Psalm 78 13

Psalm 78:13 kjv

He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.

Psalm 78:13 nkjv

He divided the sea and caused them to pass through; And He made the waters stand up like a heap.

Psalm 78:13 niv

He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand up like a wall.

Psalm 78:13 esv

He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap.

Psalm 78:13 nlt

For he divided the sea and led them through,
making the water stand up like walls!

Psalm 78 verses

Psalm 78 13 Meaning

This verse recounts the miraculous division of the Red Sea, enabling the Israelites to walk through on dry land. It highlights God's immense power and sovereign control over creation, demonstrating His divine intervention to rescue His people and fulfill His covenant promises. The act was a foundational display of His omnipotence for the newly formed nation of Israel.

Psalm 78 13 Context

Psalm 78 is a maskil, or didactic poem, by Asaph. It serves as a historical recount and moral lesson, instructing God's people by reviewing Israel's history from the Exodus to the time of David. The psalm emphasizes God's faithfulness despite Israel's persistent rebellion and forgetfulness of His mighty deeds. Verse 13 describes the foundational miracle of the Red Sea crossing, a pivotal event marking Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage and their initiation as God's covenant nation. It sets the stage for God's subsequent provision and Israel's repeated failures recounted in the following verses, highlighting the deep contrast between divine grace and human unfaithfulness. Historically, the audience would recall this event as central to their national identity and religious memory, confirming God's absolute sovereignty and their special relationship with Him. The vivid imagery here also serves as an indirect polemic against pagan deities associated with water or natural forces, unequivocally establishing YHWH's supreme power over creation.

Psalm 78 13 Word analysis

• He divided (בָּקַע - baqaʿ): A strong, active verb meaning "to split," "to cleave open," or "to tear apart." It conveys a decisive, forceful, and intentional act. Used for splitting wood, tearing cloth, breaking open ground. Here, it signifies a supernatural cleavage of the water, not a mere ebb. It emphasizes God's direct, physical intervention upon nature.
• the sea (יָם - yam): Refers to the Red Sea (Hebrew: Yam Suph, 'Sea of Reeds'), a significant barrier. In ancient Near Eastern cosmologies, chaotic waters often represented untamed, threatening forces or even deities. God's dividing the sea asserts His dominion over chaos and any perceived rival power.
• and caused them to pass through (וַיַּעֲבִירֵם - vayyaʿavirem): From the Hiphil causative stem of 'abar', meaning "to cause to cross over" or "to lead through." This highlights God's active agency and guidance. He not only created the way but also enabled and directed their passage, showing His tender care alongside His might. The passive victims became active participants, moved by God's will.
• and He made the waters stand up (וַיַּצֶּב מַיִם - vayyatztev mayim): Hiphil causative of 'yatsav', "to stand" or "to set up." This portrays an unprecedented defiance of natural law. Water, by nature, spreads and flows downwards; God commanded it to become solid walls, fixed and stable, holding its position. This is not just a momentary parting, but a sustained, deliberate act of suspension.
• like a heap (נֵד - ned): Refers to a "mound," "heap," or "pile." This vivid simile suggests solidity and immovability. The waters were piled up like an impenetrable wall on either side, defying gravity. The same word is used for the piling up of the Jordan waters in Joshua 3:13, 16, reinforcing the unique, supernatural nature of such an occurrence. It conveys both the incredible volume and the stable form of the piled-up waters.

Psalm 78 13 Bonus section

This Red Sea miracle is not merely a historical record but a prophetic type, foreshadowing future divine interventions and salvation. The passage through water into freedom and new identity is paralleled in the New Testament with Christian baptism, symbolizing a crossing from the bondage of sin to new life in Christ (1 Cor 10:1-2). Furthermore, God's mastery over the chaotic waters establishes His ultimate authority over all earthly and spiritual powers. This specific act highlights that divine redemption often involves God manipulating natural elements, not just human wills, asserting a cosmic sovereignty that includes judgment and creation. The account serves as a recurring reminder for future generations to recall God's "wonders" and avoid the "backsliding" that characterized their ancestors.

Psalm 78 13 Commentary

Psalm 78:13 concisely recounts God's pivotal act of deliverance at the Red Sea, encapsulating His supreme power and care for Israel. This verse stands as a cornerstone of the nation's foundational history, serving as an immutable testament to God's omnipotence and faithfulness. The language emphasizes active, causative divine action – God divided, God caused to pass, God made to stand. This was not a natural phenomenon coincidentally benefiting Israel, but a direct, deliberate miracle performed by God, overturning the very laws of creation for the salvation of His people. The visual imagery of "waters stand[ing] up like a heap" reinforces the unnatural and magnificent scale of the event. It reminds the audience that the God who delivers is sovereign over all forces, visible and invisible, thereby building trust in His power to intervene in their lives. The constant repetition of this historical event throughout the biblical narrative underlines its theological significance as a paradigm of divine redemption, demonstrating that God is the rescuer who makes a way where there is none, setting the stage for future acts of salvation.