Psalm 106:9 kjv
He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
Psalm 106:9 nkjv
He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up; So He led them through the depths, As through the wilderness.
Psalm 106:9 niv
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert.
Psalm 106:9 esv
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert.
Psalm 106:9 nlt
He commanded the Red Sea to dry up.
He led Israel across the sea as if it were a desert.
Psalm 106 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Red Sea Event | ||
| Ex 14:21-22 | Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea…and the Lord made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided…and the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground... | Detailed account of the crossing |
| Ex 15:8 | With the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up; the surging waters stood up like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea. | Song of Moses, celebrating God's power over the waters |
| Josh 24:6-7 | "…I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea. And the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. And when they cried to the Lord, he put darkness…and brought the sea over them…" | Joshua recounting God's salvific act at the sea |
| Neh 9:11 | "You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry ground…" | Nehemiah's prayer recalling God's miraculous rescue |
| Isa 63:11-13 | "Then his people remembered the days of old, of Moses his servant: ‘Where is he who brought them up out of the sea…who led them through the depths?’" | Recalling God's past leadership and power over the sea |
| Ps 77:16 | When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they trembled; indeed, the deeps were agitated. | Emphasizes creation's awe at God's presence at the sea |
| Ps 114:3 | The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back. | Personification of the sea's flight before God |
| God's Sovereignty Over Water & Chaos | ||
| Gen 1:9 | And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." | Echoes of creation: God separating waters to reveal dry land |
| Job 26:12 | By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab. | God's absolute dominion over the sea and primeval chaos |
| Ps 18:15 | Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. | Channels of water appearing at God's rebuke |
| Ps 74:13-14 | You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters. | God's powerful dominion over monstrous sea creatures and chaos |
| Ps 89:9 | You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. | God's continual control over the tumultuous sea |
| Ps 93:3-4 | The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice…mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty. | God's supreme might surpasses the most powerful forces of nature |
| Nah 1:4 | He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers. | Direct parallel of God "rebuking" and drying up waters |
| Isa 50:2 | "Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea; I make the rivers a desert…" | God's unwavering power to dry up water through rebuke |
| Zech 3:2 | And the Lord said to Satan, "The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!" | Usage of "rebuke" against an adversarial spiritual force, like in Ps 106:9 |
| Divine Guidance & Providence | ||
| Ex 13:21 | And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. | God's continuous guidance for Israel |
| Ps 77:20 | You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. | God's pastoral care and leadership |
| Ps 78:52 | He led forth his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. | Emphasis on God as a shepherd leading His flock |
| New Testament & Typology | ||
| 1 Cor 10:1-2 | For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea… | The Red Sea crossing as a type of baptism and a lesson for believers |
| Heb 11:29 | By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do the same they were drowned. | The Red Sea event as an example of faith's power and consequences |
| Rev 15:2 | And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image…standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God. | Symbolic sea as a boundary, transcended by God's victorious saints |
Psalm 106 verses
Psalm 106 9 Meaning
Psalm 106:9 describes a foundational miracle in Israel's history: God's direct, powerful intervention at the Red Sea (Yam Suph) during the Exodus. It highlights God's supreme authority over creation, as He effortlessly commanded the waters to part, transforming an impassable deep into a traversable dry path. This act showcased His omnipotence and faithfulness in leading His people through seemingly impossible circumstances, treating the turbulent depths as easily traversable as dry wilderness.
Psalm 106 9 Context
Psalm 106 is a historical psalm, the fourth in a series of psalms (Psalms 104-106) praising God for His deeds and mercy. While Psalm 105 recounts God's faithfulness and covenant loyalty to Israel from Abraham to the settlement in Canaan, Psalm 106 contrasts this with Israel's chronic faithlessness and rebellion, chronicling their unfaithfulness from the Exodus to the Babylonian exile. Verse 9 is placed at the beginning of this historical recount, highlighting God's mighty saving act at the Red Sea as the pivotal moment of their deliverance from Egypt. This foundational event serves as a stark reminder of God's incredible power and unwavering commitment to His covenant, setting the stage against which Israel's repeated failures (recounted in the subsequent verses) appear even more stark and ungrateful. Historically and culturally, the splitting of the Red Sea was not just an escape but a monumental demonstration of Yahweh's unparalleled supremacy over both natural forces and opposing empires (Egypt), directly challenging the pagan deities associated with creation and water that were prevalent in ancient Near Eastern religions.
Psalm 106 9 Word analysis
He rebuked: From the Hebrew verb וַיִּגְעַר (way-yiḡ-‘ar), derived from גָּעַר (ga‘ar). This term signifies a strong, authoritative reprimand or rebuke, often implying judgment or censure. It is used elsewhere to describe God rebuking chaotic forces (Ps 9:5, Ps 68:30) or even Satan (Zech 3:2). Here, it demonstrates God's effortless, sovereign power over nature; the sea is not merely responding to a natural phenomenon but directly to a divine command, as a person would obey a master. This shows Yahweh's absolute control, contrasting with ancient Near Eastern myths where deities struggled with or were formed from chaotic waters.
the Red Sea: לְיַם־סוּף (lə-yam-sūp̄), Yam Suph. Commonly translated as "Red Sea," scholars debate its precise geographical location, but it undeniably refers to the body of water that presented an insurmountable barrier for the Israelites and where God wrought a miracle. Its specific name connects the event to the Exodus narrative (Ex 13:18, Ex 15:4). The addition of "also" (גַּם, gam) implies this act of God's power was not isolated but part of a series of mighty deeds He performed.
also: גַּם (gam). This small particle indicates "even," "too," or "likewise." Its inclusion here implies that God's power over the Red Sea was another, equally significant, demonstration of His might, following previous miracles in Egypt. It serves to amplify the extraordinary nature of the event within God's grand plan of redemption.
and it was dried up: וַיֶּחֱרָב (way-yeḥĕ-rāḇ). From חָרַב (kharav), meaning to be dry, desolate, wasted, or laid waste. This signifies a complete and absolute drying, not merely a lowering of water levels. It speaks to the supernatural, instantaneous desiccation that allowed the millions of Israelites to pass through on solid ground. This divine intervention removed all natural barriers, making a path where none existed.
so he led them through: וַיּוֹלִיכֵם (way-yō-lî-ḵêm). This is the Hiphil form of הָלַךְ (halak), "to go," making it causative, "He caused them to go" or "He led them." It strongly emphasizes God's direct agency and active role as their Guide. This wasn't a passive permission but an intentional, guided deliverance. It foreshadows His continued guidance through the wilderness.
the depths: בַּתְּהֹמוֹת (ba-tə-hō-mōṯ), from תְּהוֹם (tehom), meaning deep, abyss, primordial ocean. This term is used in Genesis 1:2 to describe the primeval deep before creation. Here, it signifies the profound, vast, and dangerous waters of the sea, highlighting the impossibility of the human feat. By leading them "through the depths," God demonstrated His complete mastery over chaos and the most daunting natural forces.
as through the wilderness: כַּמִּדְבָּר (ka-miḏ-bār). The Hebrew מִדְבָּר (midbar) denotes an uninhabited, often dry and desolate area; a desert or pasture. The particle כְּ (k) means "as" or "like." This powerful comparison contrasts the treacherous, water-filled "depths" with the dry, though challenging, "wilderness." The profound irony and miraculous nature are emphasized: God made a wet, chaotic, impassable abyss as easy to traverse as the supposedly dry, open desert. Both environments presented their own dangers, yet God led them safely through both.
Words-group analysis:
- "He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up": This phrase highlights the absolute and effortless power of God. The sequence of rebuke and immediate drying demonstrates divine sovereignty over creation. It implies an irresistible command that nature obeys without resistance, underscoring that Yahweh is above all forces and gods.
- "so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness": This comparison juxtaposes two fundamentally different environments—an abyss of water and a parched desert—yet describes them as equally passable under God's guidance. It powerfully illustrates the paradox of God's saving power: He turns the utterly impossible into a safe pathway, emphasizing His continuous provision and leadership regardless of the external circumstances.
Psalm 106 9 Bonus section
The act of God "rebuking" the sea carries theological weight beyond a simple command. In ancient Near Eastern cosmogonies, chaotic waters often represented primordial forces that deities had to contend with. Yahweh's rebuke, however, shows Him not struggling with but effortlessly asserting His sovereign control over such chaos, reiterating the creation account where He simply speaks to organize the world. This specific miracle serves as a prototype for God's redemptive work, often being referenced in prophetic literature (e.g., Isa 51:9-11) as a past act that guarantees future salvation and liberation. Furthermore, the New Testament draws a direct typological link between the Red Sea crossing and Christian baptism (1 Cor 10:1-2), symbolizing God's power to deliver His people through water to a new life and relationship with Him, signifying a spiritual exodus from sin's bondage into the freedom of Christ.
Psalm 106 9 Commentary
Psalm 106:9 succinctly encapsulates a defining moment in Israel's history: God's miraculous intervention at the Red Sea. The use of "rebuked" vividly portrays God's majestic authority, indicating an authoritative command rather than a struggle, effortlessly reducing a raging sea to dry ground. This single act demonstrated His supreme dominion over nature and chaos, positioning Him far above any human power or pagan deity. By leading His people "through the depths" as if "through the wilderness," the psalmist highlights God's ability to transform an impassable, life-threatening barrier into a path of salvation, illustrating His continuous, faithful guidance through any seemingly insurmountable obstacle. This foundational deliverance became a testament to God's omnipotence and served as the cornerstone of Israel's national identity, reminding them that their existence and preservation were solely by His miraculous hand.