who says to the deep, ‘Be dry; I will dry up your rivers’;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse dramatically illustrates God's absolute power over even the most formidable obstacles. The "deep" and its "rivers" likely refer to the Euphrates River and its canals, which Cyrus famously diverted to capture Babylon. This wasn't just a strategic maneuver; it was God, speaking with divine authority, demonstrating that He alone controls the very forces of nature and the mightiest human endeavors.
who says to the deep, ‘Be dry; I will dry up your rivers’;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of God's message to His people, who are in exile in Babylon. It speaks of God's ultimate power over all creation, even the vast waters that would have seemed insurmountable obstacles. This declaration of divine authority comes as a powerful assurance to the exiles, emphasizing that the God who controls the depths can also orchestrate their deliverance and the destruction of their oppressors.
Imagine facing a vast, impassable ocean, a seemingly insurmountable barrier. How does God respond to such immense obstacles?
Isaiah 44:27 presents a breathtaking declaration of God's absolute authority. When God 'says to the deep, 'Be dry,'' and 'I will dry up your rivers,' He's not just speaking metaphorically. This is a pronouncement of power that transcends the natural order.
Who is this 'Cyrus' mentioned in relation to God's power over the waters? How does a foreign king fit into God's grand plan?
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The mention of drying up rivers and the 'deep' in Isaiah 44:27 often leads us to Cyrus the Great, the Persian king who conquered Babylon.
Understand the original words
metsulah · Hebrew Noun
The primeval waters or the vast, chaotic sea; biblically, it symbolizes powers of chaos or massive obstacles that are under the ultimate control of the Creator.
This verse is widely interpreted as a reference to Cyrus the Great's conquest of Babylon, where he famously diverted the Euphrates River to enter the city. This historical event dramatically illustrates God's power to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles for the deliverance of His people.
c. 740-700 BC
Isaiah's Ministry in Judah
Isaiah the prophet serves in the Kingdom of Judah during a time of Assyrian dominance, prophesying about political and spiritual matters.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Campaign
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon defeats the Egyptians at Carchemish and begins Judah's subjugation, leading to Jehoiakim paying tribute.
598 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem, exiling King Jehoiachin and a significant portion of the elite, including the prophet Ezekiel.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to a second, larger deportation of the remaining population to Babylon.
c. 550 BC— this verse
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus begins his conquests, defeating the Medes and preparing to challenge the Babylonian Empire, which directly sets the stage for the prophecy's fulfillment.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus the Great captures Babylon, fulfilling prophecies and paving the way for the Jewish exiles' return to Jerusalem.
This passage describes God drying up the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross, paralleling the powerful, miraculous intervention of God in controlling bodies of water as seen in Isaiah.
Jeremiah 51:36This verse also speaks of God drying up Babylon's 'sea,' which is understood as the Euphrates River, directly linking to the imagery of drying up rivers for judgment or deliverance.
Revelation 16:12This New Testament passage speaks of the drying up of the great river Euphrates in preparation for the end times, echoing the imagery of controlling major waterways for divine purposes.
Isaiah 43:16This verse describes God making a way through the sea, highlighting God's power to overcome natural obstacles for the sake of His people's deliverance, similar to the command given to the waters in Isaiah 44:27.
barnesIsaiah 44:27: "That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:"
That saith to the deep, Be dry - Lowth supposes, that this refers to the fact that Cyrus took Babylon by diverting from their course the waters of the river Euphrates, and thus leaving the bed of the river dry, so that he could march his army under the walls of the city (see the notes at Isaiah 13 ; 14) With this interpretation, also, Vitringa, John II Michaelis, Grotius, Rosenmuller, and some others, accord. Gesenius…
pulpitIsaiah 44:27: "That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:"
Verse 27. - That saith to the deep, Be dry (comp. Isaiah 42:15). "The flood" here is probably the main stream of the Euphrates, while "the rivers" are the various side streams which branched off from it and again united themselves with it. Some commentators regard the drying of Euphrates as a mere metaphor for the exhaustion and ruin of Babylon (Kay); but (with Delitzsch) I should be inclined to understand a reference…
This verse dramatically illustrates God's absolute power over even the most formidable obstacles. The "deep" and its "rivers" likely refer to the Euphrates River and its canals, which Cyrus famously diverted to capture Babylon. This wasn't just a strategic maneuver; it was God, speaking with divine authority, demonstrating that He alone controls the very forces of nature and the mightiest human endeavors.
This passage is part of God's message to His people, who are in exile in Babylon. It speaks of God's ultimate power over all creation, even the vast waters that would have seemed insurmountable obstacles. This declaration of divine authority comes as a powerful assurance to the exiles, emphasizing that the God who controls the depths can also orchestrate their deliverance and the destruction of their oppressors.
This passage is part of God's message to His people, who are in exile in Babylon. It speaks of God's ultimate power over all creation, even the vast waters that would have seemed insurmountable obstacles. This declaration of divine authority comes as a powerful assurance to the exiles, emphasizing that the God who controls the depths can also orchestrate their deliverance and the destruction of their oppressors.
"who says to the deep, ‘Be dry; I will dry up your rivers’;" — This verse dramatically illustrates God's absolute power over even the most formidable obstacles. The "deep" and its "rivers" likely refer to the Euphrates River and its canals, which Cyrus famously…
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Last reviewed October 2026