Exodus 14:22
And 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.
Original Language Analysis
בְנֵֽי
And the children
H1121
בְנֵֽי
And the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
2 of 11
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
3 of 11
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
בְּת֥וֹךְ
into the midst
H8432
בְּת֥וֹךְ
into the midst
Strong's:
H8432
Word #:
4 of 11
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
הַיָּ֖ם
of the sea
H3220
הַיָּ֖ם
of the sea
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
5 of 11
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
וְהַמַּ֤יִם
ground and the waters
H4325
וְהַמַּ֤יִם
ground and the waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
7 of 11
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
Cross References
Hebrews 11:29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.Psalms 66:6He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.Psalms 78:13He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.Exodus 15:19For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.Exodus 14:29But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.Isaiah 63:13That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?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.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.1 Corinthians 10:1Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;Numbers 33:8And they departed from before Pi-hahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.
Historical Context
The crossing likely occurred at the northern end of the Red Sea or one of the lake regions. Regardless of location, the miracle was the wall-like waters held back while Israel walked through on dry ground.
Questions for Reflection
- What does walking 'into the midst of the sea' require in terms of faith when God commands but you see no path?
- How does passing through water-walls picture baptism—passing through death (waters) to resurrection life?
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Analysis & Commentary
The statement 'the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground' describes the impossible made real. Walking 'into the midst of the sea' required faith—entering where water should be. The waters 'were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left' pictures walls of water held supernaturally. This creates a corridor of salvation through judgment. Paul later types this as baptism (1 Corinthians 10:1-2)—passing through waters of death into new life.