Isaiah Chapter 27 · Verse 1

Authorized King James Version

Study PDF

In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.

Original Language Analysis

בַּיּ֣וֹם In that day H3117
בַּיּ֣וֹם In that day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 1 of 21
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַה֡וּא H1931
הַה֡וּא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 2 of 21
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
יִפְקֹ֣ד shall punish H6485
יִפְקֹ֣ד shall punish
Strong's: H6485
Word #: 3 of 21
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
יְהוָה֩ the LORD H3068
יְהוָה֩ the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 4 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בְּחַרְב֨וֹ sword H2719
בְּחַרְב֨וֹ sword
Strong's: H2719
Word #: 5 of 21
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
הַקָּשָׁ֜ה with his sore H7186
הַקָּשָׁ֜ה with his sore
Strong's: H7186
Word #: 6 of 21
severe (in various applications)
וְהַגְּדוֹלָ֣ה and great H1419
וְהַגְּדוֹלָ֣ה and great
Strong's: H1419
Word #: 7 of 21
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
וְהַֽחֲזָקָ֗ה and strong H2389
וְהַֽחֲזָקָ֗ה and strong
Strong's: H2389
Word #: 8 of 21
strong (usu. in a bad sense, hard, bold, violent)
עַ֤ל H5921
עַ֤ל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 9 of 21
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
לִוְיָתָ֔ן even leviathan H3882
לִוְיָתָ֔ן even leviathan
Strong's: H3882
Word #: 10 of 21
a wreathed animal, i.e., a large sea-monster; figuratively, the constellation of the dragon; also as a symbol of babylon
נָחָ֖שׁ serpent H5175
נָחָ֖שׁ serpent
Strong's: H5175
Word #: 11 of 21
a snake (from its hiss)
בָּרִ֔חַ the piercing H1281
בָּרִ֔חַ the piercing
Strong's: H1281
Word #: 12 of 21
a fugitive, i.e., the serpent (as fleeing), and the constellation by that name
וְעַל֙ H5921
וְעַל֙
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 13 of 21
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
לִוְיָתָ֔ן even leviathan H3882
לִוְיָתָ֔ן even leviathan
Strong's: H3882
Word #: 14 of 21
a wreathed animal, i.e., a large sea-monster; figuratively, the constellation of the dragon; also as a symbol of babylon
נָחָ֖שׁ serpent H5175
נָחָ֖שׁ serpent
Strong's: H5175
Word #: 15 of 21
a snake (from its hiss)
עֲקַלָּת֑וֹן that crooked H6129
עֲקַלָּת֑וֹן that crooked
Strong's: H6129
Word #: 16 of 21
tortuous
וְהָרַ֥ג and he shall slay H2026
וְהָרַ֥ג and he shall slay
Strong's: H2026
Word #: 17 of 21
to smite with deadly intent
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 18 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַתַּנִּ֖ין the dragon H8577
הַתַּנִּ֖ין the dragon
Strong's: H8577
Word #: 19 of 21
a marine or land monster, i.e., sea-serpent or jackal
אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 20 of 21
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בַּיָּֽם׃ that is in the sea H3220
בַּיָּֽם׃ that is in the sea
Strong's: H3220
Word #: 21 of 21
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

Analysis & Commentary

In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. This apocalyptic vision depicts God's final triumph over evil using ancient Near Eastern mythological imagery. The Hebrew livyatan (לִוִיָתָן) appears elsewhere in Job 41 and Psalm 74:14, representing chaos monsters God subdued at creation. The threefold description—piercing serpent (nachash bariach, נָחָשׁ בָּרִחַ), crooked serpent (nachash 'aqallaton, נָחָשׁ עֲקַלָּתוֹן), and dragon in the sea (tannin asher bayam, תַּנִּין אֲשֶׁר בַּיָּם)—uses Canaanite mythological language to describe God's enemies. Ugaritic texts speak of Lotan, the seven-headed serpent, which Israel's prophets reinterpreted as symbols of hostile nations and spiritual powers opposing God.

His sore and great and strong sword (cherev haqashah vehagdolah vehachazaqah) emphasizes God's absolute power to judge. The triple adjectives (harsh, great, strong) underscore certainty of victory. In that day (bayom hahu) points eschatologically to the Day of the LORD when God finally vanquishes all rebellion. Revelation 12-13 and 20 use similar dragon imagery for Satan and antichrist, showing Isaiah's vision extends beyond historical enemies (Assyria, Babylon, Egypt) to ultimate spiritual warfare. The serpent of Genesis 3 who introduced sin will be finally destroyed by the sword of the LORD.

Historical Context

Written during Assyria's dominance (late 8th century BC), when empires seemed invincible. Ancient Near Eastern creation myths featured gods battling chaos monsters (Babylonian Marduk vs. Tiamat, Canaanite Baal vs. Yam/Lotan). Isaiah appropriates this imagery to show Yahweh's supremacy—He alone defeats chaos powers. For exiled Israel, this promised that empires oppressing them (symbolized as sea monsters) would be judged. The early church saw ultimate fulfillment in Christ's victory over Satan (Colossians 2:15, Hebrews 2:14).

Questions for Reflection