Exodus 14 10

Exodus 14:10 kjv

And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.

Exodus 14:10 nkjv

And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD.

Exodus 14:10 niv

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD.

Exodus 14:10 esv

When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD.

Exodus 14:10 nlt

As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the LORD,

Exodus 14 verses

Exodus 14 10 Meaning

Exodus 14:10 describes the immediate reaction of the Israelites when they perceived the approaching Egyptian army after their liberation. It highlights their profound fear and desperation upon realizing their vulnerable position, leading them to cry out to the Lord. This pivotal moment underscores the fragility of human faith in the face of overwhelming danger and sets the stage for God's magnificent display of power and salvation.

Exodus 14 10 Context

Chapter 14 of Exodus follows Israel's dramatic liberation from slavery in Egypt after the tenth plague and their rapid departure. God, not taking them directly via the shorter Philistine route (Exod 13:17-18), instead intentionally leads them to a position that appears to be a dead end – trapped between the sea and the desert. This strategic positioning, revealed in Exodus 14:1-4, was designed by God to draw Pharaoh into a final, decisive confrontation, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over Egypt and its deities. Pharaoh, regretting letting Israel go, mobilized his elite chariot force to recapture them. Verse 10 captures the precise moment when the seemingly secure, newly-freed Israelites confront this terrifying reality, moving from a position of relative safety to perceived inescapable doom, immediately following their triumphant exit from Egypt.

Exodus 14 10 Word analysis

• When Pharaoh drew near (וְפַרְעֹה הִקְרִיב, ve-Pharaoh hikriv): "drew near" (Qarav) implies more than just physical approach; it signifies an ominous, hostile advance. This was Pharaoh, the one responsible for their slavery and suffering, now appearing with military might, reasserting his tyranny. It represents the re-emergence of their greatest oppressor.
• the people of Israel lifted up their eyes (וַיִּשְׂאוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־עֵינֵיהֶם, vayyis'u b'nei-Yisra'el et-'eineyhem): This is a common biblical idiom meaning "to look up" or "to become aware." It implies a sudden, often startling, perception of something. In this context, it signals their shock and the dawning realization of their peril.
• and behold (וְהִנֵּה, ve-hineh): An interjection that emphasizes suddenness, surprise, or the immediate apprehension of a significant sight. It draws attention to the abrupt revelation of their dire situation.
• the Egyptians were marching after them (מִצְרַיִם נֹסֵעַ אַחֲרֵיהֶם, Mitsrayim nose'a achareihem): This clarifies what they saw. It wasn't just Pharaoh, but the full might of Egypt's military pursuing them. "Marching after" denotes the relentless pursuit, highlighting the sense of being hunted down.
• and they were greatly afraid (וַיִּירְאוּ מְאֹד, vayyir'u m'od): Yare' means to fear or be terrified, and me'od intensifies it to "very much" or "greatly." This indicates an overwhelming, paralyzing terror that gripped the entire nation. It's a primal, natural human response to existential threat.
• And the people of Israel cried out (וַיִּצְעֲקוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, vayyis'aku b'nei Yisra'el): The verb tsa'aq signifies a loud cry, a shout of distress, an appeal for help. This is the spontaneous vocalization of their terror and despair. It contrasts sharply with the earlier jubilation of their liberation.
• to the Lord (אֶל־יְהוָה, el Adonai): Crucially, their cry was directed to Yahweh, the God who had just delivered them. Despite their overwhelming fear and subsequent complaints (in the following verses), their initial, instinctive outcry was towards their God, acknowledging His authority and potential to save. This also recalls their earlier cries in Egypt that God had heard (Exod 2:23-24).

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes: This sets up the immediate cause and effect. Pharaoh's movement triggers Israel's sudden realization. The external threat directly impacts their internal perception.
• and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they were greatly afraid: This phrase vividly describes the terrifying discovery and its immediate emotional impact. The visual confirmation of their pursuers leads directly to overwhelming panic. The sequence portrays human vulnerability when confronted with a seemingly insurmountable enemy.
• And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord: Despite their terror and impending panic (as seen in the subsequent verses of murmuring), this initial response of crying out to the Lord is significant. It signifies a natural, even instinctive, turning to their Deliverer, however mixed their faith might be. It reflects an underlying awareness, perhaps subconscious, of His ultimate power and previous demonstrations of His ability to save.

Exodus 14 10 Bonus section

The incident described in Exodus 14:10, and the subsequent divine intervention at the Red Sea, serves as a powerful archetype for salvation and redemption throughout the Bible. The state of being "hemmed in" by insurmountable enemies or impossible circumstances, where human strength and wisdom are futile, becomes a recurring theme illustrating the necessity of divine action. Spiritually, Pharaoh and his army represent the relentless pursuit of sin and spiritual bondage. Just as Israel could not save themselves from the Egyptians, humanity cannot save itself from sin's power and its consequences. The cry to the Lord, though mixed with fear, foreshadows the recognition of one's utter inability to deliver oneself and the subsequent need for Christ's atoning work on the cross, which decisively defeats spiritual enemies and opens the path to true freedom, a "Red Sea experience" for the soul. This event demonstrates God's consistent methodology of testing and ultimately vindicating His Name through dramatic rescues, often putting His people in situations where His glory is maximally displayed.

Exodus 14 10 Commentary

Exodus 14:10 marks a dramatic pivot in Israel's journey from celebration to despair. Having just witnessed God's mighty plagues and experiencing liberation, the sight of Pharaoh's approaching army stripped away their fleeting confidence, replacing it with raw, primal fear. This sudden panic underscores humanity's inherent weakness and propensity to forget God's recent miracles when faced with immediate, tangible threats. Their initial cry "to the Lord" suggests an instinctual turn to their powerful Deliverer, a testament to God's self-revelation. Yet, the subsequent verses quickly reveal the underlying doubt and murmuring that accompany this cry, highlighting that fear, though it may provoke a cry to God, does not automatically equate to robust faith or trust in His specific plan. This verse encapsulates the theological truth that God often allows His people to face seemingly insurmountable odds to reveal His unmatched power, deepen their dependence, and expose His glory as the sole Rescuer. It portrays a critical moment where human inadequacy meets divine supremacy, preparing the way for one of the Bible's most iconic displays of salvation.