What does Isaiah 5:27 mean?
The Lord will use outside nations to punish his people, Israel. Isaiah continues painting the picture: the Lord will whistle, and His attack dog will come rushing toward Israel (Isaiah 5:26). That attack dog is the army of a mighty nation far away. Which nation it will be did not matter enough to Isaiah to include. Ultimately, it is the Lord who is doing the striking. He will merely make use of a foreign power to make it happen.The army that comes running is not a sloppy one. It is a well-oiled machine with few weaknesses. Not a single soldier is tired or stumbling or falling asleep along the way. Their belts are cinched tight, meaning that their robes are secured for running. Their sandals are well-maintained and fit for covering long distances. They are coming without hesitation. Just as Israel had been "preparing" by stacking up sins (Isaiah 5:18–20), this army is well-suited to their task of destruction.