Exodus 15 5

Exodus 15:5 kjv

The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.

Exodus 15:5 nkjv

The depths have covered them; They sank to the bottom like a stone.

Exodus 15:5 niv

The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone.

Exodus 15:5 esv

The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone.

Exodus 15:5 nlt

The deep waters gushed over them;
they sank to the bottom like a stone.

Exodus 15 verses

Exodus 15 5 meaning

Exodus 15:5 describes the complete and irreversible destruction of the pursuing Egyptian army by the powerful waters of the Red Sea. The waters, earlier divided to create a path for Israel, returned with full force to overwhelm the Egyptians, causing them to sink helplessly and immediately into the deep, likened to stones. This verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His decisive judgment upon His enemies, demonstrating His unmatched power and fidelity to His covenant.

Exodus 15 5 Context

Exodus chapter 15, widely known as the "Song of the Sea" or "Song of Moses," is an ancient poetic hymn of praise and triumph sung by Moses and the Israelites. It immediately follows the miraculous Red Sea crossing and the destruction of Pharaoh's army, forming the earliest preserved celebration of the Lord's redemptive power in the Bible. After witnessing God's spectacular intervention, leading them on dry ground through the sea while engulfing their formidable pursuers, Israel responds with awe, worship, and declarations of God's unparalleled might. Verse 5 specifically recounts the devastating fate of the Egyptian forces, emphasizing their swift, complete, and unrecoverable drowning in the returning waters. This verse profoundly underscores the Lord's absolute control over creation and His decisive judgment, highlighting the divine reversal where the mighty were vanquished and the humble delivered.

Word Analysis

• "The deeps" (תְּהֹמֹת - təhōmōt): Plural of tehom, a profound biblical term denoting primordial waters, the abyss, or a vast, unfathomable expanse of water (e.g., Gen 1:2). Here, its use signifies the immense volume and depth of the Red Sea that enveloped the Egyptians, far beyond mere surface water. It evokes imagery of chaotic forces, now directly under God's control, serving His purpose of judgment. This term suggests not merely drowning, but utter engulfment by the profound, overwhelming waters.

• "covered them" (כִּסּוּמוּ - kīssūmū): From the verb kasah, meaning "to cover, conceal, overwhelm." This indicates a thorough and complete inundation, signifying that the Egyptians were not merely dipped, but entirely engulfed and swallowed by the water, leaving no hope of survival or escape. The action is absolute and conclusive.

• they went down (יָרְדוּ - yārədū): From yarad, meaning "to descend, go down, sink." This verb conveys the rapid, involuntary, and irresistible downward movement of the Egyptians, in stark contrast to Israel's deliberate passage "up out of the midst of the sea." It emphasizes their helplessness and inability to resist the divine force propelling them downward.

• "into the depths" (בִּמְצוֹלֹת - bimtsōlōt): Plural of mətsōlāh, meaning "deep places" or "bottom of the sea." While tehomot signifies the general mass of deep water, mətsōlōt specifically points to the lowest part, the very floor of the sea. This repetition of "deep" intensifies the imagery, ensuring the reader grasps the profound nature of their sinking—they reached the very bottom, underscoring total and irreversible destruction.

• "like a stone" (כָּאֶבֶן - kā'even): A vivid and powerful simile comparing the descent of the Egyptians to the instantaneous, heavy sinking of a stone. This image emphasizes immediacy, weight, lack of struggle or buoyancy, and absolute finality. A stone, once cast into water, sinks quickly and irrecoverably. This simile effectively conveys the utter helplessness and complete doom of the mighty Egyptian army.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "The deeps covered them": This phrase personifies the waters as an active agent, obeying God's command. It graphically depicts the overwhelming force and complete defeat of the Egyptians by a natural element divinely manipulated. This directly counters the pagan Egyptian belief in the invincibility of their army and Pharaoh's divinity; instead, the very forces Pharaoh was thought to command now overwhelm him.
  • "they went down into the depths like a stone": This paints a dramatic and final picture of instantaneous, involuntary, and absolute doom. The combined force of "went down," "into the depths," and "like a stone" eliminates any notion of a lingering struggle, highlighting the helplessness and finality of their end. This stands in stark contrast to Israel's secure passage on dry land, underscoring the completeness of God's salvation and judgment.

Exodus 15 5 Commentary

Exodus 15:5 succinctly yet powerfully details the culmination of God's judgment against the Egyptian army at the Red Sea. It is a poetic description emphasizing the overwhelming force with which the waters, having served as a pathway for Israel, became a tomb for their pursuers. The verse portrays an immediate, profound, and utterly complete destruction. There was no escape; the mighty Egyptian chariots and horsemen, the symbol of the ancient world's military prowess, were swallowed whole by the very deep that God controls, sinking without resistance like mere stones. This narrative detail testifies to the absolute sovereignty of the Lord, demonstrating that no human power can stand against His decree. It powerfully proclaims divine justice and deliverance, establishing God as the supreme Warrior and Deliverer who alone triumphs over the forces arrayed against His people. This dramatic event served to instill both fear and reverence for the Lord among His people and the surrounding nations.

• Examples: Just as a weighty rock dropped into water instantly vanishes below the surface, so too were the vast Egyptian forces, with all their advanced weaponry and numerous soldiers, utterly consumed by the Red Sea, demonstrating their utter powerlessness against divine command.

Bonus Section

• The repetition of terms related to "deep" (təhōmōt and mətsōlōt) within a single verse significantly amplifies the catastrophic nature of the event and underlines God's comprehensive power over the chaotic, primal forces of creation.
• This verse stands as a profound polemic against Egyptian pantheon and Pharaoh's perceived divinity. The supposed 'gods' associated with the Nile or creation could do nothing to save their champions when the God of Israel commanded the very waters they supposedly ruled.
• The Red Sea event is foundational in forming Israel's identity as a redeemed people and served as a powerful incentive for other nations to recognize the incomparable might of the God of Israel (Exod 15:14-16).
• The imagery here, particularly "like a stone," may echo Exod 15:10 where it states, "they sank like lead." Both similes emphasize weight, swiftness, and irretrievability, reinforcing the absolute finality of their doom.