Exodus 15 10

Exodus 15:10 kjv

Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

Exodus 15:10 nkjv

You blew with Your wind, The sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

Exodus 15:10 niv

But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

Exodus 15:10 esv

You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

Exodus 15:10 nlt

But you blew with your breath,
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.

Exodus 15 verses

Exodus 15 10 meaning

Exodus 15:10 declares God's decisive and powerful action in the destruction of the Egyptian army. By merely blowing with His powerful breath, God caused the waters of the Red Sea to surge back, completely overwhelming and drowning the Egyptians. Their demise was absolute and irreversible, akin to heavy lead plummeting to the bottom of the immensely powerful waters. The verse emphasizes God's effortless supremacy over nature and His enemies, delivering His people through an act of overwhelming divine power.

Exodus 15 10 Context

Exodus 15:10 is a pivotal line within the "Song of the Sea" (Exodus 15:1-18), sung by Moses and the Israelites immediately after their miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea. Having just witnessed the Red Sea part for them and then violently engulf the pursuing Egyptian army, this song is their fervent expression of worship, gratitude, and awe toward Yahweh. The song attributes the victory entirely to God, portraying Him as an unmatched divine warrior. The immediate context is the moment of triumphant realization of divine intervention. Historically, this event challenged the might of the then-dominant Egyptian empire and its polytheistic beliefs, where Pharaoh was seen as divine and various gods governed aspects of nature. This verse asserts Yahweh's supreme and effortless control over elements like wind and sea, directly contrasting with and indeed demonstrating His superiority over the perceived powers of Egyptian deities who supposedly controlled the Nile or protected the army. It solidified Israel's understanding of their God as unique and sovereign, fulfilling His covenant promises through astonishing power.

Word Analysis

• You (אַתָּה - ʼattah): Singular pronoun, directly addresses God. Emphasizes God's personal and singular agency in the event, not a collective effort or a secondary cause.
• blew (נָשַׁפְתָּ - nashafta): A verb meaning "to blow," "to breathe," "to exhale." It denotes an effortless, swift, and powerful act. The divine agent is the sole cause, implying that a mere breath from God was sufficient for such a colossal event.
• with your wind (בְרוּחֲךָ - bə-ruḥăḵā): From ruach (רוּחַ) which can mean "wind," "breath," or "spirit." Here, it specifically refers to God's mighty breath or the force of His divine "wind" acting upon creation. It signifies not physical lungs, but God's intrinsic power, often linked to His life-giving or life-taking power. This subtle power is depicted as having overwhelming destructive force.
• the sea (יָם - yam): Refers to the Red Sea (Yam Suph, Sea of Reeds). This mighty body of water, which previously parted, now becomes an instrument of divine judgment. Its immense natural force is entirely under God's command.
• covered them (כִּסָּמוֹ - kissamo): A verb meaning "to cover," "to overwhelm," "to conceal." It conveys the completeness and totality of the engulfment. No escape was possible; they were completely submerged and hidden by the waters.
• they sank (צָלְלוּ - tsalalu): A verb meaning "to sink," "to be submerged," "to be drowned." It signifies a movement downward into the depths. This emphasizes the swift and inescapable nature of their descent to the seabed, reflecting an overwhelming defeat.
• like lead (כַּעוֹפֶרֶת - ka-ophereth): Ka- is a preposition "like," and ophereth (עוֹפֶרֶת) is "lead." Lead is remarkably dense and heavy, known to sink quickly and definitively. This powerful simile vividly illustrates the Egyptians' irreversible and rapid plunge to the bottom of the sea, highlighting the completeness and weightiness of God's judgment upon them. It is an unrecoverable, dead weight.
• in the mighty waters (בְּמַיִם אַדִּירִים - bə-mayim adirim): Mayim (מַיִם) is "waters," and addirīm (אַדִּירִים) is "mighty," "powerful," "majestic." This phrase describes the formidable power of the sea itself, further underscoring the overwhelming forces at God's disposal. It implies not just the quantity but the formidable, powerful nature of the waters, reinforcing the inescapable destruction.

Words-group analysis:

• You blew with your wind: This phrase underscores God's absolute sovereignty and effortless power. The use of "You" (God) as the active subject emphasizes divine agency. God's "wind" or "breath" (ruach) is a recurring motif for His powerful and often mysterious action, here demonstrating His command over creation with just a 'breath.' It speaks of God’s majestic, intrinsic power as the sole driver of the miraculous event.
• the sea covered them: This highlights nature as God's instrument of judgment. The very waters that provided a pathway for Israel now turned into a liquid grave for their enemies. This demonstrates God's perfect control over creation, making it subservient to His purposes. It points to the directness of God's judgment and the inescapable fate of those He opposes.
• they sank like lead in the mighty waters: This triple imagery (sinking, like lead, in mighty waters) creates a powerful picture of total and irretrievable destruction. The density of "lead" ensures their quick and absolute plunge, leaving no hope of recovery. "Mighty waters" amplifies the scale of the environment into which they sank, reinforcing the depth and permanence of their burial. This paints a grim, conclusive picture of the annihilation of Pharaoh’s elite army.

Exodus 15 10 Commentary

Exodus 15:10 encapsulates the profound theological truth that God's power is absolute, effortless, and final in His judgments. It reveals Yahweh not only as a deliverer but also as a fearsome divine warrior who needs only His "wind" or "breath" to accomplish devastating acts of justice. The immediate and complete submergence of the Egyptians "like lead" emphasizes the definitive nature of this divine judgment, providing undeniable proof of God's unmatched sovereignty over both creation and human adversaries. This event, memorialized in the Song of the Sea, became foundational for Israel's understanding of their God as one who intervenes directly in history, defeats oppressors, and saves His people with awe-inspiring power. It served as a potent polemic against the numerous Egyptian deities associated with nature and warfare, definitively proving Yahweh's unique dominion.

Bonus Section

• The "Song of the Sea" (Exodus 15) is considered one of the oldest hymns in the Bible, perhaps predating other poetic sections. Its archaic Hebrew adds to its historical authenticity and spiritual resonance.
• The imagery of God's breath (ruach) causing a significant natural event foreshadows similar descriptions of divine power, like in Ps 104:29-30 (God taking away breath, creatures die; sending His Spirit, they are created) and Isa 11:4 (Messiah striking the earth with the rod of His mouth and slaying the wicked with the breath of His lips).
• The complete and total destruction, implied by "sank like lead," served not only as punishment for Egypt's oppression but also as an assurance to Israel that their oppressors were utterly gone and could not return to pursue them, cementing their liberation.
• The use of 'mighty waters' (mayim adirim) reinforces that the destruction was not merely due to the quantity of water, but the formidable, irresistible power inherent in it when wielded by God, contrasting sharply with the Egyptian army’s supposed might.