Devine Scripture

Exodus 14:21

What does Exodus 14:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Exodus 14:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Exodus 14:21 means

Moses obeyed God's command, stretching his hand over the sea. The Lord then dramatically intervened, causing a powerful east wind to blow all night, which drove back the sea and transformed the seabed into dry ground. This miraculous division of the waters was a direct demonstration of God's power over creation, making a clear path through the seemingly impassable barrier. This event powerfully confirms God's earlier promise to deliver Israel and sets the stage for their walk to freedom.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when Moses' hand was stretched out over the sea, the Lord with a strong east wind made the sea go back all night, and the waters were parted in two and the sea became dry land.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Moses stretcheth out his hand towards the sea, and Jehovah causeth the sea to go on by a strong east wind all the night, and maketh the sea become dry ground, and the waters are cleaved,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And when Moses had stretched forth his hand over the sea, the Lord took it away by a strong and burning wind blowing all the night, and turned it into dry ground: and the water was divided.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah made the sea go [back] by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry [land], and the waters were divided.

Context

This verse describes the climactic action of Moses and God's powerful response, physically parting the Red Sea. It is the direct fulfillment of God's instructions to Moses in verse 16 and immediately precedes the Israelites' miraculous crossing. This act is the central miracle of the chapter, showcasing God's direct intervention and setting up the subsequent events of pursuit and destruction.

v.20and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by night: and the one came not near the other all the night.

v.21This passage

v.22And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Psalms 74:13

    Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: Thou brakest the heads of the sea-monsters in the waters.

  • Isaiah 51:10

    Is it not thou that driedst up the sea, the waters of the great deep; that madest the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?

  • Isaiah 51:15

    For I am Jehovah thy God, who stirreth up the sea, so that the waves thereof roar: Jehovah of hosts is his name.

  • Psalms 78:13

    He clave the sea, and caused them to pass through; And he made the waters to stand as a heap.

  • Exodus 15:8

    And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were piled up, The floods stood upright as a heap; The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.

  • Isaiah 63:12

    that caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses? that divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

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