Exodus 15:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Also Miryam the prophet, sister of Aharon, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines, dancing,

Berean Standard Bible:

Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing.

American Standard Version:

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Miriam^{H4813} the prophetess^{H5031}, the sister^{H269} of Aaron^{H175}, took^{H3947} a timbrel^{H8596} in her hand^{H3027}; and all the women^{H802} went out^{H3318} after^{H310} her with timbrels^{H8596} and with dances^{H4246}.

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Commentary for Exodus 15:20

Theme: Celebration and Praise
Exodus 15:20 is part of the song of Moses and Miriam, which the Israelites sang after God delivered them from the Egyptian army by parting the Red Sea and drowning the pursuing Egyptians. This verse specifically highlights the role of Miriam, who is identified as a prophetess and the sister of Aaron (and Moses), leading the women in a celebratory procession with music and dance. This act of worship celebrates God's mighty act of salvation and the triumph over Pharaoh's forces.

Historical Context:
The event takes place shortly after the Israelites have left Egypt, during the Exodus, which is traditionally dated to around the 13th century BCE. The song itself is one of the oldest poems in the Hebrew Bible and reflects the joy and relief of a people who have been liberated from centuries of slavery. The mention of Miriam as a prophetess suggests her role as a spiritual leader within the community, and her musical leadership here underscores the importance of women in Israelite religious life. The use of timbrels (a type of tambourine) and dance in worship was a common practice in the ancient Near East and is reflected in various biblical accounts of communal celebration and religious observance.

*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: H4813
   There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִרְיָם
   Transliteration: Miryâm
   Pronunciation: meer-yawm'
   Description: from מְרִי; rebelliously; Mirjam, the name of two Israelitesses; Miriam.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5031
   There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נְבִיאָה
   Transliteration: nᵉbîyʼâh
   Pronunciation: neb-ee-yaw'
   Description: feminine of נָבִיא; a prophetess or (generally) inspired woman; by implication, a poetess; by association a prophet's wife; prophetess.
   
3. Strong's Number: H269
   There are 301 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָחוֹת
   Transliteration: ʼâchôwth
   Pronunciation: aw-khoth'
   Description: irregular feminine of אָח; a sister (used very widely (like brother), literally and figuratively); (an-) other, sister, together.
   
4. Strong's Number: H175
   There are 480 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַהֲרוֹן
   Transliteration: ʼAhărôwn
   Pronunciation: a-har-one'
   Description: of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses; Aaron.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3947
   There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָקַח
   Transliteration: lâqach
   Pronunciation: law-kakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8596
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תֹּף
   Transliteration: tôph
   Pronunciation: tofe
   Description: from תָּפַף contracted; a tambourine; tabret, timbrel.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
8. Strong's Number: H802
   There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִשָּׁה
   Transliteration: ʼishshâh
   Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
   Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3318
   There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָצָא
   Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter.
   
10. Strong's Number: H310
    There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אַחַר
    Transliteration: ʼachar
    Pronunciation: akh-ar'
    Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.
    
11. Strong's Number: H4246
    There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מְחֹלָה
    Transliteration: mᵉchôlâh
    Pronunciation: mek-o-law'
    Description: xlit mᵉchôwlâh corrected to mᵉchôlâh; feminine of מָחוֹל; a dance; company, dances(-cing).