Isaiah 27:1 - Exposition

The Lord with his sore and great and strong sword . The "sword" of Jehovah is first heard of in the Pentateuch, where it is called" glittering" ( Deuteronomy 32:41 ). It is spoken of by David ( Psalms 7:12 ), and frequently by Isaiah (see Isaiah 31:8 ; Isaiah 34:5 , Isaiah 34:6 ; Isaiah 46:1-13 :16). Mr. Cheyne supposes the idea to have been taken from the Baby-Ionian mythology, and seems to think it half material. But it is merely on a par with other anthrepomorphisms. The word rendered "sore" probably means "well-tempered," "keen." Leviathan . Etymologically, the term "Leviathan" appears to mean "that which is coiled" or "twisted," whence it would seem to have been primarily applied, as in the present verse, to serpents. In Job 41:1-34 , however, it manifestly designates the crocodile, while in Psalms 104:26 it must be used of some kind of cetacean. Thus its most appropriate English rendering would be "monster." The piercing serpent ; rather, the fleet , or fugitive serpent . It is a general characteristic of the snake tribe to glide away and hide themselves when disturbed. Even leviathan that crooked serpent ; rather, and also leviathan that crooked serpent . It is quite clear that two distinct foes of God are pointed at—one characterized as "fleet," the other as "tortuous." And he shall slay the dragon. Here is mention of a third enemy, probably Satan himself (see the introductory paragraph to this section).