Bible Strands
Exodus 14:24
At morning watch, however, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw their camp into confusion.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — At the morning watch, the LORD shifts the pillar of cloud and fire to stand between the Israelites and the pursuing Egyptian army, looking down upon their camp as they advance into the sea.
The words — The text notes the timing with בְּ/אַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת (be./'ash.Mo.ret), meaning "in the watch," and describes the divine action with וַ/יַּשְׁקֵ֤ף (va/i.yash.Kef), literally "and he looked down."
The thread — The pillar's dual function is established in Exodus 13:21, the immediate tactical result appears in Exodus 14:25 with wobbly chariot wheels, and the motif of divine intervention over waters echoes in Psalms 77:16.
Why it lands — The passage records a historical moment where God interrupts a military pursuit to protect his people, requiring the reader to acknowledge divine sovereignty over human conflict without adding emotional embellishment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
Cross-references
- Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night.
- Exodus 14:25 He caused their chariot wheels to wobble, so that they had difficulty driving. “Let us flee from the Israelites,” said the Egyptians, “for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!”
- Psalms 77:16 The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken.
- Exodus 14:19 And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them,
- Job 23:15 Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.
- Job 34:20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
- Job 34:29 But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,
- Job 40:12 Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand.
- Psalms 18:13 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded—hailstones and coals of fire.
- Psalms 48:5 They saw and were astounded; they fled in terror.