Exodus 14 26

Exodus 14:26 kjv

And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.

Exodus 14:26 nkjv

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen."

Exodus 14:26 niv

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen."

Exodus 14:26 esv

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen."

Exodus 14:26 nlt

When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the LORD said to Moses, "Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers."

Exodus 14 verses

Exodus 14 26 Meaning

Exodus 14:26 records the divine command from Yahweh to Moses, instructing him to use his outstretched hand as an instrument to cause the parted waters of the Red Sea to return. This act was designed to engulf and destroy the pursuing Egyptian army, specifically their powerful chariots and skilled horsemen, thereby delivering Israel from their oppressors and executing God's judgment.

Exodus 14 26 Context

Exodus 14 records one of the most pivotal events in Israelite history: the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh's army. The Israelites, freshly departed from Egypt, find themselves trapped between the pursuing Egyptian military and the impassable sea. Despite their fear and despair, Moses encourages them to witness God's salvation. God parts the sea, allowing Israel to walk across on dry ground. Pharaoh, in his hardened heart and defiant pursuit, leads his army into the seabed. Verse 26, therefore, marks the dramatic turning point from Israel's deliverance to the ultimate judgment upon their oppressors, bringing to fruition God's prior declarations of intent to display His glory over Pharaoh and Egypt (Exod 9:16, 14:4). This act solidifies God's covenant with Israel as their deliverer and supreme ruler, dismantling the formidable military power that represented the greatest threat to their newfound freedom.

Exodus 14 26 Word analysis

• Then the LORD (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, wa·yō·mer YHWH) said to Moses (אֶל־מֹשֶׁה, ʾel-mō·še):
  • "The LORD" (YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal involvement, faithfulness to His promises, and supreme authority. This reiterates the divine initiative in Israel's salvation and Egypt's judgment. It signifies the ongoing communication and direct command from God to His chosen mediator.
• "Stretch out (נְטֵה, neteh)":
  • This is an imperative verb, a direct command. Neteh implies extending or inclining, signifying an action that will trigger a supernatural event. Moses's physical action serves as an act of obedient faith and a visible sign through which God works. It's not Moses' power, but God's, manifest through Moses's instrumentality.
• "your hand (יָדְךָ, yadekā)":
  • "Hand" (yad): A symbol of power, authority, and agency. Here, Moses' hand is not merely a limb but an extension of God's power, signifying divine work accomplished through human obedience. It represents the visible sign of God's invisible action. This repeated gesture (first to part the sea in Exod 14:16, now to close it) highlights Moses' role as God's trusted representative.
• "over the sea (עַל־הַיָּם, ʿal-hay·yām)":
  • "Sea" (yam): Specifically referring to the Yam Suph, or "Reed Sea." In ancient Near Eastern mythologies, the sea (often personified as "Yam") was a symbol of primordial chaos or opposing divine powers. God's complete control over it directly challenged these contemporary beliefs, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over nature and chaos, establishing His uniqueness.
• "that the waters (הַמַּיִם, ham·ma·yim) may come back (יָשֻׁבוּ, yashuvu)":
  • "Come back" (yashuvu): To return, revert. This emphasizes the reversal of the prior miracle of parting. The very element that previously delivered Israel now becomes the agent of destruction for Egypt. This highlights God's dynamic and adaptive use of creation for His purposes.
• "upon (עַל, ʿal) the Egyptians (מִצְרַיִם, mitz·ra·yim):"
  • "Upon" (al): Indicates direct impact and covering. The waters are returning specifically onto them. "Egyptians" (Mitzrayim): The oppressive nation and its military, who symbolize human defiance against God's will and power. This signifies the specific target of God's righteous judgment.
• "upon their chariots (עַל־רִכְבּוֹ, ʿal-riḵ·bō), and upon their horsemen (וְעַל־פָּרָשָׁיו, wə·ʿal-pā·rā·šāw)":
  • "Chariots" (rekhev): The elite and most feared component of ancient armies, representing Pharaoh's immense military might, technological advancement, and self-reliant power. This highlights the complete nullification of human strength when pitted against divine power.
  • "Horsemen" (parashav): Skilled cavalry, another critical element of Egyptian military superiority, signifying their speed, maneuverability, and strategic advantage in pursuit. Their destruction further emphasizes the totality of God's victory. The repetition of "upon" accentuates the complete overwhelming and drowning of their military apparatus.

Exodus 14 26 Bonus section

The Hebrew text often employs the phrase "to stretch out the hand" (נָטָה יָד, natah yad) in various contexts to indicate a powerful or decisive action initiated by God, often through an intermediary. Beyond Moses parting and closing the sea, it is used for judgments (Exod 9:22, Moses stretching his hand towards the heavens for hail) or for powerful intervention. The event described in Exod 14:26 serves as a foundational "Exodus motif" that resonates throughout the Old Testament and beyond, foreshadowing later divine interventions, ultimate redemption through a "new exodus," and judgment against God's adversaries. It also strongly opposes the prevalent Egyptian polytheism, particularly the belief in deities associated with the sea (like Yam from Canaanite myths which could have influenced Egyptian thought) and Pharaoh's supposed divine power. Yahweh's effortless manipulation of the sea and annihilation of the Pharaoh's army definitively asserts His singular omnipotence over all human and cosmic powers.

Exodus 14 26 Commentary

Exodus 14:26 is a command demonstrating God's sovereign control over nature and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people. Having led Israel through the miraculously parted sea, Yahweh now orders Moses to close the watery wall on the pursuing Egyptian army. This act fulfills God's promise to demonstrate His glory and judgment against Pharaoh and Egypt. It underscores that the parting of the sea was not a temporary phenomenon but an orchestrated divine act for specific purposes: salvation for Israel and destruction for their oppressors. The targeting of "chariots and horsemen" highlights the specific humiliation of Egypt's formidable military, a symbol of its power and defiance. This decisive judgment solidified God's reputation as the supreme deity, challenging and dismantling any notion of Egyptian gods' supremacy or Pharaoh's divinity. The passage therefore powerfully illustrates themes of divine judgment, divine deliverance, God's unmatched sovereignty over creation, and His faithfulness to His chosen nation.