Psalm 114:1-6

1 Quand Israël sortit d'Égypte, et la maison de Jacob de chez le peuple barbare,

2 Juda fut le sanctuaire de Dieu, Israël devint son empire.

3 La mer le vit et s'enfuit; le Jourdain retourna en arrière.

4 Les montagnes bondirent comme des béliers, et les collines comme des agneaux.

5 Qu'avais-tu, ô mer, pour t'enfuir? Et toi, Jourdain, pour retourner en arrière?

6 Vous, montagnes, pour bondir comme des béliers, et vous, collines, comme des agneaux?

Psalm 114:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 114

The title of this psalm in the Arabic version is "hallelujah", as in some preceding ones; it is part of the great "Hallel" sung at the passover, and with great propriety; since the subject matter of it is the departure of the children of Israel out of Egypt, typical of our spiritual redemption by Christ; and of the effectual calling of God's elect out of a state of nature into a state of grace; and particularly of the conversion of the Gentiles, and the bringing of them from Paganism to Christianity: the inscription of the Syriac version is,

``a psalm without a name, out of the ancient writing; concerning Moses, who sung praise at the sea; but unto us the calling of the Gospel, by which we become a new people; spiritual to God, who is incarnate; to Jesus Christ, who redeemed us by his blood from the curse of the Scripture (the law), and hath cleansed us from sin by his Spirit.''