King James Version

What Does Isaiah 11:15 Mean?

Isaiah 11:15 in the King James Version says “And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over... — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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. dryshod: Heb. in shoes

Isaiah 11:15 · KJV


Context

13

The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

14

But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. them of: Heb. the children of they shall lay: Heb. Edom and Moab shall be the laying on of their hand shall obey: Heb. their obedience

15

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. dryshod: Heb. in shoes

16

And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God will enable return from exile using imagery from the Exodus. 'Utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea' and 'shake his hand over the river' recall Red Sea parting and Jordan River crossing. The 'seven streams' suggests making the Euphrates (barrier to return from Babylon) easily crossable. This promises a new exodus—God will remove barriers enabling His people's return. The new exodus ultimately refers to Christ's deliverance from sin and death, greater than physical exile.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Partially fulfilled when Persia allowed Jews to return from Babylon (538 BC onward). More fully fulfilled in Christ's deliverance from sin's slavery—the ultimate exodus. Jesus's death and resurrection accomplished the new exodus (Luke 9:31, where 'decease' is literally 'exodus' in Greek). The barriers sin erected between humanity and God were removed, enabling return to fellowship. The new covenant surpasses the old as the new exodus surpasses the original.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the new exodus in Christ exceed the original exodus from Egypt?
  2. What barriers has Christ removed to enable our return to God?
  3. How does remembering God's past deliverances strengthen faith for present challenges?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וְהֶחֱרִ֣ים1 of 17

shall utterly destroy

H2763

to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction); physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nose

יְהוָ֗ה2 of 17

And the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֵ֚ת3 of 17
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

לְשׁ֣וֹן4 of 17

the tongue

H3956

the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame,

יָם5 of 17

sea

H3220

a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif

מִצְרַ֔יִם6 of 17

of the Egyptian

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

וְהֵנִ֥יף7 of 17

shall he shake

H5130

to quiver (i.e., vibrate up and down, or rock to and fro); used in a great variety of applications (including sprinkling, beckoning, rubbing, bastinad

יָד֛וֹ8 of 17

his hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

עַל9 of 17
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הַנָּהָ֖ר10 of 17

over the river

H5104

a stream (including the sea; expectation the nile, euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity

בַּעְיָ֣ם11 of 17

and with his mighty

H5868

probably meaning strength

רוּח֑וֹ12 of 17

wind

H7307

wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the

וְהִכָּ֙הוּ֙13 of 17

and shall smite

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

לְשִׁבְעָ֣ה14 of 17

it in the seven

H7651

seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number

נְחָלִ֔ים15 of 17

streams

H5158

a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)

וְהִדְרִ֖יךְ16 of 17

and make men go over

H1869

to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string a bow (by treading on it in bending)

בַּנְּעָלִֽים׃17 of 17

dryshod

H5275

properly, a sandal tongue; by extension a sandal or slipper (sometimes as a symbol of occupancy, a refusal to marry, or of something valueless)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 11:15 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 11:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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