Exodus 15 16

Exodus 15:16 kjv

Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

Exodus 15:16 nkjv

Fear and dread will fall on them; By the greatness of Your arm They will be as still as a stone, Till Your people pass over, O LORD, Till the people pass over Whom You have purchased.

Exodus 15:16 niv

terror and dread will fall on them. By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone? until your people pass by, LORD, until the people you bought pass by.

Exodus 15:16 esv

Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone, till your people, O LORD, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased.

Exodus 15:16 nlt

terror and dread fall upon them.
The power of your arm
makes them lifeless as stone
until your people pass by, O LORD,
until the people you purchased pass by.

Exodus 15 verses

Exodus 15 16 meaning

Exodus 15:16 proclaims the sovereign power of God that paralyzes Israel's enemies with overwhelming dread and terror. This divine intervention renders them motionless and helpless like a stone, ensuring the safe passage of God's people, whom He has delivered and acquired for Himself, across the wilderness and into the promised land. The verse is a declaration of God's pre-ordained victory and protection over His chosen nation.

Exodus 15 16 Context

Exodus 15:16 is a segment of the "Song of the Sea," sung by Moses and the Israelites after their miraculous crossing of the Red Sea and the destruction of the Egyptian army. The immediate context is one of profound relief, worship, and exultation for God's overwhelming victory. While celebrating the immediate past deliverance, the song is also deeply prophetic, looking forward to God's future actions: the terrorizing of the Canaanite nations, Israel's safe passage through the wilderness to the promised land, and the establishment of God's sanctuary among them. This verse specifically anticipates the future conquest of Canaan, asserting that the same divine power that subdued Egypt will also paralyze Israel's future enemies. Culturally, it underscores the concept of Yahweh as a divine warrior, unmatched by any pagan deity, directly challenging the perceived might of Pharaoh and the regional gods of Canaan. It sets a theological precedent for God's active, powerful intervention on behalf of His chosen people, assuring them of victory in the land He promised.

Exodus 15 16 Word analysis

• Dread (אֵימָה, Eimah) and terror (פַּחַד, Pakhad): These two Hebrew words convey an intense, overwhelming fear, a sudden and paralyzing horror often instilled by a divine presence or power. It's a dread that disorients and incapacitates, moving beyond mere fright to a profound sense of helplessness. Biblically, such fear often indicates the awesome power of God and the futility of resistance against Him (Gen 35:5; Job 13:21; Ps 88:15).
• Fall upon them: Indicates a divinely initiated imposition, not a natural reaction. This terror is directly from God, affecting the enemies like a physical burden or curse, incapacitating their will and ability to fight.
• Greatness of Your arm (גֹּדֶל זְרֹועַ, Godel Z'roa): The "arm" is a common biblical metaphor for strength, power, and capability, especially in warfare and action. "Greatness of Your arm" emphasizes God's immense, irresistible might and the divine authority behind His actions. It signifies not just power but also sovereignty and absolute control. This is the source of the dread and the cause of the enemies' stillness. (Deut 4:34; Ps 98:1; Isa 52:10).
• They are still (דֹּמּוּ, Dommū) as a stone (כָּאָבֶן, Ka'even): Dommū means to be silent, still, or stunned. Coupled with "as a stone," it paints a vivid picture of absolute, unyielding immobility, lifelessness, and helplessness. They are rendered inanimate, without will or power to move, entirely incapacitated, demonstrating their utter impotence before God's power. This is a powerful image of total defeat without physical combat, illustrating the psychological warfare God waged.
• Till Your people, O Lord, pass through: Specifies the duration and purpose of the enemies' paralysis. It is a protective measure by God to ensure Israel's undisturbed progress. "O Lord" (Adonai) highlights God's sovereignty and ownership over Israel, and also underscores His personal involvement and power.
• Till the people whom You have purchased (קָנִיתָ, Kanita) pass through: "Purchased" signifies not merely bought with a price, but acquired, redeemed, or brought into existence and ownership through a powerful act. In this context, God "purchased" Israel not with money but through His powerful act of deliverance from Egypt's bondage, establishing them as His peculiar treasure and covenant people (Exo 19:5-6; Deut 7:6; Isa 43:21). This establishes Israel's unique relationship with God as His chosen inheritance and possession, underscoring His commitment to their safe passage and destiny.
• Words-group: Dread and terror fall upon them... still as a stone: This group vividly describes the psychological and physical effect of God's power on the enemy. It shows that God's intervention is not only through physical acts (like dividing the sea) but also through direct supernatural terror that paralyses armies without a single sword drawn. This points to the unseen battles fought by God.
• Words-group: By the greatness of Your arm... till Your people pass through: This phrase connects divine power to divine purpose. God's mighty arm is the source, and the safe passage of His chosen people is the clear objective and guaranteed outcome. It emphasizes God's proactive protection.
• Words-group: Your people, O Lord... whom You have purchased: This emphasizes the covenantal relationship and ownership. Israel is not merely a group of wanderers; they are God's chosen possession, bound to Him by His redemptive acts. This relationship assures their protection and ultimate destiny.

Exodus 15 16 Bonus section

• The theme of divine dread incapacitating enemies is a recurring motif in the Conquest narratives (Joshua 2:9, 5:1), confirming this prophecy was fulfilled. It demonstrates God often wins battles by breaking the enemy's spirit before a sword is even lifted.
• This verse can be seen as a spiritual principle: when God is leading His people, spiritual opposition is often immobilized or overcome, not necessarily through physical conflict, but through the overwhelming presence and power of God, allowing His work to proceed.
• The concept of God "purchasing" His people echoes into the New Testament where believers are "bought with a price" (1 Cor 6:20) by the blood of Christ, emphasizing a similar divine ownership and redemptive relationship with God (1 Pet 1:18-19). This establishes a continuity in God's saving and acquiring actions across the covenants.
• The "passing through" not only refers to physical movement but also to God guiding His people through spiritual obstacles and trials toward their divine destiny and promised spiritual inheritance.

Exodus 15 16 Commentary

Exodus 15:16 is a profound declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and protective power over His chosen people. Occurring in the "Song of the Sea," it extends beyond the immediate Red Sea deliverance to prophetically announce future victories. God's intervention causes a divinely-instilled terror to descend upon the enemy nations, freezing them "as a stone," rendering them utterly helpless and unable to resist Israel's advancement. This paralysis is attributed directly to "the greatness of Your arm," emphasizing God's unrivaled strength and His personal agency in warfare on behalf of Israel. The ultimate purpose is the unobstructed passage of "Your people, O Lord," whom God identifies as "the people whom You have purchased." This phrase highlights Israel's unique redemptive status: they are not a random nation, but God's special possession, acquired through His mighty deliverance from bondage. This status assures them of God's continued, formidable protection and guarantees their arrival at the promised inheritance. The verse serves as both a historical testimony to God's past triumph and a prophetic assurance of His unwavering commitment to His covenant people's future. It powerfully conveys that God fights for His own, His strength paralyzing opposition and His purpose prevailing.