He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just describe water parting; it portrays it as a powerful, piled-up "heap." This emphasizes not just the path created, but the sheer, controlled force holding back a destructive deluge, highlighting God's immense power over chaos.
He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm recounts Israel's history, starting not with Egypt, but with the dramatic parting of the Red Sea. The psalmist uses these powerful events, like the waters standing "like a heap," to remind the people of God's mighty acts, contrasting them with Israel's frequent forgetfulness and disobedience throughout their journey. The psalm's purpose is to teach the current generation by holding up the past as a mirror, highlighting God's faithfulness despite their ancestors' unfaithfulness.
Why does this psalm even talk about the Exodus? It’s not just a history lesson; it’s a living testimony passed down to shape us.
The Past as a Mirror
Psalm 78 is a powerful "maschil," a teaching psalm. The psalmist isn't just recounting events; he's holding up Israel's history, especially the Exodus, as a mirror for his generation and ours. He wants us to see the amazing faithfulness of God and the consistent unfaithfulness of His people.
Lessons from the Wilderness
Instead of starting with the plagues in Egypt, the psalm jumps right to the Red Sea crossing. This might seem out of order, but the psalmist wants to focus on the incredible way God provided and protected Israel in the wilderness. It's a story filled with both "miracles of mercy" and "continuous ingratitude."
Passing Down God's Wonders
The whole point is to pass down the "mighty deeds of God" from parents to children. This history isn't just for knowing; it's for learning, for correction, and for encouragement. It’s about understanding the deep ties that bind generations through God's actions.
Imagine the scene: walls of water towering on either side, a path laid bare through the sea. This wasn't just a natural event; it was a divine spectacle.
The Sea Divided
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The text vividly describes God "dividing the sea." This wasn't a gentle parting; the Hebrew word suggests a violent cleaving or splitting. It highlights the immense power God wielded to create a path where none existed.
Waters Like a Heap
And the waters "stand like a heap" – piled up, solid, almost like walls. This imagery conveys the astonishing stability of the divided waters, providing a secure passage for the Israelites. It wasn't just a fleeting gap; it was a sustained miracle.
More Than Just Escape
This event was a profound act of salvation, a demonstration of God's power over the natural world for His people's deliverance. It served as a powerful symbol of God's ability to overcome any obstacle for those who trust Him.
Understand the original words
baqa · Hebrew Verb
To make a way, part, or split something. Used in a theological sense, it describes God’s miraculous power over the elements of creation, establishing a path for His people where none existed.
ned · Hebrew Noun
A mass of water or fluid piled up; in the context of the Red Sea, it refers to the miraculous barrier created by God that stood as a solid wall, allowing for the dry passage of the Israelites.
This psalm recounts God's mighty acts, beginning with the miraculous Red Sea crossing. The psalmist uses this foundational event and subsequent wilderness miracles to remind the people of God's faithfulness, contrasting it with Israel's persistent unfaithfulness throughout their history, from the exodus to the establishment of the Davidic kingdom.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites, led by Moses, flee Egypt after centuries of slavery. God miraculously parts the Red Sea, allowing them to cross on dry ground.
c. 1446 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
Following the Red Sea crossing, the Israelites journey through the Sinai desert for 40 years. During this time, God provides for their needs through miracles like water from a rock.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
After 40 years of wandering, the Israelites, now led by Joshua, begin their conquest of the Promised Land, a process that takes several years.
c. 1350 BC - 1050 BC
Period of the Judges
A turbulent era following the conquest, characterized by cycles of Israelite disobedience, oppression by neighboring nations, and deliverance through charismatic leaders called Judges.
c. 1050 BC
David Anointed King
Samuel anoints David as king, establishing a new dynasty that would bring greater stability and national unity to Israel. This marks the transition from the period of the Judges to the United Monarchy.
This passage directly recounts the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, providing the historical event that Psalm 78:13 is reflecting upon and celebrating.
Joshua 3:13-16This passage parallels the parting of the Red Sea with the crossing of the Jordan River, showing a recurring theme of God's power to divide waters for His people's deliverance.
Nehemiah 9:11This verse is part of a prayer of confession and remembrance, explicitly mentioning God dividing the sea before Israel, highlighting how this foundational event was remembered by later generations.
1 Corinthians 10:1-2The Apostle Paul uses the Israelites' passage through the Red Sea as a spiritual parallel to Christian baptism, showing the deep theological significance of this event beyond its historical context.
Psalm 114:3This psalm poetically describes the Red Sea's reaction to God's presence, echoing the imagery of Psalm 78:13 and emphasizing the awe-inspiring power of God over creation.
clarkePsalms 78:13: "He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap."
He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through - The reader is requested to consult the notes on the parallel passages marked in the margin on this verse and Psalm 78:14-17 , etc., where all these miracles are largely explained.
cambridgePsalms 78:13: "He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap."
- He divided the sea ] Lit. clave, as in Psalm 78:15 ; the word which is used in Exodus 14:16 ; Isaiah 63:12 ; Nehemiah 9:11 . as an heap ] Cp. Exodus 15:8 ; Psalm 33:7 .
The verse doesn't just describe water parting; it portrays it as a powerful, piled-up "heap." This emphasizes not just the path created, but the sheer, controlled force holding back a destructive deluge, highlighting God's immense power over chaos.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, starting not with Egypt, but with the dramatic parting of the Red Sea. The psalmist uses these powerful events, like the waters standing "like a heap," to remind the people of God's mighty acts, contrasting them with Israel's frequent forgetfulness and disobedience throughout their journey. The psalm's purpose is to teach the current generation by holding up the past as a mirror, highlighting God's faithfulness despite their ancestors' unfaithfulness.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, starting not with Egypt, but with the dramatic parting of the Red Sea. The psalmist uses these powerful events, like the waters standing "like a heap," to remind the people of God's mighty acts, contrasting them with Israel's frequent forgetfulness and disobedience throughout their journey. The psalm's purpose is to teach the current generation by holding up the past as a mirror, highlighting God's faithfulness despite their ancestors' unfaithfulness.
"He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap." — The verse doesn't just describe water parting; it portrays it as a powerful, piled-up "heap." This emphasizes not just the path created, but the sheer, controlled force holding back a destructive del…
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Last reviewed October 2026