Exodus 13:18

Exodus 13:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
• New International Version (NIV)So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.
• New Living Translation (NLT)So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.

Context of Exodus 13:18

16It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt." 17When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, "Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt." But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. 19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here." 20And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.

Exodus 13:18 word by word

וַיַּסֵּ֨ב אֱלֹהִ֧ים׀ אֶת־הָעָ֛ם דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר יַם־ס֑וּף וַחֲמֻשִׁ֛ים עָל֥וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• ledסָבַבsâbab · to turn: turnH5437
• the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: roadH1870
• of the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
• of the Redסוּףsûph · Red (Sea)H5488
• seaיָםyâm · seaH3220
• and the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• went upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• harnessedחֲמֻשִׁיםchâmûsh · armedH2571
• out of the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• of Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714

Cross-references for Exodus 13:18

• Exodus 14:2"Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea.
• Numbers 33:6And they set out from Succoth and camped at Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness.
• Deuteronomy 32:10"He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.
• Psalms 107:7He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.
• Exodus 12:51And on that very day the Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.

Commentaries on Exodus 13:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18But God led the people about - Dr. Shaw has shown that there were two roads from Egypt to Canaan, one through the valleys of Jendilly, Rumeleah, and Baideah, bounded on each side by the mountains of the lower Thebais; the other lies higher, having the northern range of the mountains of Mocatee running parallel with it on the right hand, and the desert of the Egyptian Arabia, which lies all the way open to the land of the Philistines, to the left. See his…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Harnessed - More probably, “marshalled” or “in orderly array.” There is not the least indication that the Israelites had been disarmed by the Egyptians, and as occupying a frontier district frequently assailed by the nomads of the desert they would of necessity be accustomed to the use of arms. Compare Exodus 1:10.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-20Verses 17-20 There were two ways from Egypt to Canaan. One was only a few days' journey; the other was much further about, through the wilderness, and that was the way in which God chose to lead his people Israel. The Egyptians were to be drowned in the Red sea; the Israelites were to be humbled and proved in the wilderness. God's way is the right way, though it seems about. If we think he leads not his people the nearest way, yet we may be sure he leads…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18around by the way: There is disagreement among scholars about the identification of some of the sites mentioned (13:20; 14:2). So, there is little agreement on the exact route the Israelites took. Red Sea (literally sea of reeds): The actual Red Sea is too far south. The Sea of Reeds was part of the Red Sea, probably located at the northern end of the Gulf of Suez.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea, &c.--This wondrous expanse of water is a gulf of the Indian ocean. It was called in Hebrew "the weedy sea," from the forest of marine plants with which it abounds. But the name of the Red Sea is not so easily traced. Some think it was given from its contiguity to the countries of Edom ("red"); others derive it from its coral rocks; while a third class ascribe the origin of the…Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 13:18

• Armies
• Israel
• Red Sea

In the dictionaries

• Egypt
• God
• Israel
• Red Sea
• Egypt, Egyptian
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Sea of Reeds, Red Sea
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Children of Israel

Commentaries on Exodus 13

• 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