Exodus 14:1-15:21
English Standard Version
Crossing the Red Sea
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to (A)turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between (B)Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 And (C)I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will (D)get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, (E)and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the (F)mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, 7 and took (G)six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 And (H)the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while (I)the people of Israel were going out defiantly. 9 The (J)Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them (K)encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.
10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel (L)cried out to the Lord. 11 They (M)said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what (N)we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, (O)“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For (P)the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 (Q)The Lord will fight for you, and you have only (R)to be silent.”
15 The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 (S)Lift up your staff, and (T)stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And (U)I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and (V)I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians (W)shall know that I am the Lord, (X)when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
19 (Y)Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night[a] without one coming near the other all night.
21 Then Moses (Z)stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by (AA)a strong east wind all night and (AB)made the sea dry land, and the waters were (AC)divided. 22 And (AD)the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being (AE)a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25 clogging[b] their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the (AF)Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, (AG)“Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 (AH)So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea (AI)returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord (AJ)threw[c] the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28 The (AK)waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, (AL)not one of them remained. 29 But the (AM)people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord (AN)saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 (AO)Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they (AP)believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
The Song of Moses
15 Then Moses and the people of Israel (AQ)sang this song to the Lord, saying,
(AR)“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider[d] he has thrown into the sea.
2 (AS)The Lord is my strength and my (AT)song,
and he has become (AU)my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
(AV)my father's God, and (AW)I will exalt him.
3 The Lord is (AX)a man of war;
(AY)the Lord is his name.
4 (AZ)“Pharaoh's chariots and his host he cast into the sea,
and his chosen (BA)officers were sunk in the Red Sea.
5 The (BB)floods covered them;
they (BC)went down into the depths like a stone.
6 (BD)Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,
your right hand, O Lord, (BE)shatters the enemy.
7 In the (BF)greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries;
you send out your fury; it (BG)consumes them like stubble.
8 At the (BH)blast of your nostrils the waters piled up;
the (BI)floods stood up in a heap;
the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy said, (BJ)‘I will pursue, I will overtake,
I (BK)will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.
I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’
10 You (BL)blew with your wind; the (BM)sea covered them;
they sank like lead in the mighty waters.
11 (BN)“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in (BO)glorious deeds, (BP)doing wonders?
12 You stretched out (BQ)your right hand;
the earth swallowed them.
13 “You have (BR)led in your steadfast love the people whom (BS)you have redeemed;
you have (BT)guided them by your strength to your holy abode.
14 (BU)The peoples have heard; they tremble;
pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 Now are the chiefs of Edom (BV)dismayed;
trembling seizes the leaders of (BW)Moab;
(BX)all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.
16 Terror and (BY)dread fall upon them;
because of the greatness of your arm, they are still (BZ)as a stone,
till your people, O Lord, pass by,
till the people pass by whom (CA)you have purchased.
17 You will bring them in and (CB)plant them on your own mountain,
the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode,
(CC)the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.
18 (CD)The Lord will reign forever and ever.”
19 For when (CE)the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, (CF)the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea. 20 Then (CG)Miriam (CH)the prophetess, the (CI)sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and (CJ)all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. 21 And Miriam sang to them:
(CK)“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”
Footnotes
- Exodus 14:20 Septuagint and the night passed
- Exodus 14:25 Or binding (compare Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac); Hebrew removing
- Exodus 14:27 Hebrew shook off
- Exodus 15:1 Or its chariot; also verse 21
Exodus 14:1-15:21
New American Standard Bible
Pharaoh in Pursuit
14 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp in front of (A)Pi-hahiroth, between (B)Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 And (C)I will [a]harden Pharaoh’s heart, and (D)he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and (E)the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, [b]Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this that we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he had horses harnessed to his chariot and took his people with him; 7 and he took six hundred select chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 So (F)the Lord [c]hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out [d](G)boldly. 9 Then (H)the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea, (I)beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.
10 As Pharaoh approached, the sons of Israel [e]looked, and behold, the Egyptians were coming after them, and they became very frightened; (J)so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 Then (K)they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, [f]bringing us out of Egypt? 12 (L)Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘[g]Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!”
The Sea Is Divided
13 But Moses said to the people, “(M)Do not fear! [h]Stand by and see (N)the salvation of the Lord, which He will perform for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, ever. 14 (O)The Lord will fight for you, while (P)you keep silent.”
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. 16 As for you, lift up (Q)your staff and reach out with your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall [i]go through the midst of the sea on dry land. 17 And as for Me, behold, (R)I will [j]harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 (S)Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots, and through his horsemen.”
19 Then (T)the angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud [k]along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Therefore the one did not approach the other all night.
21 (U)Then Moses reached out with his hand over the sea; and the Lord [l]swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into (V)dry land, and (W)the waters were divided. 22 So (X)the sons of Israel [m]went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and (Y)the waters were like a wall to them on their right and on their left. 23 Then (Z)the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea. 24 But at the morning watch, (AA)the Lord looked down on the [n]army of the Egyptians [o]through the pillar of fire and cloud, and brought the [p]army of the Egyptians into confusion. 25 He [q]caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians each said, “Let me flee from Israel, (AB)for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “(AC)Reach out with your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.” 27 So Moses reached out with his hand over the sea, and (AD)the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing [r]right into it; then the Lord [s](AE)overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; (AF)not even one of them remained. 29 But the sons of Israel walked on (AG)dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right and on their left.
30 (AH)So the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel (AI)saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great [t]power which the Lord had [u]used against the Egyptians, the people [v]feared the Lord, and (AJ)they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.
The Song of Moses and Israel
15 (AK)Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the Lord, [w]saying:
“[x](AL)I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted;
(AM)The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.
2 [y](AN)The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
(AO)This is my God, and I will praise Him;
(AP)My father’s God, and I will (AQ)exalt Him.
3 (AR)The Lord is a warrior;
[z](AS)The Lord is His name.
4 (AT)Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has thrown into the sea;
And the choicest of his officers are [aa]drowned in the [ab]Red Sea.
5 The waters cover them;
(AU)They went down into the depths like a stone.
6 (AV)Your right hand, Lord, is majestic in power;
(AW)Your right hand, Lord, destroys the enemy.
7 And in the greatness of Your [ac]excellence You (AX)overthrow those who rise up against You;
(AY)You send out Your burning anger, and it (AZ)consumes them like chaff.
8 (BA)At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up,
(BB)The flowing waters stood up like a heap;
The depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 (BC)The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will (BD)divide the spoils;
[ad]I shall [ae]be satisfied against them;
I will draw my sword, my hand will [af]destroy them.’
10 (BE)You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them;
(BF)They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
11 (BG)Who is like You among the gods, Lord?
Who is like You, (BH)majestic in holiness,
(BI)Awesome in praises, (BJ)working wonders?
12 (BK)You reached out with Your right hand,
The earth swallowed them.
13 In Your [ag]faithfulness You have (BL)led the people whom You have (BM)redeemed;
In Your strength You have guided them (BN)to Your holy habitation.
14 (BO)The peoples have heard, they tremble;
Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 Then the (BP)chiefs of Edom were terrified;
(BQ)The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them;
(BR)All the inhabitants of Canaan have despaired.
16 (BS)Terror and dread fall upon them;
(BT)By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone,
Until Your people pass over, Lord,
Until the people pass over whom You (BU)have purchased.
17 (BV)You will bring them and (BW)plant them in (BX)the mountain of Your inheritance,
(BY)The place, Lord, which You have made as Your dwelling,
(BZ)The sanctuary, Lord, which Your hands have established.
18 (CA)The Lord shall reign forever and ever.”
19 (CB)For the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea on them, but the sons of Israel walked on (CC)dry land through the midst of the sea.
20 (CD)Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the (CE)tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with [ah](CF)dancing. 21 And Miriam answered them,
“(CG)Sing to the Lord, for He [ai]is highly exalted;
The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.”
Footnotes
- Exodus 14:4 Lit make strong
- Exodus 14:5 Lit the heart of Pharaoh...was changed
- Exodus 14:8 Lit made strong
- Exodus 14:8 Lit with a high hand
- Exodus 14:10 Lit lifted up their eyes
- Exodus 14:11 Lit so as to bring
- Exodus 14:12 Lit Cease from us
- Exodus 14:13 Or Take your stand
- Exodus 14:16 Lit enter the
- Exodus 14:17 Lit make strong
- Exodus 14:20 Lit and the darkness
- Exodus 14:21 Lit caused to go
- Exodus 14:22 Lit entered the
- Exodus 14:24 Lit camp
- Exodus 14:24 Or in
- Exodus 14:24 Lit camp
- Exodus 14:25 Or removed
- Exodus 14:27 Lit to meet it
- Exodus 14:27 Lit shook off
- Exodus 14:31 Lit hand
- Exodus 14:31 Lit done
- Exodus 14:31 Or revered
- Exodus 15:1 Lit and said, saying
- Exodus 15:1 Or Let me sing
- Exodus 15:2 Heb Yah
- Exodus 15:3 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
- Exodus 15:4 Lit sunk
- Exodus 15:4 Lit Sea of Reeds
- Exodus 15:7 Or exaltation
- Exodus 15:9 Lit My soul
- Exodus 15:9 Lit be filled with them
- Exodus 15:9 Or dispossess; or drive them out
- Exodus 15:13 Or mercy
- Exodus 15:20 Lit dances
- Exodus 15:21 Or has triumphed gloriously
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
