Charles Ellicott Commentary Isaiah 27

Leviathan the piercing serpent. —Rather, fleet, or fugitive. The verse paints in vivid symbolic language the judgment of Jehovah on the great world-powers that had shed the blood of His people. The “sword of the Lord” (primarily, perhaps, representing the lightning-flash) is turned in its threefold character as grievous, swift, and strong, against three great empires. These are represented, as in Ezekiel 17:3, Ezekiel 29:3, and Daniel 7:3-7, by monstrous forms of animal life.

The “dragon” is, as in Isaiah 51:19, Psalms 74:13–14, Ezekiel 29:3, and Ezekiel 32:2, the standing emblem of Egypt.

The other two are so generically similar that the “leviathan” (which means “crocodile” in Job 41:1, but here is probably used generically for a monster of the serpent type) serves as a common type for both. While each has its distinctive epithet, they may refer respectively to Assyria and Babylon.

The epithets indicate:

1. the rapid rush of the Tigris and the tortuous windings of the Euphrates; and
2. the policy characteristic of each empire, of which the rivers were regarded as symbols—one rapidly aggressive, the other advancing by sinuous deceit.

By some commentators, however, Egypt is represented in all three clauses, while others (Cheyne) see in them the symbols not of earthly empire, but of rebel powers of evil and darkness, quoting Job 26:12-13 in support of his view.

In that day sing ye... —The prophet appears once again, as in Isaiah 26:1, as the hymn writer of the future day of the triumph of the redeemed. He had chanted a dirge over the vineyard that was unfruitful, and therefore given over to desolation. He now changes the wailing into a poem. The word translated “red wine” signifies “fiery,” or “foaming.” The Septuagint seems to have followed a different text, giving (with the alteration of a single letter) the meaning, “a pleasant vineyard.”

I the Lord do keep it: The words imply a distinct reversal of the sentence passed in Isaiah 5:1-7. Instead of abandonment, there is constant care. Instead of the clouds being commanded to give no rain, the vineyard is watered whenever it requires watering. Instead of being wasted by the wild boar or by spoilers, Jehovah tends it both by day and night.

Fury is not in me. —Better, There is no wrath in me. Who will set briars and thorns before me? With war will I go forth against them; I will burn them up together. The reversal of the sentence is continued. Wrath against this vineyard has passed away from Jehovah. Should briars and thorns (symbols of the enemies of His people, as in Isaiah 9:18; Isaiah 10:17; 2 Samuel 23:6–7; Ezekiel 2:6) spring up, he will do battle against them, and consume them utterly.

Or let him take hold of my strength. —Or, Let him lay hold on my fortress: let him make peace with Me. The thought implied is that even the enemies of Jehovah, if repentant, may find in Him “their castle and deliverer.” To them, too, there is the gracious invitation to make peace.