Psalms 106:9

9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert.

Psalms 106:9 in Other Translations

KJV
9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
ESV
9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert.
NLT
9 He commanded the Red Sea to dry up. He led Israel across the sea as if it were a desert.
MSG
9 He rebuked the Red Sea so that it dried up on the spot - he paraded them right through! - no one so much as got wet feet!
CSB
9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; He led them through the depths as through a desert.

Psalms 106:9 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 106:9

He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up
By sending a strong east wind, which drove the waters back, and made the sea a dry land, ( Exodus 14:21 ) .

So he led them through the depths;
that is, the deep waters of the sea, which were cast up as an heap, and stood as a wall on each side, through which they passed.

As through the wilderness;
or rather, "as on a plain"; for a passage through a wilderness where no roads are, and many obstructions be, is not easy; and so it is manifestly to be understood in ( Isaiah 63:13 ) , where Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it a plain and smooth ground, a champaign country; and so the word is used for a plain, in opposition to mountains, in ( Jeremiah 9:10 ) , and then the sense is, that God led them through the sea, being dried up, as if they were led through a plain and open country, where was nothing to obstruct their march; an emblem of baptism, ( 1 Corinthians 10:1 1 Corinthians 10:2 ) , and of the passage of the people of God through this world; (See Gill on Psalms 78:13).

Psalms 106:9 In-Context

7 When our ancestors were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.
8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known.
9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert.
10 He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
11 The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Psalms 18:15; Isaiah 50:2
  • 2. S Exodus 14:21; Nahum 1:4
  • 3. Psalms 78:13; Isaiah 63:11-14
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