Psalms 78:13
He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.
Original Language Analysis
יָ֭ם
the sea
H3220
יָ֭ם
the sea
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
2 of 7
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
וַיַּֽעֲבִירֵ֑ם
and caused them to pass through
H5674
וַיַּֽעֲבִירֵ֑ם
and caused them to pass through
Strong's:
H5674
Word #:
3 of 7
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
וַֽיַּצֶּב
to stand
H5324
וַֽיַּצֶּב
to stand
Strong's:
H5324
Word #:
4 of 7
to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Exodus 14:21And 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.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.Joshua 3:16That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
Historical Context
The Exodus (circa 1446 BC) marked Israel's birth as a nation. The Red Sea crossing occurred after the tenth plague killed Egypt's firstborn, prefiguring how Christ's death (the final Passover) opens the way through death to resurrection life.
Questions for Reflection
- How does your baptism connect you to this ancient redemption narrative?
- What 'sea' has God divided in your life to deliver you from slavery to sin?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap—the Red Sea crossing (yam-sûp, Exodus 14) stands as the defining act of redemption in the Old Testament, the typological precursor to baptism. The Hebrew bāqa' (divided) means to cleave or split completely, the same word used when rocks split (v. 15).
The 'heap' (nēd) of standing water defied natural law, requiring sustained miraculous intervention. Hebrews 11:29 attributes this to faith, while 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 identifies it as baptismal typology—'baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.' What saved Israel drowned Egypt, just as the gospel saves believers but condemns rejecters (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).