And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into mighty waters.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights the stark contrast between God's miraculous deliverance and the utter, final destruction of His enemies. The "stone into mighty waters" imagery, drawn from the song of Moses, emphasizes not just their sinking, but their complete and irreversible disappearance, serving as a potent symbol of God's decisive power.
And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into mighty waters.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a lengthy prayer of confession and remembrance by the Levites during a solemn assembly in Jerusalem. As they recall God's faithfulness and their people's repeated disobedience, they specifically recount the miraculous Exodus from Egypt. The prayer emphasizes God's powerful intervention to save Israel and utterly destroy their Egyptian pursuers, drawing directly from the Song of Moses in Exodus.
Have you ever noticed how certain Bible stories just stick with you? The story of the Israelites escaping Egypt is one of them. But why does Nehemiah bring it up here, and what makes this telling so powerful?
This prayer in Nehemiah isn't just a random retelling of history. It's deeply rooted in the Exodus narrative, specifically referencing the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. Notice how the language mirrors the original accounts in Exodus 14 and 15. This isn't accidental.
The image of Egyptians sinking 'as a stone into mighty waters' is vivid and final. What does this powerful metaphor teach us about God’s justice and His relationship with His enemies?
This verse uses a striking simile to illustrate God's decisive action against the Egyptians. It’s not just about a passive sinking; it’s about God’s active, powerful intervention.
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Understand the original words
yam · Hebrew Noun
A large body of salt water, often used in Scripture as a symbol of chaos, danger, or the boundaries of the created order over which God exercises absolute dominion.
Nehemiah's prayer draws directly from the foundational Exodus narrative, reminding the post-exilic community that God's power to deliver and judge, displayed at the Red Sea, is the same power that shapes their present and future.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites, after centuries of slavery in Egypt, were led by Moses in a mass exodus, marking a pivotal moment of liberation.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Parting of the Red Sea
God miraculously parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape Pharaoh's pursuing army, which was then drowned.
c. 1446 BC
Song of Moses
Following their deliverance at the Red Sea, Moses and the Israelites sang a powerful song of praise and remembrance, recounting God's mighty acts.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by the Babylonians, and many Judeans were exiled, leading to a period of national crisis and reflection.
c. 444 BC
Rebuilding of Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah led the post-exilic community in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, a time of both renewed hope and ongoing challenges from adversaries.
This is the foundational event described in Nehemiah, showing God's direct intervention to save His people by parting the Red Sea and allowing them to cross on dry ground.
Exodus 15:4-5The 'Song of Moses' poetically echoes the imagery used in Nehemiah, specifically the casting of Pharaoh's chariots and army into the sea, sinking like a stone into deep waters.
Psalm 77:16-20This psalm recounts the Red Sea crossing, emphasizing God's powerful might displayed in the waters, further highlighting the miraculous nature of the event Nehemiah recalls.
Isaiah 43:16This prophetic passage speaks of God making a way through the sea again, referencing the Exodus event and showing God's consistent power to create paths where none exist.
ellicottNehemiah 9:11: "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."
(11) As a stone into the mighty waters —Compare the Song of Moses, and mark in the Hebrew both the identity and the variation.
cambridgeNehemiah 9:11: "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."
11 . divide … the dry land] The description is based on Exodus 14:21-22 ; Exodus 15:19 . The verbal correspondence is striking. their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps ] R.V. their pursuers thou didst cast into the depths . The poetical language of the latter part of the verse is…
This verse highlights the stark contrast between God's miraculous deliverance and the utter, final destruction of His enemies. The "stone into mighty waters" imagery, drawn from the song of Moses, emphasizes not just their sinking, but their complete and irreversible disappearance, serving as a potent symbol of God's decisive power.
This verse is part of a lengthy prayer of confession and remembrance by the Levites during a solemn assembly in Jerusalem. As they recall God's faithfulness and their people's repeated disobedience, they specifically recount the miraculous Exodus from Egypt. The prayer emphasizes God's powerful intervention to save Israel and utterly destroy their Egyptian pursuers, drawing directly from the Song of Moses in Exodus.
This verse is part of a lengthy prayer of confession and remembrance by the Levites during a solemn assembly in Jerusalem. As they recall God's faithfulness and their people's repeated disobedience, they specifically recount the miraculous Exodus from Egypt. The prayer emphasizes God's powerful intervention to save Israel and utterly destroy their Egyptian pursuers, drawing directly from the Song of Moses in Exodus.
"And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into mighty waters." — This verse highlights the stark contrast between God's miraculous deliverance and the utter, final destruction of His enemies. The "stone into mighty waters" imagery, drawn from the song of Moses, em…
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Last reviewed October 2026