Exodus 15:2

KJV

The LORD [is] my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he [is] my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

KJV (with Strong's)

The LORD {H3050} is my strength {H5797} and song {H2176}, and he is become my salvation {H3444}: he {H2088} is my God {H410}, and I will prepare him an habitation {H5115}; my father's {H1} God {H430}, and I will exalt {H7311} him.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yah is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. This is my God: I will glorify him; my father's God: I will exalt him.

Berean Standard Bible

The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

American Standard Version

Jehovah is my strength and song, And he is become my salvation: This is my God, and I will praise him; My father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 15:2 stands as a profound declaration of praise within the "Song of the Sea," marking Israel's immediate, heartfelt response to their miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage and the Red Sea crossing. It articulates a personal and corporate confession of Yahweh as the singular source of their strength, joy, and ultimate rescue, emphasizing His active intervention in their salvation. The verse further expresses a deep, covenantal relationship with God, acknowledging Him as both their present God and the God of their ancestors, culminating in a fervent commitment to worship Him, prepare a dwelling place for His presence, and exalt His name.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of the "Song of the Sea" (Exodus 15:1-18), a spontaneous hymn of praise sung by Moses and the Israelites immediately following their dramatic escape through the Red Sea and the subsequent destruction of Pharaoh's army. Positioned directly after the climactic events of Exodus 14, where God demonstrates His unparalleled power and faithfulness, the song serves as the first major act of corporate worship recorded in the Bible. It transitions the narrative from divine action to human response, establishing a foundational pattern of praise that recognizes God as the sole orchestrator of their salvation, setting the theological tone for Israel's ongoing relationship with Yahweh.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites had just endured centuries of brutal slavery in Egypt, a polytheistic society dominated by a powerful pharaoh who was considered a god. Their recent experience at the Red Sea was an unprecedented, cataclysmic event that shattered the might of the world's superpower and demonstrated Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over nature and human empires. This context highlights the radical nature of their confession: they were declaring allegiance to a God who had not only delivered them from physical oppression but had also decisively defeated the gods of Egypt. Their immediate, unified song of praise was a profound cultural and religious shift, marking their identity as a people redeemed by Yahweh and setting them apart from the nations around them.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Strength (עָז, _'oz'_):** This Hebrew term signifies more than mere physical power; it conveys the idea of a stronghold, a refuge, and a source of courage and might. When Israel declares God as their "strength," they are acknowledging Him as their impenetrable defense, their source of resilience in the face of overwhelming odds, and the very essence of their ability to endure and overcome.
* **Song (זִמְרָה, _zimrah'_):** This word denotes a melody or tune, specifically one of praise. It implies that God Himself is the reason for their joy, the subject of their worship, and the inspiration behind their spontaneous outpouring of adoration. The phrase "strength and song" suggests that God's powerful acts of deliverance are intrinsically linked to the joyous worship they evoke, making Him both the enabler of their victory and the object of their celebratory praise.
* **Salvation (יְשׁוּעָה, _yeshu'ah'_):** A crucial theological term, _yeshu'ah_ means deliverance, rescue, or victory. It refers to God's active, decisive intervention to save His people from destruction, oppression, or danger. This word is the root of the name "Jesus" (Yeshua), signifying "The LORD saves." Here, it encapsulates the entirety of God's redemptive work at the Red Sea, affirming that their rescue was not by human might but by divine action alone.
* **Habitation (נָוֶה, _naveh'_):** While literally meaning a dwelling place, pasture, or fold, in this context, _naveh_ carries the nuance of a beautiful, prepared home or sanctuary. It expresses the Israelites' profound longing and intention to create a sacred space for God's manifest presence among them. This declaration foreshadows the later divine command to build the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:8), indicating a mutual desire for intimacy between God and His redeemed people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The LORD [is] my strength and song":** This clause immediately establishes Yahweh as the personal and ultimate source of Israel's power, resilience, and the very cause of their joyful praise. It is a declaration that God is not just an external helper but the intrinsic essence of their ability to stand firm and celebrate.
* **"and he is become my salvation":** This phrase emphasizes God's active and decisive intervention in their rescue. From being a people on the brink of annihilation, God's mighty hand transformed their situation into one of complete deliverance and victory, demonstrating His saving power in a tangible, undeniable way.
* **"he [is] my God":** This simple yet profound statement highlights the intimate, personal, and covenantal relationship between Yahweh and His people. It signifies not merely acknowledging God's existence, but claiming Him as their own, in contrast to the gods of other nations, affirming their unique bond.
* **"and I will prepare him an habitation":** This declaration expresses a deep desire and commitment to honor God by creating a dedicated space for His presence. It speaks to the Israelite's immediate yearning to reciprocate God's faithfulness with a tangible act of worship and dedication, foreshadowing the Tabernacle and later Temple as places where God would dwell among them.
* **"my father's God":** This phrase connects the present generation's experience of God's faithfulness to the historical covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It underscores the continuity of God's unchanging nature and His unwavering commitment to His people across generations, solidifying their identity within a larger redemptive narrative.
* **"and I will exalt him":** This final clause expresses the ultimate response of worship: to lift God high in praise, honor, and recognition of His supreme sovereignty and unparalleled power. It signifies a public and personal commitment to magnify His name above all others, acknowledging His unmatched glory and worthiness of adoration.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 15:2 is rich with literary artistry that amplifies its theological message. **Parallelism** is prominent, particularly in the phrases "my strength and song" and "my salvation," which express complementary aspects of God's redemptive work. Similarly, "my God" and "my father's God" create a powerful parallel, emphasizing both the personal and generational continuity of the covenant relationship. **Repetition** of the possessive pronoun "my" ("my strength," "my song," "my salvation," "my God," "my father's God") underscores the intensely personal and appropriative nature of Israel's confession, highlighting their intimate relationship with Yahweh. The verse also employs **Metaphor**, as God is not merely *a* source of strength or *a* deliverer, but He *is* their strength, their song, and their salvation, embodying these attributes fully. Finally, the declaration "I will prepare him an habitation" serves as a powerful instance of **Foreshadowing**, anticipating the divine command and subsequent construction of the Tabernacle as a physical symbol of God's dwelling among His people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 15:2 encapsulates core theological truths about God's character and humanity's proper response. It reveals God as the active, personal, and all-sufficient Deliverer, who not only saves His people from external threats but also becomes the very source of their inner strength, joy, and identity. This verse establishes that true worship is a spontaneous, heartfelt response to God's redemptive acts, rooted in a personal relationship that also acknowledges His faithfulness across generations. The Israelites' desire to "prepare Him an habitation" signifies a profound longing for God's manifest presence, a theme that permeates redemptive history, pointing to God's desire to dwell with His people and their reciprocal desire to create a space for His glory, whether in a physical structure or in their very lives.

* [Psalm 118:14](/psalms/118-14 "The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.")
* [Isaiah 12:2](/isaiah/12-2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.")
* [1 Peter 2:5](/1_peter/2-5 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 15:2 serves as an enduring model for how believers should respond to God's redemptive work in their lives. Just as Israel, having witnessed God's mighty hand, immediately declared Him as their strength, song, and salvation, so too are we called to acknowledge God as the ultimate source of our deliverance, joy, and empowerment in every circumstance. This verse challenges us to cultivate a faith that is not merely intellectual assent but a deeply personal, relational confession, recognizing Him as "my God" in the present and "my father's God" in the continuity of His faithfulness through generations. Our response to His goodness should be an immediate, heartfelt desire to "prepare Him an habitation"—not necessarily a physical structure, but a life dedicated to His presence, where our hearts, homes, and communities become spiritual dwelling places for His Spirit. To "exalt Him" means to live in such a way that His glory is magnified, His sovereignty is acknowledged, and His worthiness of praise is proclaimed through our words and deeds.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of your life have you recently experienced God as your "strength and salvation," and how has that experience prompted you to make Him your "song"?**
* **Considering God as "my father's God," how does understanding His faithfulness across generations strengthen your personal faith and commitment to passing it on?**
* **What practical steps can you take this week to "prepare Him a habitation" in your personal life and community, reflecting a desire for His presence and exaltation?**

### FAQ
**Why does the verse say "I will prepare him an habitation" before the command to build the Tabernacle was given?**

Answer: This declaration reflects a spontaneous, Spirit-inspired desire and intent from the Israelites, rather than a pre-emptive architectural plan. Having just witnessed God's overwhelming power and presence in their deliverance, their natural, grateful response was a longing to honor Him with a dedicated space for His manifest presence. It speaks to an innate human desire to consecrate a place for the divine, a recognition of God's holiness and His desire for intimacy with His people. Thus, "I will prepare him an habitation" is a prophetic utterance of a people's heart, which perfectly aligns with and foreshadows God's later command in Exodus 25:8 for the construction of the Tabernacle. It demonstrates that the desire for God's dwelling among His people was a mutual longing, originating both from God's covenantal heart and from the grateful response of His redeemed.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 15:2 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While Israel declared Yahweh as their "salvation" (Yeshua) through the Red Sea deliverance, Jesus Himself is the embodiment of God's salvation, for His very name means "The LORD saves" ([Matthew 1:21](/matthew/1-21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.")). He is not merely a deliverer but the ultimate deliverance from sin and death. For the New Covenant believer, Christ is truly our "strength and song," empowering us for righteous living and filling our hearts with joy and praise for His redemptive work. The longing to "prepare him an habitation" is fulfilled in Christ's incarnation, as the Word became flesh and "dwelt among us" ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.")), making God's presence uniquely accessible. Furthermore, through Christ, believers themselves become a "spiritual house," a "habitation" for God's Spirit ([1 Corinthians 3:16](/1_corinthians/3-16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?")), fulfilling the desire for God to dwell intimately with His people. Our ultimate act of exalting God is to exalt Christ, through whom all blessings flow and by whom we have access to the Father.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 12:2

Behold, God [is] my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become my salvation.

Psalms 118:14

The LORD [is] my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

Psalms 18:46

The LORD liveth; and blessed [be] my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

Psalms 59:17

Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God [is] my defence, [and] the God of my mercy.

Isaiah 25:1

¶ O LORD, thou [art] my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful [things; thy] counsels of old [are] faithfulness [and] truth.

Psalms 18:1

¶ To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day [that] the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

Psalms 18:2

The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.