Exodus 15:12

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.

Complete Jewish Bible:

You reached out with your right hand: the earth swallowed them.

Berean Standard Bible:

You stretched out Your right hand, and the earth swallowed them up.

American Standard Version:

Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, The earth swallowed them.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Thou stretchedst out{H5186} thy right hand{H3225}, the earth{H776} swallowed{H1104} them.

Cross-References (KJV):

Exodus 15:6

  • Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

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Commentary for Exodus 15:12

Exodus 15:12 is part of the Song of Moses, an ancient Hebrew poem that celebrates the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. This verse specifically references the climactic moment when the Israelites, led by Moses, cross the Red Sea, and the pursuing Egyptian army is drowned.

**Themes:**
1. **Divine Power:** The verse emphasizes God's might, as He stretches out His right hand, symbolizing divine intervention and strength.
2. **Deliverance:** It reflects the theme of God saving His people from their enemies, a recurring motif in the Bible.
3. **Judgment:** The verse also highlights God's judgment against the Egyptians, who represent oppressive forces against God's chosen people.
4. **Faith and Trust:** The Israelites' escape across the Red Sea is a testament to their faith in God's promises and His power to save.

**Historical Context:**
The event celebrated in Exodus 15 occurred during the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, which is traditionally dated around the late 2nd millennium BCE (c. 13th century BCE). The crossing of the Red Sea is seen as the pivotal moment when the Israelites' liberation became definitive, as the Egyptian military—the most powerful force of the time—was miraculously defeated.

This event solidified the Israelites' belief in Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and in Moses as His chosen leader. It also set the stage for the next phase of their journey: the wilderness wanderings and the eventual arrival in the Promised Land.

The Song of Moses itself is one of the oldest pieces of Hebrew poetry in the Bible and reflects the ancient Israelite tradition of celebrating and memorializing significant events through song and worship.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H5186
    There are 207 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָטָה
    Transliteration: nâṭâh
    Pronunciation: naw-taw'
    Description: a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application; [phrase] afternoon, apply, bow (down, -ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down, be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched, overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread (out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away), wrest, cause to yield.
  2. Strong's Number: H3225
    There are 133 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָמִין
    Transliteration: yâmîyn
    Pronunciation: yaw-meen'
    Description: from יָמַן; the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south; [phrase] left-handed, right (hand, side), south.
  3. Strong's Number: H776
    There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶרֶץ
    Transliteration: ʼerets
    Pronunciation: eh'-rets
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
  4. Strong's Number: H1104
    There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּלַע
    Transliteration: bâlaʻ
    Pronunciation: baw-lah'
    Description: a primitive root; to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy; cover, destroy, devour, eat up, be at end, spend up, swallow down (up).