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Isaiah 37:25

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Isaiah 37:25 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

I have dug wells and drunk foreign waters. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.”

King James Version KJV

I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.

American Standard Version ASV

I have digged and drunk water, and with the sole of my feet will I dry up all the rivers of Egypt.

Bible in Basic English BBE

I have made water-holes and taken their waters, and with my foot I have made all the rivers of Egypt dry.

Free Bible Version FBV

I have dug wells and drunk water in foreign lands. With the soles of my feet I dried up all the rivers in Egypt.’”

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

I haue digged and drunke the waters, and with the plant of my feete haue I dryed all the riuers closed in.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

I — I have dug and drunk waters, And I dry up with the sole of my steps All floods of a bulwark.

World English Bible WEB

I have dug and drunk water, and with the sole of my feet I will dry up all the rivers of Egypt.”

Noah Webster Bible WBS

I have digged, and drank water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

I have digged, and drunk water, and have dried up with the sole of my foot, all the rivers shut up in banks.

Translation for Translators T4T

We have dug wells in many countries and drunk water from them. And by marching through [MTY] the streams of Egypt, we dried them all up [HYP]!”

Study Highlights

Key words in the translations above are automatically highlighted. Names of God and Jesus are marked in purple, the Holy Spirit in orange, divine action verbs are underlined, and repeated key words are highlighted in yellow.

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Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 37:25

BAB
Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Isaiah 37:25 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
HEB אֲנִ֥י קַ֖רְתִּי וְ/שָׁתִ֣יתִי מָ֑יִם וְ/אַחְרִב֙ בְּ/כַף פְּעָמַ֔/י כֹּ֖ל יְאֹרֵ֥י מָצֽוֹר
אֲנִ֥י ʼănîy H589 I Pron
קַ֖רְתִּי qûwr H6979 to dig V-Qal-Perf-1cs
וְ/שָׁתִ֣יתִי shâthâh H8354 to drink Conj | V-Qal-Perf-1cs
מָ֑יִם mayim H4325 Water (Gate) N-mp
וְ/אַחְרִב֙ chârab H2717 to dry Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-1cs
בְּ/כַף kaph H3709 palm Prep | N-fs
פְּעָמַ֔/י paʻam H6471 beat N-fp | Suff
כֹּ֖ל kôl H3605 all N-ms
יְאֹרֵ֥י yᵉʼôr H2975 stream N-mp
מָצֽוֹר mâtsôwr H4693 Egypt N-proper
Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 37:25

אֲנִ֥י ʼănîy H589 "I" Pron
This Hebrew word is a simple way of saying 'I' or 'me', often used for emphasis. It is used by people like David in the Psalms to express their thoughts and feelings. The word is a basic part of the Hebrew language.
Definition: I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)
Usage: Occurs in 803 OT verses. KJV: I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, [idiom] which, [idiom] who. See also: Genesis 6:17; Leviticus 19:36; 1 Samuel 25:24.
קַ֖רְתִּי qûwr H6979 "to dig" V-Qal-Perf-1cs
This verb means to destroy or break down something, whether physical or metaphorical. It can also mean to dig or throw something out. The KJV translates it as 'break down' or 'destroy'.
Definition: (Qal) to bore, dig, dig for water
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: break down, cast out, destroy, dig. See also: Numbers 24:17; Isaiah 22:5; Isaiah 37:25.
וְ/שָׁתִ֣יתִי shâthâh H8354 "to drink" Conj | V-Qal-Perf-1cs
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to drink, and it's used in many ways, like drinking from a cup or feasting. It's also used to describe being drunk or taking part in a big celebration. We see it in stories like the Last Supper in Matthew 26:27.
Definition: 1) to drink 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to drink 1a1a) of drinking cup of God's wrath, of slaughter, of wicked deeds (fig) 1a2) to feast 1b) (Niphal) to be drunk Aramaic equivalent: she.tah (שְׁתָה "to drink" H8355)
Usage: Occurs in 193 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] assuredly, banquet, [idiom] certainly, drink(-er, -ing), drunk ([idiom] -ard), surely. (Prop. intensive of H8248 (שָׁקָה).) See also: Genesis 9:21; 2 Kings 19:24; Psalms 50:13.
מָ֑יִם mayim H4325 "Water (Gate)" N-mp
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: This name means water, refreshment
Usage: Occurs in 525 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). See also: Genesis 1:2; Leviticus 14:9; Joshua 18:15.
וְ/אַחְרִב֙ chârab H2717 "to dry" Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-1cs
To slay or destroy is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also mean to dry up or desolate something. It is used to describe fighting, attacking, or laying waste.
Definition: 1) to be dry, be dried up 1a) (Qal) to be dried, be dried up 1b) (Pual) to be dried 1c) (Hiphil) to dry up 1d) (Hophal) to be dried up
Usage: Occurs in 38 OT verses. KJV: decay, (be) desolate, destroy(-er), (be) dry (up), slay, [idiom] surely, (lay, lie, make) waste. See also: Genesis 8:13; Isaiah 50:2; Psalms 106:9.
בְּ/כַף kaph H3709 "palm" Prep | N-fs
In the Bible, this word refers to the palm of the hand, like in Exodus 29 where it describes the priest's hands being filled with offerings. It can also symbolize power or strength, like in Psalm 16. It's about the hand or its shape.
Definition: : palm/hand 1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand 1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand 1b) power 1c) sole (of the foot) 1d) hollow, objects, bending objects, bent objects 1d1) of thigh-joint 1d2) pan, vessel (as hollow) 1d3) hollow (of sling) 1d4) hand-shaped branches or fronds (of palm trees) 1d5) handles (as bent)
Usage: Occurs in 180 OT verses. KJV: branch, [phrase] foot, hand((-ful), -dle, (-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon. See also: Genesis 8:9; 2 Chronicles 6:13; Psalms 7:4.
פְּעָמַ֔/י paʻam H6471 "beat" N-fp | Suff
This word refers to a beat or stroke, like a footstep or a blow. It can also mean a time or occurrence, and is used in the Bible to describe things like a single step or a repeated action.
Definition: 1) stroke, beat, foot, step, anvil, occurrence 1a) foot, hoof-beat, footfall, footstep 1b) anvil 1c) occurrence, time, stroke, beat 1c1) one time, once, twice, thrice, as time on time, at this repetition, this once, now at length, now...now, at one time...at another
Usage: Occurs in 108 OT verses. KJV: anvil, corner, foot(-step), going, (hundred-) fold, [idiom] now, (this) [phrase] once, order, rank, step, [phrase] thrice, (often-), second, this, two) time(-s), twice, wheel. See also: Genesis 2:23; 1 Samuel 3:10; Psalms 17:5.
כֹּ֖ל kôl H3605 "all" N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
יְאֹרֵ֥י yᵉʼôr H2975 "stream" N-mp
A stream or river, like the Nile, is what this word refers to. It can also mean a canal, watercourse, or even a mining shaft, emphasizing the flow of water.
Definition: 1) river, stream, canal, Nile, Nile-canal 1a) stream, river (Nile) 1b) Nile-arms, Nile-canals 1c) watercourses 1d) shafts (mining) 1e) river (in general)
Usage: Occurs in 48 OT verses. KJV: brook, flood, river, stream. See also: Genesis 41:1; Psalms 78:44; Isaiah 7:18.
מָצֽוֹר mâtsôwr H4693 "Egypt" N-proper
This word is another name for Egypt, meaning a place of siege or fortified area. It's used in the Bible to describe Egypt's borders, such as in 2 Kings 19:24. It's related to the Hebrew word for Egypt, Mizraim.
Definition: "Matsor", a name for Egypt Another spelling of mits.ra.yim (מִצְרַ֫יִם "Egypt" H4714G) This name means siege, entrenchment
Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: besieged places, defense, fortified. See also: 2 Kings 19:24; Isaiah 37:25; Isaiah 19:6.

Study Notes — Isaiah 37:25

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 1 Kings 20:10 Then Ben-hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if enough dust remains of Samaria for each of my men to have a handful.”
2 Isaiah 36:12 But the Rabshakeh replied, “Has my master sent me to speak these words only to you and your master, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are destined with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?”
3 2 Kings 19:23–24 Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest outposts, the densest of its forests. I have dug wells and drunk foreign waters. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.”
4 Deuteronomy 11:10 For the land that you are entering to possess is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated on foot, like a vegetable garden.

Isaiah 37:25 Summary

[In Isaiah 37:25, the king of Assyria is boasting about his conquests and the resources he has taken from other nations. He says he has 'dug wells and drunk foreign waters', which means he has taken control of other people's water sources and used them for his own benefit. This is a picture of pride and selfishness, but it also reminds us that God is the one who provides for our needs, as seen in Philippians 4:19. We can learn from the king's mistakes by trusting in God's provision and living humbly before Him, as instructed in Matthew 6:25-34.]

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to 'dug wells and drunk foreign waters' in Isaiah 37:25?

This phrase is a boastful claim by the king of Assyria, stating that he has conquered and utilized the resources of other nations, as seen in his ability to access and control their water sources, much like God's people were to trust in Him for their provision, as stated in Isaiah 41:17-18.

Is the king of Assyria's statement about drying up the streams of Egypt a literal or figurative claim?

While it could be a literal claim, it is more likely a figurative expression of his military power and ability to disrupt the natural resources of the nations he has conquered, similar to God's warnings to His people in Deuteronomy 28:1-2 and Deuteronomy 28:15-24.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of Isaiah 37?

This verse is part of the king of Assyria's boasts and taunts against God, which are promptly rebuked by God in Isaiah 37:26-27, reminding us that God is sovereign over all nations and their leaders, as stated in Daniel 4:25 and Daniel 5:21.

What can we learn from the king of Assyria's pride and boastfulness in this verse?

We can learn that pride and boastfulness are sinful and will ultimately be judged by God, as seen in Proverbs 16:18 and 1 Corinthians 10:12, and that we should instead humble ourselves before Him, as instructed in 1 Peter 5:6-7 and James 4:10.

Reflection Questions

  1. What are some areas in my life where I am relying on my own strength and abilities, rather than trusting in God's provision and power?
  2. How can I apply the lesson of the king of Assyria's pride and boastfulness to my own life, and what are some practical ways I can humble myself before God?
  3. What are some 'foreign waters' that I may be drinking from, and how can I return to the 'living water' that only God can provide, as spoken of in John 4:10-14?
  4. In what ways can I 'dry up' the streams of worldly influence in my life, and instead seek to be refreshed by the 'streams of living water' that flow from God's presence, as described in Psalm 36:8-9?

Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 37:25

I have digged, and drunk water,.... In places where he came, and found no water for his army, he set his soldiers to work, to dig cisterns, as the Targum, or wells, so that they had water sufficient

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 37:25

I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places. I have digged, and drunk water.

Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 37:25

(25) I have digged, and drunk water . . .—This, again, was one of the common boasts of the Assyrian conquerors. It was Sennacherib’s special glory, as recorded in his inscriptions, that he had provided cities with water which were before scantily supplied, that he had made wells even in the deserts (Records of the Past, i. 29, 31, 9:23). All the rivers of the besieged places.—As the words stand, they suggest the thought that the Assyrian army could cut off the supply of water as well as provide it, and so connect themselves with the Rabshakeh’s taunt in Isaiah 36:12. Their true meaning, however, is probably, as in Isaiah 19:6; Micah 7:12, “the rivers or canals of Egypt,” a form being used for Egypt which also conveys the idea of “besieged fortresses.” So taken, the words are a defiant threat against Tirhakah. Not all the branches of the Nile in the Delta should protect his cities. His armies would, as it were, dry them up.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 37:25

Verse 25. Water - "Strange waters"] The word זרים zarim, strange, lost out of the Hebrew text in this place, is supplied from the other copy. A MS. supplies the word רבים rabbim, many, instead of it. With the sole of my feet] With my infantry. All the rivers of the besieged places - "All the canals of fenced places."] The principal cities of Egypt, the scene of his late exploits, were chiefly defended by deep moats, canals, or large lakes, made by labour and art, with which they were surrounded. See Harmer's Observ. ii. p. 304. Claudian introduces Alaric boasting of his conquests in the same extravagant manner: - "Subsidere nostris Sub pedibus montes; arescere vidimus amnes.__ Fregi Alpes, galeisque Padum victricibus hausi." De Bello Getic. 526. "The mountains have passed away under our feet; we have seen the rivers dried up. I have broken the Alps, and laden out the Po with our victorious helmets."

Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 37:25

25. I have digged … water] I (again emphatic) dig and drink foreign waters. The word “foreign” is to be supplied from 2 Kings 19:24. For the expression cf. Proverbs 9:17; Proverbs 5:15. all the rivers of the besieged places] Render with R.V. all the rivers (lit. “Nile-streams”) of Egypt. See on ch. Isaiah 19:6. The extravagant hyperbole covers an empty boast; no Assyrian army had ever yet set foot in Egypt, and Sennacherib was not destined to see his dream fulfilled.

Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 37:25

I have digged - That is, I have digged wells. This was regarded among eastern nations as an important achievement.

Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 37:25

25. Each verse along here shows a strophical character — parties speaking in turn. Sennacherib is now the speaker.

Sermons on Isaiah 37:25

SermonDescription
Major Ian Thomas Hang It on the Wall - a Place for God's Feet in Your Heart by Major Ian Thomas Major Ian Thomas emphasizes the need to give Jesus a rightful place in our hearts rather than relegating Him to mere tradition or decoration, akin to hanging items on a wall. He il
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