Isaiah 27:2

"In that day, the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword will punish leviathan, the fleeing serpent, and leviathan, the twisted serpent; and he will kill the dragon that is in the sea."

Key Reflection

Isaiah 27:2 envisions a future day when Yahweh will wield his powerful sword to bring judgment on symbolic creatures representing evil forces. The leviathan, often depicted as a sea monster in other biblical passages (e.g., Job 41), here symbolizes both oppressive nations and cosmic chaos. By describing leviathan as "the fleeing serpent" and "the twisted serpent," the text highlights its cunning and destructive nature. The verse also mentions killing the dragon in the sea, which likely refers to another formidable adversary, possibly a reference to Babylon or other enemies of God's people. This imagery underscores the Lord’s ultimate victory over all that opposes His will, aligning with broader themes of divine justice and deliverance throughout the prophetic books.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Sing ye unto her -That is, sing unto, or respecting the vineyard. The word rendered ‘sing’ (ענוּ‛anû) signifies properly, “answer, respond to;” and then, sing a responsive song, where one portion of the choir responds to another (seeExodus 15:21). This has been well expressed here by Lowth in his translation: ‘To the beloved Vineyard, sing ye a responsive song.’ It is the commencement of a song, or hymn respecting Judea, represented under the image of a vineyard, and which is probably confirmed to the close of the chapter.

Related Verses

More from Isaiah 27

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