Exodus 15:22 kjv
So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
Exodus 15:22 nkjv
So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.
Exodus 15:22 niv
Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.
Exodus 15:22 esv
Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water.
Exodus 15:22 nlt
Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the desert of Shur. They traveled in this desert for three days without finding any water.
Exodus 15 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 8:2 | And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you... | God's purpose in leading through wilderness |
| Dt 8:3 | So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna... to teach you that man shall not live by bread alone... | Humbling, dependency, God's provision |
| Dt 8:15 | who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water... | Description of the challenging wilderness |
| Ps 78:15-16 | He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as from the great depths. He also brought streams out of the rock... | God providing water from rock |
| Ps 106:14-15 | But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. | Israel's lusting/complaining in desert |
| Ps 107:4-7 | They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the Lord... | Desolation, hunger, thirst, crying to God |
| 1 Cor 10:1-5 | Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea... But with most of them God was not well pleased... | Wilderness events as warnings for believers |
| Heb 3:7-11 | Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness..." | Warning against hardening hearts like Israel |
| Ex 16:1 | And they journeyed from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin... | Continued wilderness journey/challenges |
| Ex 17:1 | Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin... and there was no water for the people to drink. | Another instance of no water |
| Num 20:2-5 | Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. And the people contended with Moses... | Lack of water leading to complaint |
| Neh 9:20-21 | You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them... You fed them with manna... You gave them water for their thirst... Their clothes did not wear out... | God's continued provision in the wilderness |
| Ps 63:1 | O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. | Metaphor for spiritual thirst for God |
| Is 44:3 | For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground... | God promises to quench spiritual thirst |
| John 4:13-14 | Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst..." | Jesus as the source of living water |
| Rev 21:6 | And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts." | Final provision of water of life |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. | Principle of trust in divine leading |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. | God's promise to supply needs |
| Gen 16:7 | Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur. | Reference to the "Wilderness of Shur" |
| Gen 20:1 | And Abraham journeyed from there toward the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. | Geographical reference to Shur |
| Ex 13:17-18 | Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines... But God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. | Divine leading to the wilderness |
| Jer 2:6 | Nor did they say, 'Where is the Lord Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits... | God leading them through the wilderness |
Exodus 15 verses
Exodus 15 22 Meaning
After the miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, Moses led the Israelites into the Wilderness of Shur. Their journey was immediately met with a harsh reality: after three days of travel in the arid desert, they encountered no water, highlighting their sudden dependency on divine provision for basic survival following their great triumph. This transition reveals that salvation leads into a pilgrim walk where faith is continuously tested and developed.
Exodus 15 22 Context
Exodus 15 opens with the triumphal "Song of Moses and Miriam," celebrating God's unparalleled victory over Pharaoh and the Egyptian army at the Red Sea (Ex 15:1-21). This hymn marks the climax of the deliverance from Egypt and establishes the Lord as a mighty Warrior and King. Immediately following this grand celebration, verse 22 transitions from divine victory to daily hardship. It marks the first leg of Israel's journey in the wilderness after their miraculous crossing. The Israelites, an immense multitude, leave the scene of their triumph and enter the arid, desolate environment of the Sinai Peninsula. The "Wilderness of Shur" (also mentioned in Gen 16:7; 20:1) denotes a specific barren region stretching eastward from the northern Red Sea toward Philistia, along Egypt's border. This setting instantly highlights the vulnerability and dependency of such a large community for survival in a region known for its lack of natural resources, especially water, setting the stage for subsequent trials and God's sustained provision.
Exodus 15 22 Word analysis
- So Moses brought Israel: The Hebrew word וַיַּסַּ֤ע (vayyassa) is from the verb נָסַע (nasa), meaning "to pull up stakes, journey, set out." The Hiphil conjugation (here rendered as "brought") indicates Moses caused Israel to journey, emphasizing his active role as the leader orchestrating their movement under God's command. This shows divine agency operating through human leadership.
- from the Red Sea: The Hebrew יַם־סוּף (Yam Suph) is most accurately translated as "Sea of Reeds." While traditionally understood as the Red Sea, its literal meaning suggests a reedy marsh or lake. This geographical marker is significant as it denotes the precise point of their recent miraculous deliverance, marking their definitive departure from Egyptian bondage into the new, unknown territory.
- and they went out into the wilderness of Shur: The Hebrew term מִדְבַּר־שׁוּר (midbar Shur) refers to a specific desert region. "Midbar" signifies a vast, uncultivated, desolate area, suitable for nomadic life but challenging for settled existence due to scarcity of water and vegetation. "Shur" meaning "wall" or "fortress" may refer to an ancient defensive line or a range of hills. This specifies their immediate destination: a known region of harsh aridity, not an abstract "wilderness," thus grounding the narrative in geographical reality.
- and they went three days: The phrase וַיֵּלְכוּ (vayyelkhu, "and they walked/went") and "three days" emphasizes a distinct period of continuous movement. This specific duration signifies a challenging distance for a massive mixed multitude with livestock without resupplying water. In such an environment, three days without water is not merely inconvenient but life-threatening, immediately pushing them to a point of extreme dependency.
- in the wilderness: Reiteration of the "wilderness" underscores the continuous barren nature of their environment. This is not a temporary diversion but their ongoing new reality.
- and found no water: The Hebrew לֹא־מָצְא֥וּ מָֽיִם (lo'-matzu mayim, "did not find water") is a direct and stark declaration. It highlights the critical problem. Water is not merely a convenience but the fundamental requirement for survival for humans and animals. This urgent lack, immediately after a glorious victory, sets up the next critical test of faith for Israel and an opportunity for God's divine provision.
Exodus 15 22 Bonus section
The Wilderness of Shur, positioned at the edge of Egypt, was part of the "Way of the Wilderness of the Red Sea" (Ex 13:18) which God chose for Israel to avoid confrontation with the Philistines. This geographical detail underscores God's deliberate guidance away from immediate military conflict, highlighting His providence even in directing them toward a route that would prove physically challenging. The 'three days' motif frequently appears in scripture as a period leading to a significant event or revelation, such as Abraham's journey to Moriah (Gen 22:4) or Jonah in the fish (Jon 1:17), and climaxes with Jesus' resurrection on the third day (Mt 12:40). Here, it precedes the incident at Marah, where God reveals Himself as Yahweh Rapha, "the Lord who heals," both their water and their lives. This illustrates that divine revelation often emerges from points of crisis, forging deeper intimacy and understanding of God's character through necessity.
Exodus 15 22 Commentary
Exodus 15:22 marks an abrupt transition from the exultant praise of Israel's deliverance at the Red Sea to the stark realities of their wilderness journey. After the crescendo of the Song of Moses, Moses immediately leads the vast multitude into the arid Wilderness of Shur. The specific detail of "three days" without finding water is crucial; it highlights the rapid onset of a life-threatening crisis following a period of divine glory. This sudden and profound need for water immediately exposes Israel's utter dependence on God, not only for their miraculous salvation from Egypt but for their daily sustenance. The desert serves as a testing ground where God would reveal more of Himself, train His people in trust and obedience, and demonstrate that life after salvation is a journey requiring ongoing faith and reliance upon His consistent provision, even in the harshest environments. This episode sets the pattern for Israel's future complaints and God's patient, albeit often corrective, responses, demonstrating His desire to form a people who live by faith in His word and provision rather than by sight.