Exodus 14:21-22
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The text doesn't just say the waters split; it specifies the Lord drove them back with a "strong east wind all night." This detail is crucial because it highlights God using natural forces, even a wind, as instruments in His miraculous work, showing His power over all of creation.
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. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Israelites, trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and the impassable sea, are in a desperate situation. Pharaoh, hardened in his resolve, has just resumed his pursuit, believing Israel is lost. This verse marks the miraculous moment God intervenes through Moses, parting the waters with a strong east wind to create a dry path for Israel to escape.
Moses lifts his hand, and the sea obeys. But was it just Moses's gesture, or something more?
The narrative in Exodus 14:21 presents a powerful image: Moses stretching out his hand over the sea. This action, guided by God's command, wasn't just a symbolic gesture; it was the signal for God's intervention.
Imagine walking where water once raged. How did the sea transform into solid ground?
The miracle at the Red Sea wasn't just about the waters parting; it was about creating a safe, traversable path for God's people.
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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.
chomah · Hebrew Noun
A physical or spiritual barrier created by divine power to provide protection or containment, often symbolizing God's active defense of His people.
This event wasn't just a natural phenomenon; it was a divinely orchestrated display of power meant to utterly defeat Israel's oppressors and instill awe and trust in God among His newly freed people.
c. 1446 BC
Israelite Exodus from Egypt
Following God's deliverance through the Ten Plagues, the Israelites, led by Moses, leave Egypt after centuries of bondage. Pharaoh, initially allowing them to go, soon regrets this decision.
c. 1446 BC
Pharaoh Pursues Israel
Pharaoh, with his chariots and army, mobilizes to chase after the Israelites, who are encamped by the sea at Pi-hahiroth. This pursuit sets the stage for the miraculous intervention.
c. 1446 BC
Divine Guidance and Separation
The pillar of cloud and fire, which guided Israel, moves to stand behind them, separating them from the pursuing Egyptians and providing light for the Israelites while plunging the Egyptians into darkness.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Parting of the Sea
Moses, by God's command, stretches out his hand over the Red Sea. A strong east wind blows all night, driving the waters back and creating a dry path for the Israelites to cross.
c. 1446 BC
Destruction of the Egyptian Army
As the Israelites complete their crossing, the Egyptian army, pursuing them, is engulfed when the waters return. This decisive event ensures Israel's freedom and demonstrates God's power.
c. 1446 BC
Song of Deliverance
Following the miraculous crossing and destruction of Pharaoh's army, Moses and the people of Israel sing a song of praise and victory to the Lord, celebrating their salvation.
This psalm recounts the crossing of the Red Sea, describing how the waters saw God and trembled, and the clouds poured out water, mirroring the miraculous power displayed in Exodus 14:21.
Isaiah 43:2This prophecy speaks of God causing people to pass through waters and rivers without being swept away, directly referencing the Red Sea crossing as a future fulfillment of His power and protection.
Nehemiah 9:11This passage specifically recalls God dividing the sea for His people to pass through on dry ground, highlighting the Exodus event as a foundational demonstration of God's mighty acts for Israel.
1 Corinthians 10:1-2The Apostle Paul explicitly connects the Israelites' passage through the sea to baptism, emphasizing that this miraculous event was a spiritual signpost pointing to God's saving work through Christ.
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…
The text doesn't just say the waters split; it specifies the Lord drove them back with a "strong east wind all night." This detail is crucial because it highlights God using natural forces, even a wind, as instruments in His miraculous work, showing His power over all of creation.
The Israelites, trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and the impassable sea, are in a desperate situation. Pharaoh, hardened in his resolve, has just resumed his pursuit, believing Israel is lost. This verse marks the miraculous moment God intervenes through Moses, parting the waters with a strong east wind to create a dry path for Israel to escape.
The Israelites, trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and the impassable sea, are in a desperate situation. Pharaoh, hardened in his resolve, has just resumed his pursuit, believing Israel is lost. This verse marks the miraculous moment God intervenes through Moses, parting the waters with a strong east wind to create a dry path for Israel to escape.
"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. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground,…" — The text doesn't just say the waters split; it specifies the Lord drove them back with a "strong east wind all night." This detail is crucial because it highlights God using natural forces, even a wi…
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Last reviewed October 2026
