Read Verse Keyword Strong's
Prev

Exodus 14:21

Next

¶ 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.

And Moses {H4872} stretched out {H5186} his hand {H3027} over the sea {H3220}; and the LORD {H3068} caused the sea {H3220} to go {H3212} back by a strong {H5794} east {H6921} wind {H7307} all that night {H3915}, and made {H7760} the sea {H3220} dry {H2724} land, and the waters {H4325} were divided {H1234}.

Moshe reached his hand out over the sea, and ADONAI caused the sea to go back before a strong east wind all night. He made the sea become dry land, and its water was divided in two.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided,

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

Commentary

Exodus 14:21 describes the pivotal moment when God, through Moses, began to open a path through the Red Sea for the Israelites to escape the pursuing Egyptian army.

Context

This verse follows the dramatic situation where the Israelites, having left Egypt, found themselves trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's approaching chariots. Fear gripped the people, but Moses encouraged them to stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. Just before this verse, God had placed a cloud and fire between the Israelite and Egyptian camps, providing light for Israel and darkness for Egypt (Exodus 14:20).

Key Themes

  • Divine Power and Intervention: The parting of the Red Sea is one of the most dramatic demonstrations of God's absolute power over nature and His direct intervention in human history to save His people.
  • Obedience: Moses' act of stretching out his hand was an act of obedience to God's command, triggering the divine miracle.
  • Deliverance: This event is the ultimate act of deliverance from Egyptian bondage, establishing God as the rescuer of Israel.
  • Making a Way: God created a path through an seemingly impassable obstacle, demonstrating His ability to make a way where there seems to be no way.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "strong east wind" indicates the means God used, working through natural elements to accomplish the supernatural division. The Hebrew word for "divided" is baqa, meaning to cleave, split, or break open, vividly describing the action upon the waters.

Reflection and Application

Exodus 14:21 serves as a powerful reminder that God is capable of overcoming any obstacle, no matter how large or threatening it appears. When faced with impossible situations, this verse encourages us to trust in God's power and to obey His leading, knowing that He can create a path to safety and freedom. It highlights God's faithfulness to His promises and His commitment to delivering those who are His.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 63:12 (14 votes)

    That led [them] by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

  • Exodus 15:8 (11 votes)

    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 66:6 (10 votes)

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

  • Joshua 4:23 (8 votes)

    For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:

  • Psalms 78:13 (8 votes)

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

  • Nehemiah 9:11 (8 votes)

    And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.

  • Isaiah 51:10 (8 votes)

    [Art] thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?