Exodus 14 24

Exodus 14:24 kjv

And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

Exodus 14:24 nkjv

Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the LORD looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians.

Exodus 14:24 niv

During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.

Exodus 14:24 esv

And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic,

Exodus 14:24 nlt

But just before dawn the LORD looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion.

Exodus 14 verses

Exodus 14 24 Meaning

Exodus 14:24 describes God's direct and decisive intervention during the pivotal Red Sea crossing. As the Egyptian army pursued the Israelites into the sea bed, at the final hours before dawn, the LORD Himself, manifesting through the pillar of fire and cloud that guided Israel, actively looked upon and inflicted profound disarray and terror upon the Egyptian forces. This act of divine warfare rendered the Egyptians helpless and foreshadowed their impending defeat, demonstrating YHWH's sovereign power over creation and human might.

Exodus 14 24 Context

Exodus 14 describes the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites and the destruction of Pharaoh's army. Following the Tenth Plague, Pharaoh reluctantly released Israel, only to pursue them with his full military might once they seemed trapped by the sea. Verses 19-20 recount the movement of the pillar of cloud and fire to the rear of the Israelite camp, creating a barrier of light for Israel and darkness for Egypt, separating the two camps throughout the night. Moses then divided the waters. Verse 24 is strategically placed as the Egyptians, now in the sea bed, are most vulnerable. It describes God's direct and active intervention at the 'morning watch,' signaling the climactic moment of divine judgment. This pre-dawn action sets the stage for the Red Sea to collapse upon the Egyptians in the subsequent verse (v.27), ensuring the total annihilation of Pharaoh's pursuing forces.

Exodus 14 24 Word analysis

• And in the morning watch (וַיְהִי בְּאַשְׁמֹרֶת הַבֹּקֶר, wayhi bə’ašmōret habbōqer):
  • וַיְהִי (wayhi): "And it came to pass" or "And it was". This common Hebrew literary marker often introduces a significant event, highlighting the precise timing of God's intervention.
  • בְּאַשְׁמֹרֶת (bə’ašmōret): From ashmōrāh, meaning "watch," specifically one of the three (or four) night watches. This refers to the final watch of the night, just before dawn (approximately 2 AM to 6 AM). Its significance is the critical, opportune timing of God's action, not waiting until day but striking in the vulnerability of night's end. This precision highlights God's strategic omnipotence.
  • הַבֹּקֶר (habbōqer): "Of the morning." Confirms this as the predawn watch, a period of reduced visibility and heightened human weariness, making the Egyptians particularly susceptible to divine confusion.
• the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH):
  • The personal, covenant name of God. This emphasizes that it is not a random natural event or the act of a lesser deity, but the specific God of Israel, YHWH, who is directly acting. This is a deliberate polemic against the numerous gods of Egypt, none of whom could contend with Him.
• looked unto (וַיַּשְׁקֵף, wayyašqēp̄):
  • From the root šāqaq, meaning "to look down," "to gaze," often with an implication of intent, attention, and sometimes with the purpose of intervention or judgment (e.g., God looking down on the tower of Babel, Gen 11:5, or the wickedness of mankind, Gen 6:12). Here, it signifies God's direct, focused, and purposeful observation of the Egyptian host, preceding His judgment. It's an act of divine assessment before striking.
• the host of the Egyptians (אֶל מַחֲנֵה מִצְרַיִם, ’el maḥaneh mitzrayim):
  • מַחֲנֵה (maḥaneh): "Camp" or "host/army." Refers to the organized military forces of Pharaoh. This confirms the target of God's action as the entire Egyptian military formation in the seabed.
  • מִצְרַיִם (mitzrayim): "Egypt."
• through the pillar of fire and of the cloud (בְּעַמּוּד אֵשׁ וְעָנָן, bə‘ammūḏ ’ēš wə‘ānān):
  • The very manifestation of God's presence and guidance for Israel (Ex 13:21) now becomes an instrument of judgment against their enemies. The pillar, previously a source of light for Israel and darkness for Egypt (Ex 14:20), is here seen by the Egyptians as a source of terror. Its divine luminescence or shifting appearance becomes a means of direct interaction with and troubling of the Egyptian forces, demonstrating that God's presence is dual-natured: protective to His people, destructive to His foes. This serves as a strong polemic against Ra, the sun god, or other sky deities, as YHWH manipulates light and darkness.
• and troubled (וַיָּ֫הָם, wayyāhām):
  • From the root hāmām, meaning "to throw into confusion," "to dismay," "to rout," "to panic." This word conveys a deep, unsettling internal disruption, a divinely induced panic and disorganization. It suggests psychological and physical incapacitation, an experience of sheer terror that made the charioteers unable to control their vehicles or coordinate their actions effectively (implied in v.25), even before the waters returned. This spiritual warfare rendered a mighty army impotent. This is not mere fear, but a state of frantic, chaotic disorientation, breaking their resolve and efficiency.
  • the host of the Egyptians (אֶת מַחֲנֵה מִצְרָיִם, ’et maḥaneh mitzrayim): Repeated from earlier, explicitly stating the target of the troubling.

Words-Group Analysis

• "in the morning watch, the LORD looked unto...": This precise temporal marker coupled with YHWH's direct action highlights divine timing and intentionality. It's not a random occurrence, but a planned strategic strike.
• "...through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians": The visible symbol of God's presence (pillar) is actively weaponized. It's the means through which God interacts with and attacks the Egyptians, causing their confusion and breakdown. This emphasizes the divine, supernatural nature of the rout, not just natural phenomena or battle chaos.

Exodus 14 24 Bonus section

• The term hāmām (troubled) has strong connotations in Hebrew scripture for divine discomfiture and defeat, often applied when God throws an enemy into complete confusion, making them fight among themselves or simply lose their will and ability to fight. It's more than just causing fear; it's a breakdown of military order and morale.
• The exact mechanism of "troubling" through the pillar is left somewhat mysterious. Scholars suggest it could have involved a terrifying intensification of the pillar's light, sudden flashes, a supernatural thunderous noise, an unnerving shift in its form, or even a sudden release of oppressive heat or cold that disoriented the soldiers and horses. This ambiguity emphasizes God's direct, inexplicable power rather than detailing a mundane event.
• This verse acts as a powerful polemic against the Egyptian pantheon. Pharaoh believed himself a god or divine agent; his military strength was a source of national pride and belief in his gods' protection. YHWH, through His pillar of cloud and fire (a clear challenge to Ra, the sun god), disorganizes the army, exposing the impotence of both Pharaoh and his gods to protect his elite forces from YHWH's direct intervention.
• The sequence is crucial: God looks, then troubles. This divine gaze and subsequent confusion predate the physical returning of the waters, indicating that the Egyptian defeat began internally and supernaturally, making them unable to escape the final destruction.

Exodus 14 24 Commentary

Exodus 14:24 captures the apex of divine intervention at the Red Sea, marking a shift from passive protection to active judgment. At the darkest hour of the predawn watch, when both hope and strength often wane, YHWH deliberately looked upon the Egyptian army, a gaze not of mere observation but of active scrutiny for judgment. The pillar of fire and cloud, which had hitherto served as a guide and protective barrier, now transforms into an instrument of terror and confusion. God directly infused the Egyptian ranks with panic and disorder, rendering their superior military technology (chariots) ineffective (as hinted at in v.25, where chariot wheels are problematic). This 'troubling' was a deep psychological and logistical disruption, ensuring their ultimate defeat and underscoring God's absolute sovereignty over all earthly powers, demonstrating that it was He, not human might or skill, who fought and triumphed for Israel.