Exodus 14:27-30

27 1So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea 2returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the LORD 3threw[a] the Egyptians into the midst of the sea.
28 The 4waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, 5not one of them remained.
29 But the 6people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
30 Thus the LORD 7saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

Exodus 14:27-30 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 14

This chapter begins with directions of God to Moses, to be given to the children of Israel about the course they were to steer in their journey, with the reason thereof, Ex 14:1-4, which they observing, a report was brought to Pharaoh that they were fled, and this determined him and his servants to get ready and pursue after them, as they did with a great army, Ex 14:5-9, which when the Israelites saw, it put them in great fear, and set them to murmuring and complaining against Moses for bringing them out of Egypt, Ex 14:10,11,12, who desired them to be still and quiet, and they should see the salvation of the Lord, Ex 14:13,14, and he is bid to order the people to go on in their journey, and to take his rod and stretch it over the sea and divide it, that Israel might pass through it on dry ground, and the Egyptians follow them, whereby God would be honoured and glorified, Ex 14:15-18, upon which the Angel of the Lord in a pillar of cloud removed from before there, and went behind them for their protection, Ex 14:19,20, and Moses stretching out his hand over the sea, and a strong east wind blowing upon it, the waters divided and the Israelites went into it, and the Egyptians followed them, but their host being troubled by the Lord, and their chariot wheels taken off, they found themselves in great danger, and were thrown into a panic, Ex 14:20-25 and upon Moses's stretching out his hand again over the sea, the waters returned, and Pharaoh and his host were drowned, but the Israelites passed through safely, as on dry land, Ex 14:26-29, which great work of the Lord being observed by them, influenced their fear of him, their faith in him and his servant Moses, Ex 14:30,31.

Cross References 7

  • 1. ver. 21
  • 2. [Joshua 4:18]
  • 3. Exodus 15:1, 7; Deuteronomy 11:4; Psalms 78:53; Hebrews 11:29
  • 4. [Habakkuk 3:8-13]
  • 5. Psalms 106:11
  • 6. See ver. 22
  • 7. Psalms 106:8, 10

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.