Exodus 15 9

Exodus 15:9 kjv

The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

Exodus 15:9 nkjv

The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.'

Exodus 15:9 niv

The enemy boasted, 'I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.'

Exodus 15:9 esv

The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.'

Exodus 15:9 nlt

"The enemy boasted, 'I will chase them
and catch up with them.
I will plunder them
and consume them.
I will flash my sword;
my powerful hand will destroy them.'

Exodus 15 verses

Exodus 15 9 Meaning

Exodus 15:9 verbalizes the defiant, overconfident boast of Pharaoh and his army against the Israelites and their God, YHWH. It outlines their firm intentions for relentless military pursuit, complete subjugation, plunder of their adversaries, and profound personal gratification from the utter destruction of their former slaves. This declaration encapsulates human arrogance and a false sense of control, dramatically setting the stage for the swift and overwhelming divine intervention that immediately follows in the Song of the Sea.

Exodus 15 9 Context

Exodus 15:9 is a pivotal part of the "Song of the Sea" (Ex 15:1-18), a triumphal hymn sung by Moses and the Israelites following their miraculous crossing of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh's army. Chapter 14 details Pharaoh's resolute pursuit of the Israelites into the sea, showcasing his military might and unyielding intent to re-enslave them. Verse 9 succinctly encapsulates these arrogant and vengeful thoughts and plans that drove Pharaoh, highlighting the enemy's perception of absolute control and impending victory. This declaration, articulated at the height of Pharaoh's confidence, serves as a literary device to intensify the subsequent divine reversal, powerfully contrasting human hubris with God's ultimate sovereignty and effortless deliverance. Historically, Pharaoh, as ruler of Egypt, was considered divine or divinely appointed, and his army was one of the most formidable in the ancient world; his boast reflects typical ancient Near Eastern royal rhetoric of power and self-reliance.

Exodus 15 9 Word analysis

• The enemy said:
  • The enemy (Hebrew: אוֹיֵב, 'oyev): While a general term for adversary, here it specifically identifies Pharaoh and his formidable army. It represents any force aligned against God's purposes and His people, foreshadowing all future opposition. It grounds the specific historical event in a broader theological truth about God's defeat of all who oppose Him.
  • said (Hebrew: אָמַר, 'amar): This common verb conveys not just utterance but an internal resolve. It suggests a firm, confident declaration, reflecting the deeply rooted intention and arrogant will of Pharaoh that preceded his pursuit and would culminate in his defeat.
• 'I will pursue, I will overtake,
  • I will pursue (Hebrew: אֶרְדֹּף, 'erdof): First-person singular, emphatically declares a determined and relentless chase. It conveys a strong personal will and sense of immediate, decisive action. Pharaoh views himself as master of the situation.
  • I will overtake (Hebrew: אַשִּׂיג, 'assig): To catch up with, seize, lay hold of. This term intensifies the prior statement, signifying absolute certainty of apprehending the fleeing Israelites and the inevitability of their recapture.
• I will divide the spoil;
  • I will divide the spoil (Hebrew: אֲחַלֵּק שָׁלָל, 'achaleq shalál): This phrase vividly depicts the outcome of military victory: plunder and material gain. It signifies the complete subjugation and exploitation of Israel, treating them as mere chattel or possessions to be seized and apportioned. It emphasizes a mercenary and victorious attitude.
• my desire shall have its fill of them;
  • my desire (Hebrew: נַפְשִׁי, nafshi): Literally "my soul" or "my inner being." This denotes a deep, personal appetite or craving for satisfaction and revenge, indicating an emotional and vindictive motivation beyond mere military strategy or economic gain.
  • shall have its fill of them (Hebrew: תִמְלָאֵמוֹ, timle'emo): "Be filled with them" or "be sated upon them." This implies a complete gratification of Pharaoh's hatred and vindictiveness, envisioning the total absorption or destruction of the Israelites to satisfy his deep-seated desire for control and vengeance.
• I will draw my sword,
  • I will draw my sword (Hebrew: אָרִיק חַרְבִּי, 'ariq charbi): Literally, "I will empty my sword" (from its sheath). This is a direct, violent gesture, symbolizing readiness for direct confrontation and bloodshed. It emphasizes lethal intent and the initiation of battle.
• my hand shall destroy them.'
  • my hand (Hebrew: יָדִי, yadi): Represents personal power, strength, and agency. Pharaoh explicitly attributes the power for the coming destruction to himself, claiming total command and control over life and death.
  • shall destroy them (Hebrew: תּוֹרִישֵׁם, torishem): To dispossess, take as an inheritance (implying eradication), impoverish, or utterly demolish. It means absolute annihilation or total subjugation, leaving no remnant or resistance.
• Words-group by words-group:
  • "I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil": This opening triplet emphasizes an aggressive, sequential military strategy. Each "I will" is a self-assured declaration of a planned, progressive action from engagement to decisive victory and profitable outcome. It speaks to Pharaoh's confident assumption of control over the battle and its spoils.
  • "my desire shall have its fill of them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them": This second triplet shifts focus from mere military strategy to a more visceral and personal vendetta. It connects the action directly to Pharaoh's emotional state, moving from satisfaction of "desire" to direct, brutal "sword" action and the ultimate "destruction" wrought by "my hand." The cumulative effect of these six "I will" statements (or actions) in close succession powerfully highlights Pharaoh's unbridled hubris and complete self-reliance, standing in stark contrast to God's actions in the next verse (15:10), which are described as simple, effortless, and omnipotent. This sets up a profound literary and theological confrontation between human boasting and divine sovereignty.

Exodus 15 9 Bonus section

• Polemics against Egyptian Theology: This verse stands as a profound polemic against the ancient Egyptian worldview, where Pharaoh was considered a living god or demigod who controlled fate and the prosperity of the land. His boast in Exodus 15:9 mimics the powerful decrees common in royal inscriptions of the era. The immediate shattering of these decrees by a simple act of YHWH (the breath/wind of God, Ex 15:10) delivers a devastating blow to the perceived omnipotence of Pharaoh and, by extension, to the entire pantheon of Egyptian gods who supposedly empowered him. YHWH is shown to be superior to all human and pagan deities.
• Dramatic Irony: For the audience, especially those listening to the Song of the Sea after the Red Sea miracle, Pharaoh's bold declaration is laced with intense dramatic irony. Every "I will" articulated by the enemy heightens the knowing anticipation of his ultimate downfall, transforming his boasts into a prelude to inevitable doom, thereby intensifying the celebratory tone of the song.
• Contrasting Wills: The six powerful "I will" statements of Pharaoh contrast sharply with the divine action in Exodus 15:10. While Pharaoh meticulously plans, desires, and threatens, God acts with a single, simple, and overwhelmingly powerful command or natural force ("You blew with Your wind; the sea covered them; They sank..."). This emphasizes the fundamental difference between limited human will, however defiant, and effortless divine omnipotence.

Exodus 15 9 Commentary

Exodus 15:9 encapsulates the very essence of human arrogance in defiance of divine will. Pharaoh's series of "I will" declarations reveals a spirit consumed by self-importance, assuming absolute control over life, death, and destiny. His intent was not merely strategic conquest but total, vengeful subjugation and gratification, viewing the Israelites as nothing more than spoil. This verse, recited within the triumphal "Song of the Sea," functions as the pinnacle of human rebellion against God, making the subsequent swift and effortless divine judgment all the more impactful. It powerfully illustrates that no matter how mighty or self-assured human opposition may be, all earthly power and boasts crumble before the sovereign will of the Almighty. The defeat of Pharaoh serves as a timeless demonstration that God fights for His people, ensuring His purposes prevail despite the grandest schemes of the ungodly, offering assurance to His followers even in seemingly insurmountable odds.