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.

ISAIAH 11:15KJV
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Isaiah 11:15 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 11:15 mean?

Isaiah 11:15 describes the LORD removing water barriers so that people can cross on dry ground. The verse pictures a return journey made possible by God’s power, even where a sea and a river would normally block the way.

The “tongue of the Egyptian sea” is a long, narrow stretch of water associated with Egypt. The river is often understood to be the Euphrates, a great river to the northeast of Israel. The image of crossing dryshod recalls Israel’s escape from Egypt through the sea.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 11:15

  • “tongue” — לָשׁוֹן (lashon): The word can mean a tongue or something shaped like one. Here it describes a narrow extension of the sea, rather than a tongue that speaks.
  • “dryshod” — נַעַל (naʿal): The word refers to a sandal or shoe. In this verse, the phrase pictures people crossing with their footwear on, without having to wade through the river.

Why Isaiah 11:15 matters

  • The verse includes routes from more than one direction. Its mention of the Egyptian sea and the river fits the gathering of scattered people from several lands in Isaiah 11:11.
  • The image reaches back to an earlier rescue. Isaiah 11:16 compares the coming journey to the day Israel came up from Egypt, making the dry crossing in verse 15 part of that larger picture.
  • The LORD acts against both barriers. The verse describes him dealing with the sea and then striking the river, so the people’s route depends on his action.

Where else these words appear

“dryshod” Hebrew H5275 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 14:23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
  • Joshua 9:5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
  • Song of Solomon 7:1 How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.

“shake” Hebrew H5130 · used in 35 verses

  • Exodus 20:25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
  • Leviticus 14:24 And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:
  • Deuteronomy 27:5 And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them.

“destroy” Hebrew H2763 · used in 48 verses

  • Exodus 22:20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
  • Joshua 10:1 Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
  • 1 Samuel 15:18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

“over” Hebrew H1869 · used in 59 verses

  • Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
  • Psalms 7:12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
  • Jeremiah 9:3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.