Psalm 106:9-12
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The text personifies the sea, describing God's "rebuke" against it as if it were a disobedient creature, highlighting God's absolute authority over creation. This isn't just a natural event; it's a divine confrontation where the very elements yield to God's command, allowing His people to pass "as through a desert"—a dry, safe path where moments before there was an impassable, watery abyss.
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert. So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. Then they believed his words; they sang his praise.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist is recalling the Israelites' history of rebellion and God's faithfulness, starting with their ancestors' ungratefulness even after being miraculously delivered from Egypt. This verse highlights God's powerful intervention at the Red Sea, where He "rebuked" the waters, causing them to part and create a dry path for His people to escape the pursuing Egyptians. This act of divine power and deliverance sets the stage for God's continued guidance and provision for Israel in the wilderness that followed.
Have you ever felt like the world is working against you? The Psalmist reminds us that the very elements can be commanded by God.
This verse uses powerful language to describe God's power over creation. When it says God 'rebuked' the Red Sea, it's not just a gentle suggestion. Think of a sharp, authoritative command given to a disobedient child or a raging storm being silenced. The sea, a force often depicted as wild and untamable, immediately responded to God's voice.
This isn't just a historical event; it's a theological declaration. It shows that the God of Israel is sovereign over all of creation. The natural world isn't an independent power; it's subject to its Creator. This 'rebuke' led to a miraculous drying up of the sea, creating a pathway where none existed.
Imagine leading a massive group of people, with enemies at your back and a vast sea before you. How could this possibly end well?
The miracle at the Red Sea wasn't just about parting waters; it was about transforming a scene of potential destruction into a highway of salvation. The 'depths' that would have swallowed them whole became a dry, walkable path, 'as through a desert' or a vast, open plain.
This wasn't a rough, dangerous trek. The imagery suggests a smooth, clear passage, making the impossible possible. God didn't just remove the obstacle; He made the path easy and secure, ensuring His people's safety. This incredible act highlights God's ability to protect His own, even in the most extreme circumstances, turning a moment of terror into a testament to His faithfulness.
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Understand the original words
ga'al · Hebrew Verb
The act of buying back or delivering someone from slavery, debt, or captivity. Biblically, it emphasizes the cost of the deliverance and the transition from bondage to freedom by God's intervention.
tsarar · Hebrew Noun
Refers to those who oppose God and His people, often acting as enemies of the covenant. In Scripture, these are often judged by God for their hostility toward the righteous.
aman · Hebrew Verb
To have faith in, rely upon, or trust in the truthfulness of God's promise. In the Old Testament, it signifies entering into a firm, secure relationship with God based on His character.
This psalm recalls the foundational event of Israel's liberation from Egypt. The miraculous parting of the Red Sea wasn't just a physical crossing; it was a dramatic demonstration of God's power and faithfulness, setting the stage for the entire nation's existence.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Exodus from Egypt
After centuries of slavery, the Israelites, led by Moses, depart from Egypt. This marks the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Parting of the Red Sea
Pursued by the Egyptian army, God miraculously parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground. The waters then close, drowning the pursuing Egyptians.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
Following the Red Sea crossing, the Israelites spend 40 years wandering in the Sinai desert, receiving provisions and guidance from God.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
After the death of Moses, Joshua leads the Israelites into the Promised Land, beginning a lengthy period of conquest and settlement.
Period of the Judges (c. 1400-1050 BC)
Cycle of Disobedience and Deliverance
This era is marked by cycles of Israelite disobedience to God, followed by oppression by enemies and subsequent deliverance through judges appointed by God.
c. 1050 BC
Establishment of the Monarchy
The period of judges ends with the anointing of Saul as the first king, establishing a monarchy in Israel.
This passage provides the direct narrative account of God 'rebuking' the Red Sea, showing how His power parted the waters to create a dry path for the Israelites, just as Psalm 106:9 poetically describes.
Isaiah 50:2This verse uses similar language, stating God can 'rebuke' the sea and make rivers a 'wilderness,' echoing the psalmist's powerful imagery of divine control over nature.
Isaiah 63:12-13This passage alludes to the Red Sea crossing, describing God leading His people 'through the deeps' like a horse in the wilderness, directly paralleling the simile in Psalm 106:9.
Psalm 77:19-20This psalm also recounts the Exodus, mentioning God's path through the sea and His guidance of His people like a flock, reinforcing the theme of God's providential care during their miraculous journey.
1 Corinthians 10:1-2The Apostle Paul explicitly connects the Israelites' passage through the Red Sea and their subsequent journey to their being 'baptized into Moses,' highlighting the spiritual significance and enduring lesson of this event for believers.
wesleyPsalms 106:9: "He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness."
106:9 Led them - As securely as if they had walked upon the dry land.
clarkePsalms 106:9: "He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness."
He rebuked the Red Sea - In the descriptions of the psalmist every thing has life. The sea is an animated being, behaves itself proudly, is rebuked, and retires in confusion.
The text personifies the sea, describing God's "rebuke" against it as if it were a disobedient creature, highlighting God's absolute authority over creation. This isn't just a natural event; it's a divine confrontation where the very elements yield to God's command, allowing His people to pass "as through a desert"—a dry, safe path where moments before there was an impassable, watery abyss.
The Psalmist is recalling the Israelites' history of rebellion and God's faithfulness, starting with their ancestors' ungratefulness even after being miraculously delivered from Egypt. This verse highlights God's powerful intervention at the Red Sea, where He "rebuked" the waters, causing them to part and create a dry path for His people to escape the pursuing Egyptians. This act of divine power and deliverance sets the stage for God's continued guidance and provision for Israel in the wilderness that followed.
The Psalmist is recalling the Israelites' history of rebellion and God's faithfulness, starting with their ancestors' ungratefulness even after being miraculously delivered from Egypt. This verse highlights God's powerful intervention at the Red Sea, where He "rebuked" the waters, causing them to part and create a dry path for His people to escape the pursuing Egyptians. This act of divine power and deliverance sets the stage for God's continued guidance and provision for Israel in the wilderness that followed.
"He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert. So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. And the waters covered their adversar…" — The text personifies the sea, describing God's "rebuke" against it as if it were a disobedient creature, highlighting God's absolute authority over creation. This isn't just a natural event; it's a d…
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Last reviewed October 2026
