Exodus 14 27

Exodus 14:27 kjv

And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

Exodus 14:27 nkjv

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

Exodus 14:27 niv

Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the LORD swept them into the sea.

Exodus 14:27 esv

So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the LORD threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea.

Exodus 14:27 nlt

So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the LORD swept them into the sea.

Exodus 14 verses

Exodus 14 27 Meaning

Exodus 14:27 describes the immediate, powerful reversal of the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. At Moses' command, the previously divided waters of the sea returned to their full, natural strength and ferocity precisely at the breaking of dawn. This forceful restoration of the waters completely engulfed and drowned the pursuing Egyptian army in the very midst of the sea, securing Israel's deliverance through divine judgment.

Exodus 14 27 Context

Exodus chapter 14 describes Israel's miraculous escape from Egypt. Having been led by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, they found themselves trapped by Pharaoh's pursuing army against the Red Sea. In the preceding verses (14:21-25), God dramatically parted the waters, creating a dry path for the Israelites, while the same divine pillar intervened to darken the night for the Egyptians and dislodge their chariot wheels. Verse 27, then, is the climax of this intense chase and serves as the ultimate demonstration of God's power over nature and His judgment upon Egypt. It marks the moment of complete reversal of fortune: what brought salvation to Israel now brought destruction to their oppressors, cementing Israel's freedom and confirming Yahweh's unparalleled sovereignty over all creation and all earthly rulers.

Exodus 14 27 Word analysis

• And Moses stretched out his hand: This action signifies a divine command carried out through God's appointed human agent. It is not Moses' inherent power, but his obedience to God that triggers the event. The Hebrew phrase natah yado (נטה ידו) means "extended his hand," often associated with powerful acts of judgment or intervention.
• over the sea: The object of the divine action. It specifies where God's power is exerted, encompassing the entire body of water that had been parted.
• and the sea returned to its strength: The Hebrew hayyam yashuv l'eitano (הים ישוב לאיתנו) is powerful. Eitan (אֵיתָן) conveys the sense of enduring, perennial, or mighty. It means the sea returned not just to its former physical state but to its full, powerful, forceful, and even violent nature. It implies the sea, at God's command, became an instrument of overwhelming destructive power.
• when the morning appeared: Hebrew lifnot boqer (לִפְנוֹת בֹּקֶר) means "at the turn of the morning" or "at the break of dawn." This precise timing highlights God's absolute control over natural phenomena and daily cycles. It concludes the night of divine darkness and provides light for God's action against the Egyptians.
• and the Egyptians fled against it: This depicts their desperate, chaotic attempt to escape the returning waters. They were fleeing into the very judgment prepared for them, indicating their confusion and futility of resistance.
• and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians: The direct subject of the action is the LORD, Yahweh, emphasizing His sovereignty and ultimate agency. The Hebrew verb na'ar (נער) means to shake off, cast down, or sweep away. It suggests a violent, conclusive, and utterly destructive action, not merely a passive drowning, but an active, divine hurling or overwhelming, ensuring no escape. This action is a powerful polemic against the supposed invincibility of Pharaoh and his gods, showing Yahweh alone has this decisive power.
• in the midst of the sea: This phrase underscores the completeness of their destruction. They were trapped at the deepest and most vulnerable point of the sea's path, confirming total engulfment and defeat, leaving no doubt about the finality of God's judgment.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea": Establishes Moses as the obedient agent through whom God's power is channeled, connecting the human act to divine decree. This contrasts sharply with Egyptian magic or human strength, asserting God's working through His chosen one.
• "and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared": Emphasizes the suddenness, power, and precise divine timing of the judgment. The return of the sea to its "strength" suggests an active, forceful reassertion, not just a passive filling. The "morning appeared" (literally, "turning of morning") symbolizes the clarity of divine judgment coming after the darkness that concealed God's people.
• "and the Egyptians fled against it": Highlights the futile panic and inescapable nature of their situation. Their flight towards the returning waters signifies a judgment from which there was no escape. They were actively fleeing into their demise, unable to comprehend the divine trap.
• "and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea": The most potent phrase, unequivocally identifying Yahweh as the divine warrior and judge. The verb "overthrew" conveys a violent, decisive, and complete defeat, underscoring the finality of Egypt's judgment. The "midst of the sea" signifies the utter engulfment and helplessness of the enemy, a full display of God's triumph where their strength turned to weakness and death.

Exodus 14 27 Bonus section

• Polemics against Egyptian Deities: The divine act in this verse directly challenged Egyptian religious beliefs. Pharaoh was considered a living god (a manifestation of Re or Horus), and his army's might was seen as divinely sanctioned. Egyptian gods like Hapi (god of the Nile floods) and Sobek (crocodile god associated with water) were powerless to protect their devotees. By manipulating the sea at dawn, Yahweh directly defied Egyptian reliance on solar deities and nature gods, proving Himself superior to all their pantheon.
• A "New Creation" Event: Some scholars interpret the dividing and returning of the waters as a cosmic reordering, reminiscent of the primordial waters of creation. Just as God brought order from chaos in Gen 1, He here brings salvation out of chaos for Israel and judgment upon the forces of disorder (Egypt). This act inaugurates Israel's life as a redeemed nation, in essence, a new spiritual creation.
• The Sea as a Symbol: Throughout Scripture, the "sea" often symbolizes chaotic forces, or gentile nations, or that which opposes God's order. Here, God definitively masters these forces to achieve His redemptive purpose, showcasing His supreme power.

Exodus 14 27 Commentary

Exodus 14:27 serves as the climactic fulfillment of God's promise to save Israel and execute judgment upon Egypt. It encapsulates several profound theological truths. First, it vividly demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty over creation. The very element He used to separate for His people (the sea) became the instrument of His judgment against their enemies, emphasizing His control over all natural forces. The "return to strength" is not a mere natural occurrence but a powerful, purposeful act directed by the Creator.

Second, the verse highlights divine justice. Pharaoh and his army, who oppressed God's people for centuries and defied His will through ten plagues, finally face His wrath in its most devastating form. This act confirms that pride and rebellion against God will be met with decisive judgment. The Egyptians, boasting of military might, were overwhelmed by water, symbolizing their utter helplessness before the Living God.

Third, it underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant with Israel. This event solidified Israel's identity as a redeemed people and served as the foundational deliverance event that would be remembered and sung about for generations. The precise timing "when the morning appeared" emphasizes the intentionality and deliberateness of God's action, a reversal of the protective darkness of the night, now exposing the enemy to destruction in the light. This powerful display cemented trust in Yahweh as their deliverer and protector.

This event laid a paradigm for God's pattern of salvation through judgment, where deliverance for His people often involves the undoing of His enemies, a theme echoed throughout Scripture from Noah's flood to the final judgment in Revelation.