Psalm 78:13-14
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This verse doesn't just describe the parting of the Red Sea as a powerful display, but as a deliberate making of the waters to "stand like a heap." This imagery emphasizes God's absolute control, transforming the chaos of the sea into solid, monumental walls, a testament to His power that was as structured as it was miraculous.
He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a call to remember and teach the history of God's mighty deeds for Israel, highlighting their persistent unfaithfulness in response to His faithfulness. The narrative here focuses on the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, a pivotal moment of deliverance, immediately following God's wonders in Egypt and preceding further accounts of His provision and Israel's subsequent sin during their wilderness journey.
Have you ever faced a situation that seemed utterly impossible to overcome? The psalmist reminds us of a time when God’s people did, and He made a way where there was no way.
Psalm 78 is a song meant to teach and remind future generations about God's faithfulness. It recounts the great things God did for Israel, starting with their escape from Egypt.
A Miraculous Escape
The verse focuses on one of the most astounding miracles: the parting of the Red Sea. Imagine the scene: Israel, trapped between the vast sea and the pursuing Egyptian army. It’s a moment of sheer terror.
But God doesn't just offer a way out; He creates one. The sea doesn't just part; it's divided. The waters, which would normally crush them, are made to stand up like a solid wall, a "heap" on either side. This wasn't a gentle parting; it was a powerful, dramatic intervention.
This event wasn't just about survival; it was a divine declaration. God was showing His power over nature and His commitment to His people.
Why does the Bible spend so much time recounting ancient history? It's more than just stories; it's a powerful tool for understanding God and ourselves today.
Psalm 78 is explicitly called a "Maschil," a teaching psalm. The psalmist's goal is not just to retell history but to draw out its spiritual lessons for his audience.
Learning from the Past
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The psalm emphasizes that the past is meant to be a mirror. God's mighty acts, like the parting of the Red Sea, are not just for the generation that experienced them. They are to be passed down, generation after generation.
This history serves several purposes:
The psalmist deliberately contrasts God's consistent faithfulness with Israel's consistent forgetfulness and rebellion. This contrast is crucial for the listener to understand the gravity of their own choices.
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.
anan · Hebrew Noun
A visible manifestation of God’s presence and guidance. In the wilderness, it served as both a protective covering during the day and a directional sign for the nation of Israel.
Psalm 78 recounts Israel's history as a lesson for future generations, highlighting God's mighty acts like the Red Sea crossing as foundational proofs of His power and faithfulness, contrasted with Israel's persistent unfaithfulness.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Exodus from Egypt
Following a series of plagues, God miraculously led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. This event marked their liberation and the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC
Crossing the Red Sea
As the Egyptian army pursued them, God parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground. The waters then returned, drowning the pursuing Egyptians.
c. 1446 BC
Journey Through the Wilderness
After the Red Sea crossing, the Israelites began their 40-year journey through the Sinai wilderness, facing challenges of sustenance and guidance.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Water from the Rock
During their wilderness wanderings, the Israelites repeatedly grumbled about thirst. God miraculously provided water from a rock at Horeb and later at Kadesh.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
After 40 years of wandering, the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, began the conquest of the Promised Land, driving out its inhabitants.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
King David united the tribes of Israel and established Jerusalem as the capital, marking a period of national strength and centralized worship.
This passage directly describes the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, with the waters standing up on either side, mirroring the poetic imagery in Psalms 78:13.
Joshua 3:13-16This describes the Israelites crossing the Jordan River, where the waters also stood still like a heap, demonstrating God's consistent power to divide waters for His people's passage.
Nehemiah 9:11This passage recounts the Exodus event, explicitly mentioning God dividing the sea and enabling His people to cross through its depths on dry ground, echoing the psalmist's powerful description.
Psalm 105:37This verse, also recounting Israel's history, highlights God bringing them out of Egypt with silver and gold, and 'shutting up' the Egyptians in the sea, providing a broader context for the miracle of the divided sea.
Isaiah 63:12This prophetic passage refers back to the Exodus, speaking of God leading His people by His glorious arm through the sea, reinforcing the divine power and purpose behind the parting of the waters.
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 .
This verse doesn't just describe the parting of the Red Sea as a powerful display, but as a deliberate making of the waters to "stand like a heap." This imagery emphasizes God's absolute control, transforming the chaos of the sea into solid, monumental walls, a testament to His power that was as structured as it was miraculous.
This psalm is a call to remember and teach the history of God's mighty deeds for Israel, highlighting their persistent unfaithfulness in response to His faithfulness. The narrative here focuses on the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, a pivotal moment of deliverance, immediately following God's wonders in Egypt and preceding further accounts of His provision and Israel's subsequent sin during their wilderness journey.
This psalm is a call to remember and teach the history of God's mighty deeds for Israel, highlighting their persistent unfaithfulness in response to His faithfulness. The narrative here focuses on the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, a pivotal moment of deliverance, immediately following God's wonders in Egypt and preceding further accounts of His provision and Israel's subsequent sin during their wilderness journey.
"He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light." — This verse doesn't just describe the parting of the Red Sea as a powerful display, but as a deliberate making of the waters to "stand like a heap." This imagery emphasizes God's absolute control, t…
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Last reviewed October 2026
