Exodus 14 28

Exodus 14:28 kjv

And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.

Exodus 14:28 nkjv

Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained.

Exodus 14:28 niv

The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen?the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.

Exodus 14:28 esv

The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained.

Exodus 14:28 nlt

Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers ? the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.

Exodus 14 verses

Exodus 14 28 Meaning

Exodus 14:28 declares the complete and decisive annihilation of Pharaoh's army. The waters of the Red Sea, having been supernaturally parted for Israel, returned and engulfed every chariot and horseman who had pursued the Israelites into the sea. This verse emphasizes the finality of God's judgment upon Egypt and His comprehensive deliverance of His people, leaving no survivors from the attacking force.

Exodus 14 28 Context

Exodus chapter 14 describes the climatic events at the Red Sea (Yam Suph). After Israel's departure from Egypt, Pharaoh and his elite army pursue them, cornering them at the sea. God instructs Moses to stretch out his hand, causing a strong east wind to divide the waters, forming dry ground for Israel to pass through. The pillar of cloud provides cover for Israel and darkness for the Egyptians. Exodus 14:28 occurs as the pursuing Egyptians follow Israel into the sea bed. God causes the waters to return just before dawn, executing His definitive judgment upon them. This event signifies God's complete victory over the mightiest empire of their time and the total liberation of Israel from their bondage and threat, revealing His unrivaled power over creation and human rulers. The original audience would have understood this as a direct demonstration of YHWH's superiority over all Egyptian deities, particularly those associated with the Nile, water, or sovereignty, such as Hapi (Nile god) or even Pharaoh himself who was considered a living god. It directly challenges Pharaoh's perceived invincibility and the protection of his pantheon.

Exodus 14 28 Word analysis

• The water flowed back and covered: Hebrew: וַיָּשֻׁבוּ הַמַּיִם וַיְכַסּוּ (va-yashuvu ha-mayim va-yekhasu).
• וַיָּשֻׁבוּ (va-yashuvu) - "flowed back" / "returned": From the root שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to turn back, return." This verb choice emphasizes an active, deliberate reversal of the miraculous division. It implies that the waters did not merely recede naturally but actively returned to engulf the Egyptians, a direct act of divine will and power, precisely at the Lord's command.
• הַמַּיִם (ha-mayim) - "the water": Refers to the very same waters that miraculously parted. Water, often a symbol of chaos or a force beyond human control, becomes the instrument of God's judgment here.
• וַיְכַסּוּ (va-yekhasu) - "and covered": From the root כָּסָה (kasah), meaning "to cover, conceal, overwhelm." This denotes total submergence and complete obliteration. Nothing was left exposed or spared from the engulfment.
• the chariots and all the horsemen of Pharaoh's entire army: Hebrew: אֶת־הָרֶכֶב וְאֶת־הַפָּרָשִׁים לְכֹל חֵיל פַּרְעֹה הַבָּאִים (et-ha-rekhev v-et-ha-parashim l-khol cheil par'oh ha-ba'im).
• הָרֶכֶב (ha-rekhev) - "the chariots": The pinnacle of ancient Egyptian military technology and a symbol of their immense power, speed, and might. Their destruction represents the dismantling of Egypt's military supremacy.
• הַפָּרָשִׁים (ha-parashim) - "the horsemen": Elite mounted soldiers, another critical component of a formidable ancient army. Their demise signifies the comprehensive defeat of all Egyptian military classes.
• לְכֹל חֵיל פַּרְעֹה (l-khol cheil par'oh) - "of all Pharaoh's army": "Khol" means "all," stressing the absolute totality. Not just a contingent, but the collective strength and "entire army" (חַיִל - chayil can mean military might, strength). This reinforces the completeness of the destruction.
• הַבָּאִים (ha-ba'im) - "that had followed / were coming": Describes their act of aggressive pursuit into the path chosen by God's people. This detail emphasizes that their destruction was a direct consequence of their persistence in defying God's will and pursuing Israel.
• Not one of them survived: Hebrew: לֹא נִשְׁאַר בָּהֶם אֶחָד (lo nish'ar ba-hem echad).
• לֹא נִשְׁאַר (lo nish'ar) - "not remained / not survived": Emphatic negation. No remnant was left; the destruction was absolute. This is crucial for affirming God's total victory and ensuring Israel's security from this specific threat.
• אֶחָד (echad) - "one": Used here for singular emphasis, highlighting that not even a single individual survived to threaten Israel further or to tell the tale of the "defeat" from the Egyptian side. It speaks to the finality of divine judgment.

Exodus 14 28 Bonus section

This verse serves as the definitive punctuation mark for the Exodus from Egypt. Prior to this, Israel's freedom was only potential; Pharaoh could pursue again. With this verse, the Egyptian threat is conclusively and permanently removed. This moment foreshadows the greater work of redemption in Christ, where believers are passed from death to life, while sin and its consequences, like Pharaoh and his army, are decisively vanquished, no longer holding power over the redeemed. It is a powerful example of God using the very means of the enemy's strength (water as a natural barrier, chariots as military might) as instruments of their downfall.

Exodus 14 28 Commentary

Exodus 14:28 encapsulates the climactic act of God's redemptive work at the Red Sea: the definitive judgment on Pharaoh's forces. This verse moves beyond the miraculous parting of the waters and Israel's safe passage to highlight the overwhelming destruction of their pursuers. The active verbs—"flowed back" and "covered"—underscore that this was not a natural phenomenon but a direct, targeted act of divine will. By causing the water to return, God employed the very element that Egypt revered and relied upon, turning it into an instrument of His wrath. The specific mention of "chariots" and "horsemen" emphasizes the defeat of Egypt's formidable military, their technological superiority and symbols of power rendered utterly useless against the might of YHWH. The conclusive statement, "Not one of them survived," signifies the absolute finality of this judgment. It ensures Israel's complete deliverance, eliminating any lingering threat and solidifying their freedom from bondage. Theologically, this event serves as a foundational declaration of YHWH's omnipotence, His faithfulness to His covenant, and His just judgment on those who oppose His divine plan. It teaches that true power resides solely with the Lord, who controls creation and determines the fate of nations.