Exodus 14:14

The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

The LORD {H3068} shall fight {H3898} for you, and ye shall hold your peace {H2790}.

ADONAI will do battle for you. Just calm yourselves down!"

The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Jehovah will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Commentary

Exodus 14:14 is a powerful declaration of God's protective power and a call to trust in the face of overwhelming fear. Spoken by Moses to the Israelites as they stood trapped between Pharaoh's pursuing army and the impassable Red Sea, this verse encapsulates the core message that deliverance comes from the LORD.

Context

This verse is spoken at a pivotal moment in the Exodus narrative. The Israelites have just been miraculously delivered from slavery in Egypt, but their freedom is immediately threatened. Pharaoh and his army regret letting them go and pursue them with chariots and horsemen. The people of Israel see the Egyptians approaching, become terrified, and cry out to the LORD, but also complain bitterly to Moses, wishing they had remained slaves rather than face certain death in the wilderness. Moses responds with words of reassurance from God, culminating in this verse promising divine intervention.

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention: The central theme is that God Himself will actively fight for His people. This is not a battle Israel is expected to win by their own strength.
  • Trust and Stillness: The command "ye shall hold your peace" (or "be still") is a call to cease striving, stop panicking, and trust in God's action. It contrasts the Israelites' fear and complaint with the required posture of faith.
  • God's Sovereignty: The verse highlights God's ultimate control over circumstances, even seemingly impossible ones like being cornered by an enemy army against a sea.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "hold your peace" in the KJV translates the Hebrew word charash (Χ—Χ¨Χ©), which can mean to be silent, still, or inactive. It implies a cessation of frantic human effort and a quiet trust in God's work. The "LORD" is Yahweh, the personal covenant name of God, emphasizing that this promise comes from the God who has a personal relationship with Israel.

Reflection and Application

Exodus 14:14 serves as a timeless reminder that when we face overwhelming challenges, impossible situations, or intense fear, our first response should not be panic or striving in our own strength, but to be still and wait for the LORD to act. It encourages us to surrender our anxieties and trust that God is fighting battles on our behalf, even when we cannot see a way out. This principle is echoed throughout Scripture, reminding believers that if God is for us, who can be against us?

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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 3:22 (143 votes)

    Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.

  • Deuteronomy 20:4 (105 votes)

    For the LORD your God [is] he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

  • Joshua 23:3 (84 votes)

    And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God [is] he that hath fought for you.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:17 (84 votes)

    Ye shall not [need] to fight in this [battle]: set yourselves, stand ye [still], and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD [will be] with you.

  • Deuteronomy 1:30 (82 votes)

    The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;

  • Joshua 23:10 (54 votes)

    One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he [it is] that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

  • Isaiah 30:15 (52 votes)

    For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.