The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The vivid image of sinking like a stone isn't just about weight; it emphasizes the complete and utter lack of struggle or resistance. These weren't just defeated soldiers; they were instantaneously swallowed by the sea, leaving no trace of their power or presence. This highlights God's absolute authority, not just to overpower, but to utterly erase those who oppose Him.
The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a triumphant song sung by Moses and the Israelites immediately after God’s miraculous deliverance from Pharaoh’s pursuing army at the Red Sea. The song recounts the Egyptians’ utter destruction, emphasizing God’s power and faithfulness. This powerful imagery of sinking like a stone contrasts sharply with the glorious victory and salvation the Israelites have just experienced.
What does it mean for something to sink like a stone? It's not just falling, it's disappearing without a trace.
In this powerful song, Moses describes the complete destruction of Pharaoh's army.
Sunk Without a Trace
The imagery of sinking 'like a stone' emphasizes the absolute finality of their fate. Stones don't float; they go straight to the bottom, never to be seen again.
Irrecoverable Loss
This wasn't just a defeat; it was total annihilation. The 'depths' (a poetic word for the deep sea) covered them, signifying that God's judgment removed them entirely from the land of the living and from any hope of return. This picture serves as a stark reminder of the irreversible consequences of opposing God.
The Red Sea was a barrier, but in God's hands, it became a weapon. How does this verse show God's authority?
This verse isn't just about a military defeat; it's a profound declaration of God's sovereignty over the physical world.
The Sea as an Instrument
God used the very waters that Israel feared as the means of their salvation and their enemies' destruction. The 'depths' that threatened Israel were unleashed by God to engulf the Egyptians.
Divine Authority
Pharaoh and his army were powerful, but against God, they were helpless. Their descent like stones illustrates that no earthly power can withstand the might of the Creator. The natural world itself bows to His command.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
tehom · Hebrew Noun
Deep, tumultuous waters or the abyss, often representing chaos or death, which are ultimately under God’s sovereign control.
This verse vividly captures the immediate aftermath of the Red Sea crossing, a pivotal moment where God decisively judged Israel's oppressors. The imagery of sinking like a stone emphasizes the suddenness and completeness of their destruction, serving as a powerful testament to God's power and deliverance.
~1446 BC
Israelites Depart Egypt
Following God's intervention through the ten plagues, the Israelites, led by Moses, leave Egypt after centuries of slavery. Pharaoh's heart is hardened, and he pursues them.
~1446 BC— this verse
Crossing of the Red Sea
God miraculously parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground. Pharaoh and his pursuing army attempt to follow.
~1446 BC
Destruction of Pharaoh's Army
As the Israelites complete their crossing, God causes the waters to return, drowning Pharaoh, his chariots, his horses, and his entire army, which is described poetically as sinking like a stone.
~1446 BC
Song of Moses
In immediate response to their miraculous deliverance and the enemy's destruction, Moses and the Israelites sing a triumphant song of praise to God, recounting His mighty acts.
This passage directly alludes to Exodus 15:5, referencing God's powerful parting of the Red Sea and his enemies sinking like stones, highlighting the consistent theme of God's mighty deliverance.
Psalm 106:9This Psalm reflects on God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, mentioning how he led them through the sea and that Pharaoh's forces 'sank like stones in the mighty waters,' echoing the imagery of complete destruction.
Isaiah 63:13This verse speaks of God leading his people through the depths like a horse in the desert, a powerful image that connects to the Red Sea crossing and suggests God's ability to control even the most overwhelming forces of nature for His people's salvation.
Revelation 18:21This passage uses the imagery of a mighty angel casting a great millstone into the sea to signify Babylon's irreversible destruction, drawing a parallel to how the Egyptians sank like stones, illustrating complete and final ruin for God's enemies.
cambridgeExodus 15:5: "The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone."
5 . The deeps ] chiefly a poet. word: Psalm 77:16 ; Psalm 106:9 , Isaiah 63:13 (all with reference to the passage of Red Sea); and elsewhere. did cover them ] The tense used represents the action vividly as it was taking place, something in the manner of the Greek imperfect. Song of Solomon vv6, 7. It cannot be reproduced idiomatically in English. ‘Cover’ is probably meant by the Revisers to be a historical prese…
gillExodus 15:5: "The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone."
The depths have covered them,.... The depths of the sea covered Pharaoh and his host, so as to be seen no more; and in like manner will mystical Babylon, or antichrist, be destroyed, and be no more found and seen; as likewise the sins of God's people, being cast into the depths of the sea, and covered with the blood of Christ, will be seen no more; when they are sought for, they shall not be found: they sunk into…
The vivid image of sinking like a stone isn't just about weight; it emphasizes the complete and utter lack of struggle or resistance. These weren't just defeated soldiers; they were instantaneously swallowed by the sea, leaving no trace of their power or presence. This highlights God's absolute authority, not just to overpower, but to utterly erase those who oppose Him.
This verse is part of a triumphant song sung by Moses and the Israelites immediately after God’s miraculous deliverance from Pharaoh’s pursuing army at the Red Sea. The song recounts the Egyptians’ utter destruction, emphasizing God’s power and faithfulness. This powerful imagery of sinking like a stone contrasts sharply with the glorious victory and salvation the Israelites have just experienced.
This verse is part of a triumphant song sung by Moses and the Israelites immediately after God’s miraculous deliverance from Pharaoh’s pursuing army at the Red Sea. The song recounts the Egyptians’ utter destruction, emphasizing God’s power and faithfulness. This powerful imagery of sinking like a stone contrasts sharply with the glorious victory and salvation the Israelites have just experienced.
"The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone." — The vivid image of sinking like a stone isn't just about weight; it emphasizes the complete and utter lack of struggle or resistance. These weren't just defeated soldiers; they were instantaneously s…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026