Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to focus on the dramatic parting of the waters, but notice how the text emphasizes the wind. The strong east wind isn't just a passive element; it's the active force God uses, working all night to drive the sea back and make the ground dry. This reveals that even the most powerful displays of God's might often involve His masterful orchestration of natural elements, not just a pure, unassisted supernatural act.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just moments before, the Israelites had been trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and an impassable sea, their cries of panic filling the air. Now, with Moses stretching out his hand, God unleashes a powerful east wind that blows all night, pushing the waters back and creating a dry path. This miraculous division of the sea and the solid ground beneath their feet allows the entire Israelite nation to cross to safety.
Imagine the scene: the Red Sea a terrifying barrier, the Egyptian army closing in. What role did Moses' outstretched hand and a powerful wind play in this epic rescue?
This verse paints a vivid picture of God's power unleashed through seemingly natural means.
The Divine Command & Human Action
God told Moses to stretch out his hand (Exodus 14:16). While Moses' action was a signal of obedience and a focal point for the people's attention, the real power came from God.
A Powerful, Targeted Wind
The text highlights a "strong east wind" that God used. This wind wasn't just any breeze; it was a supernatural force, sustained all night, that pushed back the waters. Commentators suggest this wind was strategically placed, perhaps blowing from the northeast, to be most effective in parting the sea in the direction Israel needed to travel.
Nature Subservient to God
While a natural wind and tide might have played a role, the narrative makes it clear that this was a divine intervention. The wind didn't just blow; God caused it to blow with such force and duration that it divided the sea and made the ground dry, demonstrating that all of creation is subject to His will.
The waters didn't just move; they were divided, creating walls on either side. What does this dramatic division signify for the people of Israel?
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The miraculous parting of the Red Sea wasn't just about creating a path; it was about creating a safe, protected passage for God's people.
A Pathway Through the Impossible
The "waters were divided" and became "dry land." This transformed a terrifying, impassable body of water into a stable, walkable road. It was a physical manifestation of God making a way where no way existed.
Walls of Protection
Following this, the text says the waters stood as "a wall on their right hand and on their left" (Exodus 14:22). This imagery emphasizes not just a dry path, but a secure one. Israel was not merely walking on the seabed; they were protected by these towering walls of water from any threat, including the pursuing Egyptians.
A Distinct Path for the Redeemed
Some ancient traditions suggested the waters divided into twelve paths for the twelve tribes. While the exact details are debated, the core idea is that God created a specific, divinely ordained way for His redeemed people to escape danger and move toward their promised future.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The personal name of the one true God of Israel, revealed to Moses, emphasizing His covenantal faithfulness and eternal existence.
This dramatic event wasn't just about escaping Egypt; it was a divine display of power, confirming God's faithfulness to His promises and establishing Israel as a nation under His direct protection.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Emerge from Egypt
After 400 years of slavery, the Israelites, led by Moses, depart from Egypt following the ten plagues.
c. 1446 BC
Pharaoh Pursues the Israelites
Pharaoh, regretting the loss of Israelite slave labor, gathers his army and chariots to pursue them, cornering them near the Red Sea.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Moses Stretches Hand Over the Sea
As the Egyptians close in, Moses stretches his hand over the Red Sea at God's command, initiating the miraculous parting of the waters.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Cross the Red Sea
The Israelites walk through the divided Red Sea on dry ground, with walls of water on either side, escaping the Egyptian army.
c. 1446 BC
Egyptians Drowned in the Sea
As the Israelites complete their crossing, the waters return, drowning Pharaoh's pursuing army and chariots.
c. 1446 BC
Song of Deliverance
Moses and the Israelites sing a song of praise and thanksgiving to God for their miraculous deliverance and victory over the Egyptians.
This passage directly references God's powerful act at the Red Sea, reminding the Israelites of the miraculous way He delivered them from Egypt, echoing the same theme of divine intervention and liberation.
Psalm 77:16-20The psalmist recounts the parting of the sea, describing the waters seeing God and being greatly afraid, highlighting the immense power displayed and the awe-inspiring nature of God's intervention through the storm and sea.
Isaiah 43:16This verse speaks of the Lord making a way through the sea and a path through mighty waters, paralleling the Exodus event and emphasizing God's ability to create impossible passages for His people.
Nehemiah 9:11Nehemiah recalls God dividing the sea for His people to pass through on dry ground, reinforcing the Exodus narrative as a foundational event of deliverance and God's faithfulness to His covenant.
1 Corinthians 10:1-2Paul uses the Exodus event, including the passage through the sea, as an example for believers, showing how God's miraculous deliverance then has spiritual implications for Christians today.
cambridgeExodus 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."
21, 22 . The sea is divided; and the Israelites enter into it. 21a (P). stretched out his hand ] v. 16a. 21b (J). to go back] The Heb. is simply, to go along. east wind ] In our ignorance of the exact topography of the place at which the crossing took place, it is difficult to be certain what precisely…
jfbExodus 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."
- Moses stretched out his hand, &c.—The waving of the rod was of great importance on this occasion to give public attestation in the presence of the assembled Israelites, both to the character of Moses and the divine mission with which he was charged.the Lord caused … a strong east wind all that nigh…
It's easy to focus on the dramatic parting of the waters, but notice how the text emphasizes the wind. The strong east wind isn't just a passive element; it's the active force God uses, working all night to drive the sea back and make the ground dry. This reveals that even the most powerful displays of God's might often involve His masterful orchestration of natural elements, not just a pure, unassisted supernatural act.
Just moments before, the Israelites had been trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and an impassable sea, their cries of panic filling the air. Now, with Moses stretching out his hand, God unleashes a powerful east wind that blows all night, pushing the waters back and creating a dry path. This miraculous division of the sea and the solid ground beneath their feet allows the entire Israelite nation to cross to safety.
Just moments before, the Israelites had been trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and an impassable sea, their cries of panic filling the air. Now, with Moses stretching out his hand, God unleashes a powerful east wind that blows all night, pushing the waters back and creating a dry path. This miraculous division of the sea and the solid ground beneath their feet allows the entire Israelite nation to cross to safety.
"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided." — It's easy to focus on the dramatic parting of the waters, but notice how the text emphasizes the wind. The strong east wind isn't just a passive element; it's the active force God uses, working all…
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Last reviewed October 2026