Exodus 15:22

Authorized King James Version

So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיַּסַּ֨ע
brought
properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e., start on a journey
#2
מֹשֶׁ֤ה
So Moses
mosheh, the israelite lawgiver
#3
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#4
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙
Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#5
מִיַּם
sea
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
#6
ס֔וּף
from the Red
a reed, especially the papyrus
#7
וַיֵּֽצְא֖וּ
and they went out
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
#8
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#9
בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר
in the wilderness
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
#10
שׁ֑וּר
of Shur
shur, a region of the desert
#11
וַיֵּֽלְכ֧וּ
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#12
שְׁלֹֽשֶׁת
three
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
#13
יָמִ֛ים
days
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#14
בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר
in the wilderness
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
#15
וְלֹא
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#16
מָ֥צְאוּ
and found
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
#17
מָֽיִם׃
no water
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the period of Egyptian bondage and wilderness wandering (c. 1440-1400 BCE) provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

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