dry shod. | Isa 19:5-10 (Egypt's judgment and future restoration) |
| Exod 14:21-22 | Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD went back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went on dry ground through the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on the right hand, and on the left. | Exod 14 (The parting of the Red Sea) |
| Josh 3:15-17 | And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped into the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest:) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far; and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people had finished passing over the river. | Josh 3 (Crossing the Jordan River) |
| Psa 74:12-15 | For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat unto the people inhabiting the wilderness. Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers. | Psa 74 (God's power over creation) |
| Nah 1:4 | He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and dried up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. | Nah 1 (God's judgment on Nineveh) |
| Zech 10:11 | And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart from him. | Zech 10 (God's salvation and judgment) |
| Rev 16:12 | And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. | Rev 16 (The pouring of the sixth vial) |
| Isa 43:2 | When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. | Isa 43 (God's promise of protection) |
| Jer 50:38 | Their waters shall be dried up, and their rivers shall be dried up. | Jer 50 (Judgment on Babylon) |
| Jer 51:36 | Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry. | Jer 51 (Judgment on Babylon) |
| Psa 106:9-11 | He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness. And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left. | Psa 106 (Recounting Israel's history) |
| Isa 11:10 | And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people, to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. | Isa 11:10 (Context for the verse) |
| Isa 11:16 | And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people from Assyria; as it was for Israel in the day that they came up out of the land of Egypt. | Isa 11:16 (Continues the theme of deliverance) |
| Ps 66:6 | He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him. | Ps 66 (Praise for God's deliverance) |
| Job 38:24 | By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth? | Job 38 (God's power in creation) |
| Mal 4:3 | And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. | Mal 4 (The day of the Lord) |
| Zec 14:10 | All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the winepresses of the King. | Zec 14 (The New Jerusalem) |
| Rev 11:8 | And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. | Rev 11 (Witnesses in Jerusalem) |
Isaiah 11 verses
Isaiah 11 15 Meaning
This verse describes God's powerful intervention to dry up the Gulf of Egypt. He will cause the rivers, or streams of water, to become dry, specifically mentioning the Euphrates River. This action serves to divide the waters and create a dry path.
Isaiah 11 15 Context
Isaiah 11 speaks of a future Messianic age, a time of peace and righteousness under the rule of the Messiah, who is a descendant of Jesse. Chapter 11:15 is part of a broader prophetic vision that includes judgment and restoration, particularly concerning Egypt and Assyria. In the immediate context of chapter 11, this verse is set within the overarching theme of God's sovereignty and his power to overcome obstacles, creating pathways for his people. The reference to "the tongue of the sea of Egypt" likely alludes to the Nile Delta or the Gulf of Suez, and the "river" could be the Euphrates. This is not a literal historical event in Isaiah's time but a prophetic depiction of God's power to enable his people's passage, mirroring earlier deliverances.
Isaiah 11 15 Word Analysis
- וְהָיָה (vehāyâ): "And it shall be" or "And it shall come to pass." This introduces a future event, linking it to preceding prophecies.
- הַחֵרֶם (hakhērem): "the ban" or "the destruction." Some scholars suggest this could refer to an apostate or pagan element related to Egypt. However, the most common interpretation links it to utter devastation.
- לְשׁוֹן (lĕshôn): "tongue." Metaphorically used here for the tongue or outlet of a body of water, like the sea or a river mouth.
- יָם (yām): "sea." Refers to a large body of water. In this context, it is likely the sea bordering Egypt, possibly the Mediterranean or the Red Sea.
- מִצְרַיִם (Miṣrāyim): "Egypt." The land of Egypt.
- וּבְרוּחַ (ūvĕrûaḥ): "And with a spirit" or "And with a wind." Refers to God's powerful spirit or a strong wind sent by God.
- עֻזּוֹ (uzzô): "his might" or "his strength." Attributes God's power to him.
- יַחֲרִיב (yaḥărîḇ): "he shall make dry" or "he shall dry up." The verb signifies a complete drying or desolation.
- עַל־הַנָּהָר (‘al-hanhār): "over the river." Refers to a river. Given the mention of Egypt, it could allude to the Nile or, as often interpreted in prophetic symbolism, the Euphrates, a significant river associated with empires in conflict with Israel.
- וְהִכָּהוּ (vehikkāhû): "and strike it" or "and smite it." A forceful action of striking or afflicting.
- בְּשִׁבְעָה (bĕshiv‘â): "in seven." The number seven can symbolize completeness or perfection.
- אֲפִיקִים (’ăpîqîm): "streams" or "channels" or "brooks." The dried-up channels of the river.
- וְדוֹרֵךְ (vedôrēḵ): "and cause to tread" or "and men will tread." Implies making a path for people to walk upon.
- בַּשָּׂרִים (baśśārîm): "on dry ground" or "with dry feet." Indicating safe passage across the waterbed.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "the tongue of the sea of Egypt": This vivid imagery represents the maritime or deltaic region of Egypt, highlighting its connection to the sea.
- "with his mighty wind he will shake his hand over the river": This phrase personifies God’s active and powerful intervention. The wind is an instrument of His power, and the shaking of His hand signifies command and control over the waters.
- "and will smite it in the seven streams": The striking of the river at its multiple outlets emphasizes the completeness of the drying, leaving no passage unimpeded. The number seven suggests a divine, complete action.
- "and cause men to tread dry shod": This clearly indicates the purpose of this divine act: to provide safe and easy passage for God’s people, mirroring earlier acts of deliverance.
Isaiah 11 15 Bonus Section
The supernatural drying of watercourses is a recurring motif in biblical history, signifying God’s direct intervention to rescue and empower His people. It also foreshadows future divine actions, particularly in eschatological contexts where the removal of barriers for the people of God is described. The specific mention of Egypt and the Euphrates River connects this future act to significant historical and geopolitical elements relevant to the ancient Near East and its impact on Israel’s narrative and prophetic outlook. The verse, therefore, serves as both a historical reminder and a futuristic promise of God's unyielding power to secure His people's destiny.
Isaiah 11 15 Commentary
This verse paints a picture of God’s miraculous power over nature, particularly evident in facilitating His people’s journeys and judgments upon nations. The drying up of the river and the sea’s outlets are not just geographical events but symbolic representations of divine intervention to overcome impossible obstacles. It echoes the exodus from Egypt where God parted the Red Sea for Israel. The imagery also finds resonance in prophetic visions concerning the future, where God makes ways for His people, even through previously impassable waters. This divine act demonstrates His sovereignty and commitment to His people’s deliverance and victory. The “seven streams” suggests a comprehensive subjugation of the watercourse, rendering it completely traversable. This points to a future when the powers opposing God and His people will be utterly dissolved.