Deuteronomy 11:4 kjv
And what he did unto the army of Egypt, unto their horses, and to their chariots; how he made the water of the Red sea to overflow them as they pursued after you, and how the LORD hath destroyed them unto this day;
Deuteronomy 11:4 nkjv
what He did to the army of Egypt, to their horses and their chariots: how He made the waters of the Red Sea overflow them as they pursued you, and how the LORD has destroyed them to this day;
Deuteronomy 11:4 niv
what he did to the Egyptian army, to its horses and chariots, how he overwhelmed them with the waters of the Red Sea as they were pursuing you, and how the LORD brought lasting ruin on them.
Deuteronomy 11:4 esv
and what he did to the army of Egypt, to their horses and to their chariots, how he made the water of the Red Sea flow over them as they pursued after you, and how the LORD has destroyed them to this day,
Deuteronomy 11:4 nlt
They didn't see what the LORD did to the armies of Egypt and to their horses and chariots ? how he drowned them in the Red Sea as they were chasing you. He destroyed them, and they have not recovered to this very day!
Deuteronomy 11 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exodus Narrative (Primary Source) | ||
| Exod 14:27-28 | The waters returned... covering the chariots and the horsemen... | God's Red Sea destruction of Pharaoh's army. |
| Exod 15:1 | "I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea." | Moses' Song of triumph and God's power. |
| Exod 15:4 | "Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea..." | Reiterates Pharaoh's defeat by divine hand. |
| Remembrance and Praise (Old Testament) | ||
| Psa 78:13 | "He divided the sea and caused them to pass through... | God's past miracles for Israel. |
| Psa 106:11 | "The waters covered their adversaries; Not one of them was left." | Confirms total annihilation of enemies. |
| Psa 136:15 | "But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea..." | A call to praise God's steadfast love and deeds. |
| Neh 9:11 | "You divided the sea before them... but their pursuers You hurled into the depths..." | Prayer of national confession recalling deliverance. |
| Josh 24:6-7 | "I brought your fathers out of Egypt... The Egyptians pursued after your fathers..." | Joshua's summary of God's saving acts. |
| Isa 51:10 | "Was it not You who dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep...?" | Prophetic plea for God to repeat past acts. |
| Hab 3:8-10 | "Was Your wrath against the rivers... As You rode on Your horses..." | God's divine warrior motif; Red Sea deliverance. |
| Judg 5:21 | "The torrent of Kishon swept them away..." | Echoes divine use of nature to destroy foes. |
| God's Sovereignty Over Human Power | ||
| Psa 20:7 | "Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD our God." | Contrasts human strength with divine power. |
| Prov 21:30-31 | "There is no wisdom... against the LORD... The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD." | Human plans and strength are subject to God. |
| Zech 4:6 | "'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts." | Deliverance comes from God's spirit, not human means. |
| Lessons for Believers (New Testament) | ||
| Heb 11:29 | "By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though by dry land; and when the Egyptians tried to do the same, they were drowned." | Highlights faith and the consequences of unbelief. |
| 1 Cor 10:1-2 | "Our fathers were all under the cloud... and all passed through the sea... and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea." | Red Sea event as a type of spiritual baptism. |
| Rom 9:17 | "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU...'" | God's use of Pharaoh to display His power. |
| Rev 15:3 | "And they sang the song of Moses... saying, 'Great and marvelous are Your deeds, O Lord God, the Almighty...'" | Recalls Exodus deliverance as part of God's justice. |
| 2 Pet 2:5-6 | "if He did not spare the ancient world... and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah..." | God's past judgments serve as a warning. |
| Jud 1:5 | "...the Lord, after He saved a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe." | Connects salvation from Egypt with subsequent judgment for unbelief. |
Deuteronomy 11 verses
Deuteronomy 11 4 Meaning
Deuteronomy 11:4 serves as a foundational reminder to the Israelites of God's awe-inspiring power and faithful deliverance. It recounts His decisive act of judgment against the mighty Egyptian army, horses, and chariots, completely overwhelming them with the waters of the Red Sea. This verse emphasizes God's sovereign control over nature and human strength, permanently destroying those who pursued His people, thereby demonstrating His unmatched ability to protect and deliver.
Deuteronomy 11 4 Context
Deuteronomy 11:4 falls within Moses' second major discourse to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. This chapter functions as an exhortation to love and obey the Lord, laying out the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Verses 2-7 are critical, reminding the current generation of God's great deeds—deeds their own eyes witnessed (or at least their elders, making the experience fresh in their collective memory). Unlike their parents who died in the wilderness, this generation had "seen" God's acts of power against Egypt (v.2). Verse 4 specifically recalls the destruction of Pharaoh's army, the most spectacular and foundational act of deliverance, as tangible proof of God's power and a basis for their obedience. This historical reminder precedes the command to teach God's statutes diligently to their children.
Deuteronomy 11 4 Word analysis
- "And what He did": This phrase immediately points to divine agency and specific, historical action. The He is understood to be the Lord (Yahweh), setting the stage for recounting God's intervention. It implies the intentionality and direct involvement of the Almighty.
- "to the army of Egypt": Hebrew `חַיִל` (chayil - strength, army, wealth, power). This term emphasizes not just a collection of soldiers, but the formidable, organized military might of the leading superpower of that age. It highlights the vastness and assumed invincibility of Pharaoh's forces.
- "to their horses and their chariots": Horses (`סוּסִים` - susim) and chariots (`רֶכֶב` - rechev) represent the apex of military technology and strategic power in the ancient world, akin to modern tanks or fighter jets. Their inclusion specifically underscores the complete and overwhelming defeat of Egypt's military pride and strength, which was considered unstoppable.
- "how He overwhelmed them": Hebrew `וַיָּצֶף` (wa-yâtsêph) meaning "He flooded," "He covered," "He caused to overflow," or "He submerged." This verb paints a vivid picture of the water not merely closing but completely engulfing and sweeping away, indicating the totality of the destruction and God's absolute control over natural elements.
- "with the waters of the Red Sea": Hebrew `יַם־סוּף` (Yam Suph - Sea of Reeds, typically translated as Red Sea). This specifies the exact location of the miraculous deliverance and judgment. It’s a geographical marker of divine intervention, a place forever etched in Israel's history as a site of redemption and God's justice.
- "when they pursued you": This highlights Israel's dire situation and helplessness. They were trapped, vulnerable, and being relentlessly chased by a vengeful enemy. God's action was timely and crucial for their survival, underscoring His protective care.
- "and how the Lord has destroyed them": The repetition of "how" further emphasizes the manner of destruction and attributes it unequivocally to Yahweh (the Lord), underscoring His active role. The use of the past perfect or completed action verb form in Hebrew indicates a decisive, definitive, and finished act.
- "to this day": This crucial phrase emphasizes the permanence and lasting consequences of God's judgment. It implies that the destruction was so absolute that its effects are still observable or its memory profoundly ingrained. It serves as a continuing testimony of God's power and faithfulness.
Deuteronomy 11 4 Bonus section
The strong emphasis on Israel having "seen" these mighty acts (Deut 11:2, 7) creates a moral imperative for obedience. It’s not about blind faith but a response based on direct, undeniable evidence of God's character and power. The destruction of Pharaoh's chariots was a significant act of anti-idolatry (polemic). It dismantled the prestige and power base of the world's then-dominant empire, whose ruler was considered a living deity, and whose gods were thought to control military might and the Nile. God's act in the Red Sea completely discredited these false claims, demonstrating His unique deity. The specific mention of "horses and chariots" often recurs in the Psalms (e.g., Ps 20:7), contrasting reliance on human military strength with trust in the Lord. This historical act prefigures the ultimate deliverance God provides through His Messiah, a redemption from spiritual slavery far greater than the Exodus from Egypt.
Deuteronomy 11 4 Commentary
Deuteronomy 11:4 serves as a potent reminder of God's foundational act of salvation and judgment at the Red Sea. It is a vital component of Moses' call to Israel to remember and respond with unwavering obedience. The verse starkly contrasts human might, represented by Egypt's horses and chariots, with divine omnipotence, showcasing Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over nature and nations. The total obliteration of the pursuing Egyptian army was not just a historical event, but a continuous object lesson that demonstrated God's power to deliver His people and His justice against their oppressors. The phrase "to this day" imbues the event with timeless significance, testifying that God's actions have permanent implications and that His redemptive acts form the unshakeable basis for faith and covenant obedience. It is an argument from history: since God has proven Himself mighty to save, Israel can trust Him to fulfill His promises for blessing through obedience and judgment through disobedience.