Psalms 78:13

KJV

He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.

KJV (with Strong's)

He divided {H1234}{H8804)} the sea {H3220}, and caused them to pass through {H5674}{H8686)}; and he made the waters {H4325} to stand {H5324}{H8686)} as an heap {H5067}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He split the sea and made them pass through, he made the waters stand up like a wall.

Berean Standard Bible

He split the sea and brought them through; He set the waters upright like a wall.

American Standard Version

He clave the sea, and caused them to pass through; And he made the waters to stand as a heap.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 78:13 powerfully encapsulates the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, a foundational act of divine intervention that liberated the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. This verse, situated within Asaph's comprehensive historical psalm, serves as a vivid reminder of God's omnipotent control over creation and His unwavering commitment to deliver His people, thereby establishing the didactic framework for a narrative that instructs future generations on His faithfulness and Israel's recurrent rebellion.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 78 is a Maskil, or didactic poem, attributed to Asaph, functioning as a lengthy historical recounting designed to instruct successive generations about God's mighty acts and Israel's consistent responses of disobedience and forgetfulness. The psalm opens with a call to listen to "dark sayings of old," emphasizing its instructional purpose and the profound truths it conveys, as seen in [Psalm 78:2](/psalms/78-2 "Psalm 78:2 - Parables from Ancient Times"). Verse 13 marks the dramatic commencement of the historical narrative, immediately highlighting God's initial, monumental act of salvation at the Exodus. This pivotal event establishes the divine character and power that will be consistently demonstrated—and often tragically resisted—throughout the subsequent historical overview, which meticulously spans from the wilderness wanderings to the establishment of the Davidic monarchy.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The event described in Psalm 78:13 refers directly to the climactic Red Sea crossing, meticulously detailed in [Exodus 14](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - The Red Sea Crossing"). This moment was the absolute turning point in Israel's liberation from centuries of brutal slavery in Egypt. Trapped between Pharaoh's formidable pursuing army and the seemingly impassable sea, the Israelites faced certain destruction, a desperate situation orchestrated by God precisely to display His supreme power over both human empires and the very forces of nature. In the ancient Near East, the sea often symbolized chaos, untamed power, and even the realm of hostile deities, making God's division of it an unparalleled demonstration of His absolute sovereignty. This act profoundly distinguished Yahweh from the impotent gods of Egypt and other nations, cementing the identity of Israel as a people uniquely redeemed by His mighty hand.
* **Key Themes:** Psalm 78:13 serves as a powerful introduction to several overarching themes that permeate the entire psalm and, indeed, the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it profoundly underscores **Divine Omnipotence and Sovereignty**, showcasing God's absolute control over creation as He supernaturally manipulates the waters, an act utterly beyond any natural explanation, as also beautifully depicted in [Psalm 104:7](/psalms/104-7 "Psalm 104:7 - God's Rebuke of the Waters"). Secondly, it highlights **Miraculous Deliverance and Redemption**, portraying God as the active, intervening rescuer who saves His people from impossible situations, establishing a divine pattern of salvation that ultimately culminates in Christ. Thirdly, the verse, within the psalm's didactic framework, emphasizes **Remembrance and Covenant Faithfulness**, serving as a foundational historical anchor that future generations are commanded to recall. This ensures they remember God's unwavering commitment to His covenant with Israel, despite their repeated failures and rebellion, a crucial theme echoed in [Deuteronomy 4:9](/deuteronomy/4-9 "Deuteronomy 4:9 - Remember God's Works").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **divided (Hebrew, _bâqaʻ_):** This primitive root signifies a forceful and decisive action: "to cleave," "to rend," "to break open," or "to split." In the context of the sea, it conveys a complete and supernatural separation, not a gradual receding. It emphasizes God's direct, powerful intervention, tearing apart what was naturally unified to create a path. This term is also used elsewhere to describe God splitting rocks to bring forth water, as in [Exodus 17:6](/exodus/17-6 "Exodus 17:6 - Water from the Rock"), underscoring its association with divine power over creation.
* **pass through (Hebrew, _ʻâbar_):** This primitive root is broadly used to mean "to cross over" or "to go over." It encompasses any transition, literal or figurative. Here, it highlights the purpose and outcome of God's division of the sea: to enable His people to traverse what was previously an impassable barrier. It speaks to God's active role in facilitating their journey from bondage to freedom, ensuring their safe passage.
* **heap (Hebrew, _nêd_):** Derived from a root meaning "to pile up," this noun denotes a "mound," "pile," or "wall." Its use here is crucial for understanding the miraculous nature of the event. It does not suggest a mere shallowing of the water but a supernatural suspension of immense bodies of water, standing upright like solid, stable walls on either side of the dry path. This vivid imagery underscores the sheer magnitude and unnaturalness of God's power, defying gravity and the natural properties of water.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He divided the sea":** This opening clause immediately attributes the action to God ("He"), emphasizing His sole initiative, omnipotence, and unique power. The act of "dividing" the sea highlights the impossible nature of the task for any human or natural force, setting the stage for a profound divine miracle. It speaks directly to God's absolute sovereignty over the natural world, demonstrating His unparalleled ability to manipulate creation according to His sovereign will.
* **"and caused them to pass through":** This phrase reveals the redemptive purpose of the division: to provide a safe and unobstructed passage for the Israelites. God's action was not arbitrary but precisely targeted to facilitate the liberation of His people from imminent danger. The phrase "caused them to pass through" underscores God as the active enabler and the Israelites as the beneficiaries of His mighty act, highlighting His pastoral care, protective leadership, and commitment to His covenant promises.
* **"and he made the waters to stand as an heap":** This final clause vividly describes the specific mechanism of the miracle, reinforcing its supernatural character and the sustained nature of God's power. The waters did not merely recede; they were supernaturally held upright, defying their fluid nature, forming solid-like "heaps" or walls on either side of the dry ground. This striking imagery emphasizes the stability and permanence of the divided waters for the entire duration of the crossing, ensuring a secure passage for millions. It stands as an enduring testament to God's sustained power and absolute control over the elements.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 78:13 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message and underscore the miraculous nature of the event. **Imagery** is central, painting a vivid mental picture of the waters standing like solid walls, which immediately communicates the supernatural magnitude of the event. The use of "heap" (נֵד, _ned_) functions as **hyperbole**, exaggerating the unnatural stacking of the water to emphasize the sheer impossibility of the feat without direct divine intervention. There is also a subtle element of **personification** in the waters being described as "standing," imbuing them with a temporary, almost sentient quality under God's explicit command. Furthermore, the verse implicitly uses **parallelism** by describing the same event—the parting of the sea—from two complementary angles ("He divided the sea" and "he made the waters to stand as an heap"). This reinforces the miraculous nature and God's absolute control from multiple perspectives. The overall tone is profoundly **didactic**, serving the psalm's broader purpose of instructing future generations about God's unparalleled power and unwavering faithfulness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The Red Sea crossing, as recounted in Psalm 78:13, stands as a pivotal moment in salvation history, serving as a foundational paradigm for God's redemptive power and His character. It demonstrates unequivocally that no obstacle, however insurmountable, can thwart God's sovereign purposes for His people. Theologically, it affirms God's absolute sovereignty not only over human affairs and empires but over the very fabric of creation, proving His unique status as the Lord of all. This event established Israel's identity as a people miraculously delivered by divine intervention, a profound testament to God's covenant faithfulness despite their unworthiness and subsequent failures. It serves as the archetypal act of divine deliverance, foreshadowing all future acts of God's salvation and reminding believers that the God who made a way through the sea is the same God who continues to make ways through life's most impossible challenges.

* [Exodus 14:21-22](/exodus/14-21-22 "Exodus 14:21-22 - The Parting of the Red Sea")
* [Psalm 106:9](/psalms/106-9 "Psalm 106:9 - God's Rebuke of the Red Sea")
* [Isaiah 43:16](/isaiah/43-16 "Isaiah 43:16 - God Making a Way Through the Sea")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 78:13 serves as an enduring testament to God's omnipotence and His unwavering commitment to His people, offering profound spiritual nourishment for contemporary believers. This verse is a powerful source of encouragement, reminding us that the God who supernaturally divided the Red Sea and caused millions to pass through on dry ground is the same God who is intimately active and powerful in our lives today. When we face "seas" of seemingly insurmountable challenges—be they financial crises, health battles, relational breakdowns, or spiritual wildernesses—this verse calls us to remember God's historical faithfulness and His infinite capacity to make a way where there appears to be none. It encourages us to cultivate a deep, abiding trust in His power, knowing that our God is not limited by natural laws, human impossibilities, or the magnitude of our problems. By recalling His past mighty deeds, both in biblical history and in our personal testimonies, we build the faith necessary to navigate present difficulties with courage, hope, and an unwavering confidence that His redemptive power is still profoundly at work.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does remembering God's past mighty acts, like the parting of the Red Sea, strengthen your faith in current, seemingly insurmountable challenges?**
* **What "seas" or seemingly impassable obstacles are you facing today, and how does this verse encourage you to trust God's power to make a way?**
* **In what practical ways can we actively pass on the story of God's faithfulness and power to future generations, as Psalm 78 intends?**

### FAQ
**Why is the Red Sea event so significant in Israelite history and theology?**

Answer: The Red Sea event, as vividly highlighted in [Exodus 14](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - The Red Sea Crossing") and recalled in Psalm 78:13, is foundational to Israelite history and theology because it marks the definitive birth of the nation. It was God's ultimate act of deliverance from centuries of Egyptian bondage, demonstrating His supreme power over Pharaoh, his army, and all false gods. This unparalleled miracle established Yahweh as the unique, covenant-keeping God who actively intervenes on behalf of His people, forming the very basis of their national identity and their covenant relationship with Him. It became the archetypal act of salvation, frequently referenced throughout the Old Testament to remind Israel of God's faithfulness, power, and their unique status as His redeemed people.

**How does this event relate to God's control over creation?**

Answer: The Red Sea crossing is a profound and undeniable demonstration of God's absolute sovereignty and meticulous control over creation. The act of "dividing the sea" and making "the waters to stand as an heap" utterly defies natural laws and showcases God's ability to manipulate the physical world at will, bending its very fabric to His redemptive purposes. Unlike other ancient Near Eastern deities often associated with specific natural phenomena, the God of Israel demonstrates complete mastery over all elements, including the chaotic and powerful force of the sea. This event powerfully reinforces the biblical truth that the Creator God, who spoke the cosmos into existence in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account"), remains intimately involved and sovereign over His creation, able to command even the most formidable natural forces to serve His divine and redemptive will.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The miraculous parting of the Red Sea, enabling Israel's passage from bondage to freedom, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as God made a way through the physically impassable waters, Jesus, the divine Son, is revealed as the greater "way" through the ultimate spiritual barriers of sin, death, and separation from God. He is the one who decisively "divided" the power of sin and death through His crucifixion and resurrection, thereby creating a path to eternal life and true freedom for all who believe, as profoundly declared in [John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life"). The Israelites' passage through the sea is even seen by the Apostle Paul as a type of baptism, a collective immersion that separated them from their old life in Egypt and initiated them into a new covenant relationship with God under Moses, as described in [1 Corinthians 10:1-2](/1_corinthians/10-1-2 "1 Corinthians 10:1-2 - Israel's Baptism in the Cloud and Sea"). In Christ, believers experience a spiritual "Red Sea crossing" through baptism, symbolizing a death to their old sinful self and a resurrection to new life in Him, united with His death and resurrection, as powerfully articulated in [Romans 6:3-4](/romans/6-3-4 "Romans 6:3-4 - Baptism into Christ's Death and Resurrection"). Jesus, by His decisive victory over the spiritual forces of darkness and the ultimate sting of death, has made a permanent and eternal way for humanity to pass from the dominion of darkness into the glorious kingdom of light, fulfilling the ancient promise of divine deliverance in a cosmic, comprehensive, and eternal sense, as highlighted in [Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Jesus' Victory Over Death and the Devil").

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

Exodus 14:21

¶ And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go [back] by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry [land], and the waters were divided.

Exodus 15:8

And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, [and] the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

Psalms 106:9

He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.

Psalms 106:10

And he saved them from the hand of him that hated [them], and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

Psalms 66:6

He turned the sea into dry [land]: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.

Joshua 3:16

That the waters which came down from above stood [and] rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that [is] beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, [even] the salt sea, failed, [and] were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

Psalms 136:13

To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy [endureth] for ever: