Lexical Summary aqallathon: Crooked, twisted, or winding Original Word: עֲקַלָּתוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance crooked From aqal; tortuous -- crooked. see HEBREW aqal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom aqal Definition crooked NASB Translation twisted (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֲקַלָּתוֺן adjective crooked (according to SmZAW iv. 213 constellation Draco; — ׳לִוְיָתָן נָחָשׁ ע Isaiah 27:1. Topical Lexicon Definition and Imagery עֲקַלָּתוֹן portrays something sinuously coiled or twisted. When Scripture applies the word to Leviathan in Isaiah 27:1, it evokes a writhing sea-serpent—powerful, elusive, and menacing. The picture is not of random chaos but of hostile, personal evil resisting the reign of the LORD. The vivid metaphor communicates danger, yet simultaneously prepares the reader for the decisive victory that follows. Occurrence and Context in Isaiah Isaiah 27:1 stands alone in directly using this term. The verse forms a triumphant coda to the “Isaiah Apocalypse” (Isaiah 24–27), promising that “on 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 monster in the sea.” Immediately after oracles of judgment and exile, the prophet presents a cosmic scene: God Himself moves against every embodiment of evil—national, spiritual, and creational. The single occurrence thereby carries outsized theological weight, summarizing Yahweh’s absolute dominion. Theological Themes 1. Sovereignty of God. The crushing of the coiling serpent proclaims that no force, earthly or cosmic, can withstand the LORD’s “sharp, great, and mighty sword.” Intertextual Parallels in Scripture • Job 26:12–13; 41:1–34 – Leviathan as untamable chaos creature; only God can subdue him. These passages collectively depict a continuum: the LORD’s past, present, and future mastery over every manifestation of evil. Historical and Cultural Background Ancient Near Eastern myths describe deities battling sea-monsters (Ugaritic Lotan, Babylonian Tiamat). Isaiah borrows familiar imagery only to overturn pagan theology. Instead of a deity struggling for supremacy, the biblical God effortlessly wields His sword. The prophet reframes cultural motifs to magnify the unmatched holiness and power of Yahweh, fortifying Israel’s faith amid Assyrian threat and impending exile. Christological Significance The New Testament identifies the serpent with Satan (Revelation 12:9). Christ’s death and resurrection constitute the decisive strike foreshadowed in Genesis 3:15 and Isaiah 27:1. Colossians 2:15 affirms that He “disarmed the powers and authorities, triumphing over them by the cross.” The final eradication of evil at Christ’s return will consummate the victory Isaiah envisioned, ensuring that the coiling serpent remains forever vanquished. Practical Ministry Applications • Courage in Spiritual Warfare: Believers engage a defeated foe; therefore, they resist “steadfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9). Contemplating עֲקַלָּתוֹן thus anchors faith in the sure promise that the Lord who once crushed the serpent will finally “wipe away every tear” (Revelation 21:4) when evil is no more. Forms and Transliterations עֲקַלָּת֑וֹן עקלתון ‘ă·qal·lā·ṯō·wn ‘ăqallāṯōwn akallaTonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 27:1 HEB: לִוְיָתָ֔ן נָחָ֖שׁ עֲקַלָּת֑וֹן וְהָרַ֥ג אֶת־ NAS: Leviathan the twisted serpent; KJV: even leviathan that crooked serpent; INT: Leviathan serpent the twisted will kill the dragon 1 Occurrence |
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