Isaiah 11:15
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.
Original Language Analysis
וְהֶחֱרִ֣ים
shall utterly destroy
H2763
וְהֶחֱרִ֣ים
shall utterly destroy
Strong's:
H2763
Word #:
1 of 17
to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction); physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nose
יְהוָ֗ה
And the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
And the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֵ֚ת
H853
אֵ֚ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
לְשׁ֣וֹן
the tongue
H3956
לְשׁ֣וֹן
the tongue
Strong's:
H3956
Word #:
4 of 17
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,
יָם
sea
H3220
יָם
sea
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
5 of 17
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
וְהֵנִ֥יף
shall he shake
H5130
וְהֵנִ֥יף
shall he shake
Strong's:
H5130
Word #:
7 of 17
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
יָד֛וֹ
his hand
H3027
יָד֛וֹ
his hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
8 of 17
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
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
9 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַנָּהָ֖ר
over the river
H5104
הַנָּהָ֖ר
over the river
Strong's:
H5104
Word #:
10 of 17
a stream (including the sea; expectation the nile, euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity
רוּח֑וֹ
wind
H7307
רוּח֑וֹ
wind
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
12 of 17
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
וְהִכָּ֙הוּ֙
and shall smite
H5221
וְהִכָּ֙הוּ֙
and shall smite
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
13 of 17
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
לְשִׁבְעָ֣ה
it in the seven
H7651
לְשִׁבְעָ֣ה
it in the seven
Strong's:
H7651
Word #:
14 of 17
seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
נְחָלִ֔ים
streams
H5158
נְחָלִ֔ים
streams
Strong's:
H5158
Word #:
15 of 17
a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)
Cross References
Zechariah 10:11And 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 away.Revelation 16:12And 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.Isaiah 50:2Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.Isaiah 19:16In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.Isaiah 7:20In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.Ezekiel 30:12And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the LORD have spoken it.Ezekiel 29:10Behold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia.
Historical 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.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the new exodus in Christ exceed the original exodus from Egypt?
- What barriers has Christ removed to enable our return to God?
- How does remembering God's past deliverances strengthen faith for present challenges?
Related Resources
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Analysis & 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.