who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar
This imagery of God stirring the sea is a demonstration of His power over creation. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the sea often symbolized chaos and disorder. By asserting control over the sea, God is portrayed as the supreme authority over all chaos and natural forces. This echoes the creation narrative in Genesis, where God brings order out of chaos. It also connects to the Exodus event, where God parted the Red Sea, demonstrating His power to deliver His people (Exodus 14:21-22). The roaring waves symbolize the might and majesty of God's creation, which He commands effortlessly.

the LORD of Hosts is His name
The title "LORD of Hosts" (Yahweh Sabaoth) signifies God's supreme command over the heavenly armies and all cosmic forces. This title is used frequently in the prophetic books to emphasize God's omnipotence and His ability to execute judgment and deliverance. It reassures the faithful of God's ultimate control over all spiritual and earthly realms. This name also points to God's role as a divine warrior who fights on behalf of His people, a theme seen in passages like 1 Samuel 17:45, where David confronts Goliath in the name of the LORD of Hosts. This title reinforces the assurance of God's protection and His active involvement in the affairs of the world.

“For I am the LORD your God” re-anchors the reader in covenant reality.

• The phrase reminds Israel that the same One who spoke at Sinai is still speaking (Exodus 20:2; Malachi 3:6).

• By placing His personal name “Yahweh” with “your God,” He affirms both sovereignty and relationship (Isaiah 41:13; Hosea 13:4).

• The statement follows a call to look back on Abraham and to trust God’s promised comfort (Isaiah 51:1–3). Identity leads to assurance: if the unchanging LORD is “your God,” current threats lose their terror (Psalm 46:1–2).

“Who stirs up the sea” pictures divine control over creation’s most untamable force.

• Job heard the same voice declare, “I fixed limits for it” (Job 38:8-11).

• The psalmist exults, “You rule the raging sea” (Psalm 89:9) and “Mightier than the breakers… the LORD on high is majestic” (Psalm 93:4).

• Jeremiah ties this mastery to the stability of God’s covenant promises: “He gives the sun for light by day… who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar” (Jeremiah 31:35).

• In the Gospels, Jesus’ rebuke of the storm (Mark 4:39) silently insists He is this very LORD in flesh.

By adding “so that its waves roar”, Isaiah shows that even the chaos serves God’s purpose.

• The roar is not random; it is His orchestration (Jeremiah 5:22).

• Scripture often uses roaring waves as a picture of nations in upheaval (Psalm 46:3; Isaiah 17:12-13). If God governs the literal sea, He also governs geopolitical turmoil.

• For believers, the verse invites trust during cultural turbulence: the noise is loud, but it is never outside the Maestro’s score (Nahum 1:4-5; Matthew 14:30-31).

“The LORD of Hosts is His name” culminates the thought with a military title that blends majesty and might.

• First heard on Hannah’s lips (1 Samuel 1:11), the title frames every battle in Scripture—David confronted Goliath “in the name of the LORD of Hosts” (1 Samuel 17:45).

• Isaiah has already placed the whole earth beneath this holy Sovereign (Isaiah 6:3). The armies—angelic, cosmic, earthly—belong to Him (2 Kings 6:17; Revelation 19:14).

• Calling on the covenant Name plus the title “of Hosts” pledges omnipotent backing for the promise just given: divine comfort will prevail over every roaring wave (Jeremiah 10:16; Amos 4:13).

Isaiah 51:15 lifts fearful hearts by shifting the gaze from present threats to the unchanging character of God. He is “the LORD your God”—personally committed, covenant-keeping. He “stirs up the sea”—fully in control of the fiercest powers. He causes “its waves [to] roar”—even chaos obeys Him. And He is “the LORD of Hosts”—Commander of all forces, ensuring His promises stand. When we read the verse literally and let each phrase build on the last, faith rises: the God who redeemed Israel and calmed Galilee’s storm remains Lord over every surge we face today.