Exodus 14:21
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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיֵּ֨ט
stretched out
H5186
וַיֵּ֨ט
stretched out
Strong's:
H5186
Word #:
1 of 21
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יָדוֹ֮
his hand
H3027
יָדוֹ֮
his hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
4 of 21
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 21
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַיָּ֖ם
caused the sea
H3220
הַיָּ֖ם
caused the sea
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
6 of 21
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
וַיּ֣וֹלֶךְ
H1980
וַיּ֣וֹלֶךְ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
7 of 21
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
יְהוָ֣ה׀
and the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה׀
and the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
8 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַיָּ֖ם
caused the sea
H3220
הַיָּ֖ם
caused the sea
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
10 of 21
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
בְּר֨וּחַ
wind
H7307
בְּר֨וּחַ
wind
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
11 of 21
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
קָדִ֤ים
east
H6921
קָדִ֤ים
east
Strong's:
H6921
Word #:
12 of 21
the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the east (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
14 of 21
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַלַּ֔יְלָה
all that night
H3915
הַלַּ֔יְלָה
all that night
Strong's:
H3915
Word #:
15 of 21
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
וַיָּ֥שֶׂם
and made
H7760
וַיָּ֥שֶׂם
and made
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
16 of 21
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
17 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַיָּ֖ם
caused the sea
H3220
הַיָּ֖ם
caused the sea
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
18 of 21
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
Cross References
Isaiah 63:12That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?Exodus 15:8And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.Psalms 66:6He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.Isaiah 51:10Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?Nehemiah 9:11And 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.Psalms 74:13Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.Psalms 78:13He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.Joshua 4:23For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:Psalms 136:13To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:Job 26:12He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.
Historical Context
The timing 'all that night' while the cloud barrier held Egypt back allowed the sea floor to become dry enough for passage. The east wind from the desert was hot and powerful, capable of extraordinary effects.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God using natural means (wind) for supernatural ends (divided sea) demonstrate His sovereignty over creation?
- What impossible obstacle is God preparing to divide in your life while holding back the enemy?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Moses' obedience—'stretched out his hand over the sea'—activates God's power. The LORD's action: 'caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night' combines supernatural and natural means. The 'strong east wind' (ruach qadim azah, רוּחַ קָדִים עַזָּה) was fierce enough to divide waters. The result: 'made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided' created a path through impossibility. God uses creation to accomplish redemption.