Exodus 14:21

Exodus 14:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.

Context of Exodus 14:21

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. 20It 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. Then 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. 23The Egyptians followed the Israelites into the middle of the sea to catch them. All Pharaoh's horses, his chariots and their riders did this.

Exodus 14:21 word by word

וַיֵּ֨ט מֹשֶׁ֣ה אֶת־יָדוֹ֮ עַל־הַיָּם֒ וַיּ֣וֹלֶךְ יְהוָ֣ה׀ אֶת־הַ֠יָּם בְּר֨וּחַ קָדִ֤ים עַזָּה֙ כָּל־הַלַּ֔יְלָה וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־הַיָּ֖ם לֶחָרָבָ֑ה וַיִּבָּקְע֖וּ הַמָּֽיִם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
• stretched outנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186
• his handיָדyâd · handH3027
• over the seaיָםyâm · seaH3220
• and the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• to goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• by a strongעַז‛az · strongH5794
• eastקָדִיםqâdîym qâdim · eastH6921
• windרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307
• all that nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• and madeשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• dryחָֽרָבָהchârâbâh · dry groundH2724
• and the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
• were dividedבָּקַעbâqa‛ · to break up/openH1234

Cross-references for Exodus 14:21

• Exodus 14:16You yourself must do this: Lift up your stick and hold your hand out over the sea. The water will become two separate parts. Then the Israelites can cross through the middle of the sea on dry ground.
• Exodus 15:8You blew on the water and it became like a wall. The deep waters stood up in a big heap.
• Joshua 3:13Watch the priests who are carrying the Covenant Box. As soon as their feet touch the water of the river, you will see that the water stops running. It will rise up like a wall.’
• Joshua 4:23Yes, you have seen what the Lord your God has done. He made the Jordan River become dry, so that you could cross over it. That was like he did to the Red Sea, so that we could cross it when we left Egypt.
• Nehemiah 9:11You divided the sea into two parts so that your people could cross it on a dry path. When Pharaoh's soldiers chased after them, you threw them into the sea. They drowned in the water, like a heavy stone.
• Job 26:12He used his power to control the sea. He used his wisdom to destroy Rahab, the great sea monster.
• Psalms 66:6He caused the Red Sea to become dry land. Then his people walked across the Jordan River! So we praise him for what he did there!
• Psalms 74:13You broke the sea into separate pieces, because you are so strong. You broke the heads of the monsters in the waters of the sea.
• Psalms 78:13He cut the sea into two separate parts, and he led them through it. He made a path between two walls of water.
• Psalms 106:7When our ancestors were in Egypt, they did not understand your miracles. They forgot the many ways that you showed them your faithful love. When they arrived at the Red Sea, they turned against you, Lord.
• Psalms 114:3The sea looked and ran away! Then the Jordan River turned back!
• Isaiah 51:10You made the sea become dry, so that there was a path through the deep water. The slaves that you rescued could then cross over.
• Isaiah 63:12He caused his power to be with Moses, as Moses raised his arm over the sea. He caused the waters to become separate so that his people could go across. In that way, he caused his name always to be famous.

Commentaries on Exodus 14:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21The Lord caused the sea to go back - That part of the sea over which the Israelites passed was, according to Mr. Bruce and other travelers, about four leagues across, and therefore might easily be crossed in one night. In the dividing of the sea two agents appear to be employed, though the effect produced can be attributed to neither. By stretching out the rod the waters were divided; by the blowing of the vehement, ardent, east wind, the bed of the sea…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21A strong east wind - The agency by which the object effected was natural (compare Exodus 15:8 note): and the conditions of the narrative are satisfied by the hypothesis, that the passage took place near Suez. The waters were divided - i. e. there was a complete separation between the water of the gulf and the water to the north of Kolsum.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-31Verses 21-31 The dividing the Red sea was the terror of the Canaanites, Jos 2:9; the praise and triumph of the Israelites, Psa 114:3; 106:9; 136:13. It was a type of baptism, 1Co 10:1, 2. Israel's passage through it was typical of the conversion of souls, Is 11:15; and the Egyptians being drowned in it was typical of the final ruin of all unrepenting sinners. God showed his almighty power, by opening a passage through the waters, some miles over. God can…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. 2121. Moses stretched out his hand, &c.--The waving of the rod was of great importance on this occasion to give public attestation in the presence of the assembled Israelites, both to the character of Moses and the divine mission with which he was charged. the Lord caused ... a strong east wind all that night--Suppose a mere ebb tide caused by the wind, raising the water to a great height on one side, still as there was not only "dry land," but, according…Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 14:21

• Egypt
• Egyptians
• Israel
• Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena
• Prayer
• Readings, Select
• Water

In the dictionaries

• Moses
• the sea, the Great Sea, the western sea
• East wind
• 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