Isaiah 51:9
New International Version
Awake, awake, arm of the LORD, clothe yourself with strength! Awake, as in days gone by, as in generations of old. Was it not you who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced that monster through?

New Living Translation
Wake up, wake up, O LORD! Clothe yourself with strength! Flex your mighty right arm! Rouse yourself as in the days of old when you slew Egypt, the dragon of the Nile.

English Standard Version
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?

Berean Standard Bible
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon?

King James Bible
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?

New King James Version
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD! Awake as in the ancient days, In the generations of old. Are You not the arm that cut Rahab apart, And wounded the serpent?

New American Standard Bible
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; Awake as in the days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not You who cut Rahab in pieces, Who pierced the dragon?

NASB 1995
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; Awake as in the days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not You who cut Rahab in pieces, Who pierced the dragon?

NASB 1977
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; Awake as in the days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not Thou who cut Rahab in pieces, Who pierced the dragon?

Legacy Standard Bible
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Yahweh; Awake as in the days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not You who chopped Rahab in pieces, Who pierced the dragon?

Amplified Bible
Awake, awake, put on strength and might, O arm of the LORD; Awake as in the ancient days, as in the generations of long ago. Was it not You who cut Rahab (Egypt) in pieces, Who pierced the dragon [of Egypt]?

Christian Standard Bible
Wake up, wake up! Arm of the LORD, clothe yourself with strength. Wake up as in days past, as in generations long ago. Wasn’t it you who hacked Rahab to pieces, who pierced the sea monster?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Wake up, wake up! Put on the strength of the LORD’s power. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of long ago. Wasn’t it You who hacked Rahab to pieces, who pierced the sea monster?

American Standard Version
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Jehovah; awake, as in the days of old, the generations of ancient times. Is it not thou that didst cut Rahab in pieces, that didst pierce the monster?

Contemporary English Version
Wake up! Do something, LORD. Be strong and ready. Wake up! Do what you did for our people long ago. Didn't you chop up Rahab the monster?

English Revised Version
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the days of old, the generations of ancient times. Art thou not it that cut Rahab in pieces, that pierced the dragon?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Wake up! Wake up! Clothe yourself with strength, O LORD! Wake up as you did in days long past, as in generations long ago. Didn't you cut Rahab into pieces and stab the serpent?

Good News Translation
Wake up, LORD, and help us! Use your power and save us; use it as you did in ancient times. It was you that cut the sea monster Rahab to pieces.

International Standard Version
"Awake! Awake! Clothe yourself with strength, you arm of the LORD! Awake, as in days gone by, as in generations of long ago. Was it not you who split apart Rehob, who pierced that sea monster through?

Majority Standard Bible
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon?

NET Bible
Wake up! Wake up! Clothe yourself with strength, O arm of the LORD! Wake up as in former times, as in antiquity! Did you not smash the Proud One? Did you not wound the sea monster?

New Heart English Bible
Awake, awake, put on strength, arm of the LORD; awake, as in the days of old, the generations of ancient times. Isn't it you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the monster?

Webster's Bible Translation
Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not that which hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?

World English Bible
Awake, awake, put on strength, arm of Yahweh! Awake, as in the days of old, the generations of ancient times. Isn’t it you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the monster?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of YHWH, "" Awake, as [in] days of old, generations of the ages, "" Are You not it that is hewing down Rahab, "" Piercing a dragon?

Young's Literal Translation
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Jehovah, Awake, as in days of old, generations of the ages, Art not Thou it that is hewing down Rahab, Piercing a dragon!

Smith's Literal Translation
Rouse up, rouse up, put on strength, thou arm of Jehovah; rouse up as the days of old, of everlasting generations. Was it not with him cutting off Rahab, wounding the sea monster?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Arise, arise, put on strength, O thou arm of the Lord, arise as in the days of old, in the ancient generations. Hast not thou struck the proud one, and wounded the dragon?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Rise up, Rise up! Clothe yourself in strength, O arm of the Lord! Rise up as in the days of antiquity, as in generations long past. Have you not struck the arrogant one and wounded the dragon?

New American Bible
Awake, awake, put on strength, arm of the LORD! Awake as in the days of old, in ages long ago! Was it not you who crushed Rahab, you who pierced the dragon?

New Revised Standard Version
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD! Awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago! Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake as in the ancient days, as in the generations of old. Surely it was thou that didst decree a severe sentence that didst slay the dragon.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Wake up! Wake up, and put on strength, oh arm of LORD JEHOVAH, like in the first days and like the generation that is from ancient times, you who have cut off greatly, and you have destroyed The Dragon
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; Awake, as in the days of old, The generations of ancient times. Art thou not it that hewed Rahab in pieces, That pierced the dragon?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Awake, awake, O Jerusalem, and put on the strength of thine arm; awake as in the early time, as the ancient generation.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Salvation for Zion
8For the moth will devour them like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool. But My righteousness will last forever, My salvation through all generations.” 9Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon? 10Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea for the redeemed to cross over?…

Cross References
Exodus 15:6-8
Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy. / You overthrew Your adversaries by Your great majesty. You unleashed Your burning wrath; it consumed them like stubble. / At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up; like a wall the currents stood firm; the depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

Psalm 74:13-14
You divided the sea by Your strength; You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea; / You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert.

Psalm 89:10
You crushed Rahab like a carcass; You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.

Job 26:12-13
By His power He stirred the sea; by His understanding He shattered Rahab. / By His breath the skies were cleared; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

Isaiah 27:1
In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.

Isaiah 30:7
Egypt’s help is futile and empty; therefore I have called her Rahab Who Sits Still.

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 43:16-17
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters, / who brings out the chariots and horses, the armies and warriors together, to lie down, never to rise again; to be extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

Isaiah 52:10
The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 53:1
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

Isaiah 59:1
Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.

Isaiah 63:12
who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown,

Jeremiah 51:34
“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me; he has crushed me. He has set me aside like an empty vessel; he has swallowed me like a monster; he filled his belly with my delicacies and vomited me out.

Ezekiel 29:3
Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies among his rivers, who says, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it myself.’

Ezekiel 32:2
“Son of man, take up a lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: ‘You are like a lion among the nations; you are like a monster in the seas. You thrash about in your rivers, churning up the waters with your feet and muddying the streams.’


Treasury of Scripture

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Are you not it that has cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?

awake

Isaiah 51:17
Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.

Isaiah 27:1
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.

Psalm 7:6
Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

put

Isaiah 52:1
Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

Isaiah 59:17
For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

Psalm 21:13
Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

o arm

Isaiah 51:5
My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.

Isaiah 53:1
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Isaiah 59:16
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

as in

Judges 6:13
And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

Nehemiah 9:7-15
Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; …

Psalm 44:1
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.

art thou

Job 26:12
He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.

Psalm 87:4
I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.

Psalm 89:10
Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.

Jump to Previous
Ages Ago Ancient Arm Awake Clothe Cut Dragon Generations Hewed Hewing Monster Passed Past Pieces Pierce Pierced Rahab Strength Times Wounded
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Ages Ago Ancient Arm Awake Clothe Cut Dragon Generations Hewed Hewing Monster Passed Past Pieces Pierce Pierced Rahab Strength Times Wounded
Isaiah 51
1. An exhortation after the pattern of Abraham, to trust in Christ
3. By reason of his comfortable promises,
4. Of his righteous salvation
7. And man's mortality
9. Christ by his sanctified arm defends his from the fear of man
17. He bewails the afflictions of Jerusalem
21. And promises deliverance














Awake, awake
The repetition of the word "awake" serves as a powerful call to action and alertness. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "עוּרִי" (ʿûrî), which conveys a sense of stirring oneself from slumber or inactivity. This double invocation emphasizes urgency and the need for immediate attention. Historically, this call can be seen as a plea for divine intervention, urging God to act as He did in the past. It reflects a deep yearning for God's presence and power to be manifest once again in the lives of His people.

put on strength
The phrase "put on strength" suggests clothing oneself with power and might. The Hebrew word for "strength" here is "עֹז" (ʿōz), which implies not just physical strength but also moral and spiritual fortitude. This imagery of clothing oneself with strength is reminiscent of Ephesians 6:10-17, where believers are encouraged to put on the full armor of God. It is a call to be equipped and ready for the challenges ahead, relying on God's strength rather than human ability.

O arm of the LORD
The "arm of the LORD" is a metaphor for God's power and might. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the arm was often associated with strength and the ability to accomplish tasks. The Hebrew word "זְרוֹעַ" (zĕrôaʿ) is used here, symbolizing God's active intervention in history. This phrase evokes memories of God's past deliverance, such as the Exodus, where His mighty arm was revealed in freeing the Israelites from bondage. It is a reminder of God's sovereignty and His ability to save and protect His people.

Awake, as in days past
This phrase calls for a return to the former days when God's power was visibly at work among His people. It is a plea for God to act as He did in the past, recalling the mighty deeds He performed. The historical context here is crucial, as it reflects the longing of the Israelites for the restoration of God's favor and intervention, similar to the times of the patriarchs and the Exodus. It is a call to remember and seek the same divine action that characterized those earlier days.

as in generations of old
The mention of "generations of old" further emphasizes the historical aspect of God's mighty works. It points back to the ancestral accounts of faith and deliverance that have been passed down through the generations. This phrase underscores the continuity of God's faithfulness throughout history. It serves as an encouragement to trust in God's unchanging nature and His ability to act in the present as He did in the past. The faith of previous generations becomes a foundation for present hope and expectation.

Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces
"Rahab" here is a symbolic representation of chaos and opposition, often associated with Egypt in biblical literature. The act of cutting Rahab to pieces signifies God's triumph over formidable adversaries. The Hebrew word "רַהַב" (Rahab) can also mean "pride" or "arrogance," further illustrating the defeat of those who oppose God's will. This imagery recalls the Exodus narrative, where God delivered His people from the oppressive hand of Egypt, demonstrating His supreme power over all creation.

who pierced the monster through?
The "monster" is another metaphor for chaos and evil, often linked to mythological sea creatures like Leviathan. The Hebrew word "תַּנִּין" (tannîn) is used, which can refer to a dragon or sea serpent. Piercing the monster through signifies God's decisive victory over chaos and evil forces. This imagery reassures the faithful of God's ability to conquer any threat, reinforcing the theme of divine sovereignty and protection. It is a powerful reminder of God's ultimate control over all creation and His commitment to His people.

(9) Awake, awake.--Who is the speaker that thus bursts into this grand apostrophe? (1) The redeemed and ideal Israel, or (2) the Servant of the Lord, or (3) the prophet, or (4) Jehovah, as in self-communing, after the manner of men, like that of Deborah in Judges 5:12. On the whole the first seems the preferable view; but the loftiness of poetry, perhaps, transcends all such distinctions. The appeal is, in any case, to the great deeds of God in the past, as the pledge and earnest of yet greater in the future. "Rahab," as in Isaiah 30:7, Psalm 89:10, is Egypt; and the "dragon," like "leviathan" in Psalm 74:13, stands for Pharaoh. (Comp. Ezekiel 29:3.) Cheyne quotes from Bunsen's "Egypt," vol. vi., an invocation to the god Ra, from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, "Hail, thou who hast cut in pieces the scorner and strangled the Apophis (sc. the evil serpent)," as a striking parallel.

Verses 9-11. - AN APPEAL OF THE PROPHET TO GOD TO AROUSE HIMSELF, WITH A PROMISE OF ISRAEL'S RESTORATION. There has been much doubt as to the utterer of this "splendid apostrophe." Zion, the prophet, the angels, Jehovah, and God the Son pleading with God the Father, have been suggested. To us it seems simplest and best to assign the passage to the prophet. Verse 9. - Awake, awake (comp. Psalm 7:6; Psalm 35:23; Psalm 44:23; Psalm 78:65). When God neglects the prayers and supplications of his people, he is spoken of as "asleep," and needing to be awoke by a loud cry. The anthropomorphism is obvious, and of course not to be taken literally (see 1 Kings 18:27, ad fin.). Put on strength. Gird the strength to thee (Psalm 93:1) which thou hadst laid aside while thou wept asleep. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab? rather, was it not thou that didst cleave Rahab in pieces? Here, as in Psalm 87:4 and Psalm 89:10, "Rahab" would seem to be a symbolical expression for Egypt. "Rahab" is literally "pride," or "the proud one." The event alluded to, both here and in Psalm 89:10, is the destruction of Pharaoh's host in the Red Sea (see ver. 10). And wounded the dragon. "The dragon" is another symbol of the Egyptian power (comp. Ezekiel 29:3, "Pharaoh, King of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers"). Originally designating God's great enemy, Satan (Genesis 3:14; Revelation 12:7-9; Revelation 20:2), it is a term which comes to be applied to the adversaries of the Almighty generally.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Awaken,
עוּרִ֨י (‘ū·rî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 5782: To rouse oneself, awake

awaken,
עוּרִ֤י (‘ū·rî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 5782: To rouse oneself, awake

put on
לִבְשִׁי־ (liḇ·šî-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 3847: Wrap around, to put on a, garment, clothe

strength,
עֹז֙ (‘ōz)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5797: Strength, might

O arm
זְר֣וֹעַ (zə·rō·w·a‘)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2220: The arm, the foreleg, force

of the LORD.
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

Wake up
ע֚וּרִי (‘ū·rî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 5782: To rouse oneself, awake

as in days
כִּ֣ימֵי (kî·mê)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3117: A day

past,
קֶ֔דֶם (qe·ḏem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6924: The front, of place, time

as in generations
דֹּר֖וֹת (dō·rō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1755: A revolution of time, an age, generation, a dwelling

of long ago.
עוֹלָמִ֑ים (‘ō·w·lā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always

Was it not
הֲל֥וֹא (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

You
אַתְּ־ (’at-)
Pronoun - second person feminine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

who cut Rahab
רַ֖הַב (ra·haḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7294: Rahab -- 'storm', a name for Eg

to pieces,
הַמַּחְצֶ֥בֶת (ham·maḥ·ṣe·ḇeṯ)
Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 2672: To cut, carve, to hew, split, square, quarry, engrave

who pierced through
מְחוֹלֶ֥לֶת (mə·ḥō·w·le·leṯ)
Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play

the dragon?
תַּנִּֽין׃ (tan·nîn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8577: A marine, land monster, sea-serpent, jackal


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 51:9 Awake awake put on strength arm (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 51:8
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