Nehemiah 9:11
What does Nehemiah 9:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 9:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 9:11 means
God parted the sea, letting Israel pass through on dry ground, and then cast their pursuers into the depths like a stone into mighty waters. This vivid contrast displays salvation and judgment in one act. The same waters that opened for God’s people closed over their enemies. The verse teaches that deliverance is by God’s power, not Israel’s strength, and that He decisively ends the tyranny that held them. Their freedom is not precarious; it rests on a finished act of God. Remembering this anchors faith: the God who brings out also keeps safe. It also underscores His sovereignty over creation, which serves His redemptive purposes.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their pursuers thou didst cast into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their pursuers thou didst cast into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949By you the sea was parted before them, so that they went through the sea on dry land; and those who went after them went down into the deep, like a stone into great waters.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the sea Thou hast cleaved before them, and they pass over into the midst of the sea on the dry land, and their pursuers Thou hast cast into the depths, as a stone, into the strong waters.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And thou didst divide the sea before them, and they passed through the midst of the sea on dry land: but their persecutors thou threwest into the depth, as a stone into mighty waters.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And thou didst divide the sea before them, and they went through the midst of the sea on dry [ground]; and their pursuers thou threwest into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.
Context
The exodus narrative reaches its peak in the sea crossing. From here, the prayer moves to God’s ongoing guidance (verse 12) and revelation at Sinai (verses 13–14). The sequence builds a theology of salvation: God rescues, then He leads and instructs His people, shaping them into a covenant community destined for a promised land.
v.10and showedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land; for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them, and didst get thee a name, as it is this day.
v.11This passage
v.12Moreover in a pillar of cloud thou leddest them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 63:11
Then he remembered the days of old, Mosesandhis people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit in the midst of them?
- Exodus 14:27
And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and Jehovah overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
- Psalms 114:3
The sea saw it, and fled; The Jordan was driven back.
- Psalms 136:13
To him that divided the Red Sea in sunder; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;
- Psalms 66:6
He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot: There did we rejoice in him.
- Revelation 18:21
And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all.
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