Isaiah 44:27

27 qui dico profundo desolare et flumina tua arefaciam

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 irrita faciens signa divinorum et ariolos in furorem vertens convertens sapientes retrorsum et scientiam eorum stultam faciens
26 suscitans verbum servi sui et consilium nuntiorum suorum conplens qui dico Hierusalem habitaberis et civitatibus Iuda aedificabimini et deserta eius suscitabo
27 qui dico profundo desolare et flumina tua arefaciam
28 qui dico Cyro pastor meus es et omnem voluntatem meam conplebis qui dico Hierusalem aedificaberis et templo fundaberis
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.