Isaiah 44:27

27 who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your streams,’

Isaiah 44:27 in Other Translations

27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:

27 who says to the deep, 'Be dry; I will dry up your rivers';

27 When I speak to the rivers and say, ‘Dry up!’ they will be dry.

27 He says to Ocean, "Dry up. I'm drying up your rivers."

27 who says to the depths of the sea: Be dry, and I will dry up your rivers;

Isaiah 44:27 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 44:27

That saith to the deep, be dry
The Targum is,

``that saith to Babylon, be desolate;''

and most interpreters, Jewish and Christian, understand it of Babylon, which was situated in a watery place, by rivers of water, particularly the river Euphrates, and in a low valley: and I will dry up thy rivers;
some think the allusion is to the stratagem of Cyrus, made use of, under a divine direction, to drain the river Euphrates, and make it passable for his army; by which means he surprised the city of Babylon, and took it: though others think it refers to the drying up of the Red sea and the river Jordan, which are proofs of what God can do, and a periphrasis of his power.

Isaiah 44:27 In-Context

25 who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense,

26 who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be inhabited,’ of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’ and of their ruins, ‘I will restore them,’

27 who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your streams,’

28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Let its foundations be laid.” ’

Cross References

• 1. S Isaiah 11:15; S Isaiah 19:5; Revelation 16:12