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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of Exodus 13:18

16This ceremony will be like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead. It is a reminder that the power of the Lord’s mighty hand brought us out of Egypt.” 17When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 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. 19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to do this. He said, “God will certainly come to help you. When he does, you must take my bones with you from this place.” 20The Israelites left Succoth and camped 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“Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon.
• Numbers 33:6Then they left Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness.
• Deuteronomy 32:10He found them in a desert land, in an empty, howling wasteland. He surrounded them and watched over them; he guarded them as he would guard his own eyes.
• Psalms 107:7He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live.
• Exodus 12:51On that very day the Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt like an army.

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