Exodus 14:14 kjv
The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Exodus 14:14 nkjv
The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."
Exodus 14:14 niv
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Exodus 14:14 esv
The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."
Exodus 14:14 nlt
The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm."
Exodus 14 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 14:13 | "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD..." | Preceding verse, directly related context. |
| Dt 1:30 | "The LORD your God who goes before you, He will fight for you..." | God fights for Israel in future conquests. |
| Dt 3:22 | "You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself is fighting for you." | Reassurance against overwhelming enemies. |
| Jos 10:14 | "The LORD fought for Israel." | God's active role in battles (e.g., Gibeon). |
| Jos 23:10 | "One man of you puts to flight a thousand, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you..." | God empowers His people and fights their battles. |
| 1 Sam 17:47 | "For the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands." | David's confession: God wins the battles. |
| 2 Chr 20:15 | "Do not be afraid nor dismayed...for the battle is not yours, but God’s." | Direct echo: God will fight on Judah's behalf. |
| Neh 4:20 | "Our God will fight for us." | Reassurance during rebuilding and opposition. |
| Ps 3:8 | "Salvation belongs to the LORD..." | God as the ultimate source of deliverance. |
| Ps 35:1 | "Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!" | A prayer for divine intervention and warfare. |
| Ps 46:10 | "Be still, and know that I am God." | Direct parallel to "hold your peace." |
| Ps 50:15 | "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you..." | Invitation to trust God in distress. |
| Ps 76:5-6 | "The stouthearted were plundered; they sank into sleep; all the men of war were helpless..." | God defeats strong foes effortlessly. |
| Ps 145:3-4 | "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable." | Acknowledging God's incomparable power. |
| Isa 30:15 | "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." | Trusting God, not human strength, brings strength. |
| Isa 31:4-5 | "...so will the LORD of hosts come down to fight..." | God's zealous defense of His chosen. |
| Isa 59:16 | "...therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him..." | God acts alone to bring salvation. |
| Lam 3:26 | "It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." | Patience and quiet hope in God's salvation. |
| Zec 2:13 | "Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He has roused himself..." | Calls for reverence and stillness before God. |
| Mk 4:39 | "He woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!'..." | Jesus' power over chaos, echoing God's power. |
| Lk 18:27 | "What is impossible with man is possible with God." | Underscores divine capability for the impossible. |
| Rom 8:31 | "If God is for us, who can be against us?" | New Testament assurance of God's defense. |
| Php 4:6-7 | "Do not be anxious about anything...the peace of God...will guard your hearts..." | Believer's peace through trust in God. |
| Eph 6:13 | "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand...and having done all, to stand firm." | Believers stand firm, trusting in God's armor. |
| Heb 10:23 | "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." | Trusting in God's faithfulness and promises. |
Exodus 14 verses
Exodus 14 14 Meaning
Exodus 14:14 declares God's active and singular role in defending His people, requiring them to cease their human efforts and anxieties. The verse signifies that Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God, Himself will wage war on behalf of Israel, thus demonstrating His supreme power and faithfulness. The command to "hold your peace" demands complete cessation of human intervention, panic, or complaint, fostering a posture of stillness and unwavering trust as they witness God's unique and mighty deliverance. It underscores that ultimate salvation comes from God alone, not through human strength or strategy.
Exodus 14 14 Context
Exodus 14:14 occurs at a pivotal and highly dramatic moment in Israel's exodus from Egypt. Having recently left Egyptian bondage through a series of mighty plagues, the Israelites find themselves trapped between Pharaoh's pursuing army and the impassable Red Sea. Their initial elation turns to intense fear and despair, leading them to complain bitterly against Moses, lamenting their departure from Egypt and fearing certain death (Ex 14:10-12). In this context of overwhelming human impossibility and utter desperation, Moses reassures them in the immediately preceding verse (Ex 14:13) to "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD," culminating in this verse (Ex 14:14) which articulates how that salvation will come: through God's direct, personal, and sole intervention, met by the Israelites' quiet trust. This divine assurance is foundational for Israel's understanding of Yahweh as their deliverer and the ongoing pattern of divine rescue throughout their history.
Exodus 14 14 Word analysis
- The LORD (יהוה - Yahweh): The personal, covenantal name of God. This is not a generic deity but the specific God who made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and who now intervenes to fulfill those promises by redeeming Israel. It emphasizes His faithful, powerful, and active presence.
- will fight (יִלָּחֵם - yil·lā·ḥēm): From the Hebrew root lacham (לחם), meaning "to fight" or "wage war." The imperfect tense indicates continuous or future action. The form implies direct, personal, and zealous engagement. It is not an abstract defense but a very real, aggressive combat on behalf of His people.
- for you (לָכֶם - lā·ḵem): The plural pronoun indicates that God's fight is for the entire Israelite community, their collective salvation, safety, and future. It's a promise of specific, personal benefit.
- and you (וְאַתֶּם - wə·'at·tem): The conjunction "and" links God's action with the required human response. The emphatic "you" (plural) highlights the stark contrast between God's active warfare and Israel's commanded stillness.
- shall hold your peace (תַּחֲרִישׁוּן - taḥarīšūn): From the root ḥāraš (חרש), meaning "to be silent," "be deaf," or "keep quiet." In the Hiphil stem, it means "to cause to be silent" or "to make silent." Here, it signifies complete stillness, refraining from speaking, complaining, acting, or intervening. It's a command for inner tranquility and outward inaction, born of trust, not despair. It denotes waiting patiently and confidently for God's work.
Words-group analysis:
- The LORD will fight for you: This phrase establishes divine sovereignty and competence in the face of human inadequacy. It portrays Yahweh as the "Divine Warrior" who acts unilaterally and powerfully to secure the salvation of His people. It refutes any notion that Israel needs to contribute militarily or strategically. This is a profound polemic against the polytheistic views of the ancient Near East, where gods often required human armies or rituals to gain victory. Here, Yahweh acts independently and victoriously.
- and you shall hold your peace: This phrase highlights the required human response to such divine power. It demands not passive resignation, but an active, faith-filled cessation of all human effort and anxiety. It implies a posture of expectant waiting, an inner quietness that trusts fully in God's promise and ability. This is a theological imperative for absolute reliance on God, forbidding the clamor of panic or the striving of self-preservation, in order to witness God's unique display of glory.
Exodus 14 14 Bonus section
The scene at the Red Sea, climaxing with Ex 14:14, is highly paradigmatic for understanding God's salvation. It establishes a pattern where divine power triumphs over seemingly insurmountable odds when human strength is exhausted and human ingenuity fails. This event is a hierophany, a powerful manifestation of God's presence and nature, showcasing His unmatched authority over nature (the sea), human armies (Pharaoh), and the forces of chaos. The silence commanded from Israel is not born of weakness, but of strength derived from trust, allowing them to truly "see the salvation of the LORD" (Ex 14:13). It implies a reverent submission before a holy and powerful God who is about to perform an extraordinary miracle, leaving no doubt about the source of deliverance.
Exodus 14 14 Commentary
Exodus 14:14 is a quintessential declaration of divine grace and sovereign power in the face of human impossibility. At a moment of overwhelming dread and complaint, Moses’ words direct the terrified Israelites away from their circumstances and towards the omnipotence of God. "The LORD will fight for you" is a declaration that the conflict is not Israel's, but God's. It underlines Yahweh’s active, personal, and zealous commitment to His covenant people, not as an abstract principle, but as a living, battling deity. This concept established the Divine Warrior theme which resonates throughout the Old Testament, from the conquest of Canaan to the Psalms of David and the prophetic books, revealing God as the ultimate Victor.
Conversely, "and you shall hold your peace" is not a command to be idle out of fear, but to be silent and still out of faith. It calls for a cessation of all self-reliant action, complaint, and doubt, fostering a quiet trust that allows God's power to be uniquely displayed. This posture of patient expectancy demonstrates true dependence. It means waiting for God's perfect timing and method, trusting that His intervention is superior to any human strategy. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that there are battles only God can fight, and His people are often called to a position of watchfulness and unwavering faith to witness His unparalleled glory and salvation.