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.

ISAIAH 27:1KJV
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Isaiah 27:1 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 27:1 mean?

Isaiah 27:1 describes a future time when the LORD will use a powerful sword to punish "leviathan," called both a piercing and a crooked serpent, and will slay the dragon in the sea. The verse uses vivid imagery to show God's power over great and mysterious forces that oppose Him.

Isaiah is speaking to the people of Israel, using poetic language to picture God’s final victory over evil. The "leviathan" and "dragon" represent dangerous, chaotic powers—possibly real enemies of Israel, or symbols of evil and chaos in general. The verse reassures listeners that, no matter how strong or frightening these forces seem, God is able to defeat them completely.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 27:1

  • "leviathan" (לִוְיָתָן, livyatan): This word refers to a legendary sea creature, often seen as a symbol of chaos or evil. Its use here highlights the overwhelming and mysterious nature of the enemy God will defeat.
  • "piercing" (בָּרִחַ, bariach): This word can mean "fleeing" or "swift," suggesting something slippery or hard to catch. It adds to the sense that this enemy is elusive and dangerous.
  • "crooked" (עֲקַלָּתוֹן, aqallaton): This word means "twisting" or "coiled," emphasizing the serpent’s devious and threatening nature.
  • "dragon" (תַּנִּין, tannin): This word is used for large, fearsome creatures of the sea, sometimes translated as "monster" or "sea serpent." It reinforces the idea of God conquering the most terrifying threats.

Why Isaiah 27:1 matters

  • Isaiah 27:1 shows that God’s power extends even over the most mysterious and frightening forces, not just human enemies.
  • The verse helps clarify that the "leviathan" and "dragon" are likely symbols, not just literal creatures, representing chaos or evil that God promises to overcome.
  • Placed in the context of Isaiah’s prophecies, this verse reassures Israel that God’s final victory will bring peace and order, no matter how overwhelming the opposition seems.

Where else these words appear

“piercing” Hebrew H1281 · used in 3 verses

  • Job 26:13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
  • Isaiah 43:14 Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

“leviathan” Hebrew H3882 · used in 5 verses

  • Job 3:8 Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.
  • Job 41:1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
  • Psalms 74:14 Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

“serpent” Hebrew H5175 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
  • Numbers 21:7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
  • Ecclesiastes 10:8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

“dragon” Hebrew H8577 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
  • Psalms 74:13 Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
  • Jeremiah 10:22 Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.