Exodus 14:20

Exodus 14:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
• New International Version (NIV)coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
• English Standard Version (ESV)coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.

Context of Exodus 14:20

18When I do that, the Egyptians will know that I really am the Lord. They will know that I am great.’ 19The angel of God had been leading the army of the Israelites. Now he moved and he went behind them. The pillar of cloud moved and it stood behind the army. It stood between the Egyptian army and the Israelite army. During the whole night, the Egyptians were in the dark, because of the cloud. But the cloud gave light to the Israelites. So the two armies did not come near to each other during the whole night. 21Then Moses lifted up his hand over the sea. During that whole night, the Lord made a strong wind blow from the east. This caused the sea to become two separate parts. The ground between the water became dry land. 22So the Israelites walked on the dry ground through the middle of the sea. The water was like a wall on their right side and on their left side.

Exodus 14:20 word by word

וַיָּבֹ֞א בֵּ֣ין׀ מַחֲנֵ֣ה מִצְרַ֗יִם וּבֵין֙ מַחֲנֵ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיְהִ֤י הֶֽעָנָן֙ וְהַחֹ֔שֶׁךְ וַיָּ֖אֶר אֶת־הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְלֹא־קָרַ֥ב זֶ֛ה אֶל־זֶ֖ה כָּל־הַלָּֽיְלָה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• between the campמַחֲנֶהmachăneh · campH4264
• of the Egyptiansמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• and it was a cloudעָנָן‛ânân · cloudH6051
• and darknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְchôshek · darknessH2822
• but it gave lightאוֹר'ôr · to lightH215
• by nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• so that the one came not nearקָרַבqârab · to present: comeH7126
• the otherזֶהzeh · thisH2088

Cross-references for Exodus 14:20

• Psalms 18:11God covered himself with darkness. He hid himself in dark clouds that held rain.
• Proverbs 4:18The life of righteous people is like the sun at dawn. It gets brighter and brighter until midday.
• Isaiah 8:14He will be a safe place for you. But for both nations in Israel he will become like a stone that causes people to fall to the ground. He will be like a rock that makes them fall down. He will take hold of the people who live in Jerusalem, like a trap that catches a bird.
• 2 Corinthians 2:15When we tell people about Christ, we are like a lovely smell that rises up to God. We are like that among the people that God is saving. We are also like that among the people who are dying because they are far from God.

Commentaries on Exodus 14:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20It was a cloud and darkness to them, etc. - That the Israelites might not be dismayed at the appearance of their enemies, and that these might not be able to discern the object of their pursuit, the pillar of cloud moved from the front to the rear of the Israelitish camp, so as perfectly to separate between them and the Egyptians. It appears also that this cloud had two sides, one dark and the other luminous: the luminous side gave light to the whole camp…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-20Verses 15-20 Moses' silent prayers of faith prevailed more with God than Israel's loud outcries of fear. The pillar of cloud and fire came behind them, where they needed a guard, and it was a wall between them and their enemies. The word and providence of God have a black and dark side toward sin and sinners, but a bright and pleasant side toward the people of the Lord. He, who divided between light and darkness, Ge 1:4, allotted darkness to the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-25The night before, the Hebrews were afraid and in a panic. Now the Egyptian army was confused and in disorder. Even though they were highly trained, they could not keep control. They realized that they faced a power greater than themselves. They could not understand it, and they could not control it.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-312. Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp--The Israelites had now completed their three days' journey, and at Etham the decisive step would have to be taken whether they would celebrate their intended feast and return, or march onwards by the head of the Red Sea into the desert, with a view to a final departure. They were already on the borders of the desert, and a short march would have placed them beyond the reach of pursuit, as…Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 14:20

• Egypt
• Egyptians
• God Continued...
• Israel
• Miracles
• Prayer
• Readings, Select
• Symbols and Similitudes

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Better
• Cover
• Heavily
• Lack
• Rain
• Red Sea
• Salvation

Commentaries on Exodus 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings