Bible Strands
Exodus 14:27
So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal state. As the Egyptians were retreating, the LORD swept them into the sea.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses acts at daybreak after receiving God's command to restore the waters. The narrative places this moment as the Egyptian army retreats, marking the immediate reversal of the parted sea.
The words — The Hebrew וַיָּשֶׁב (va.ya.shav) literally means "and it returned," describing the sea's restoration to its normal state. מֹשֶׁה (mo.Sheh) identifies Moses as the human agent who stretches out his hand over the water.
The thread — This event is recalled in Joshua 4:18 when the Jordan waters return after the priests step onto dry ground. It is cited in Psalms 78:53 and Deuteronomy 11:4 as the mechanism by which God engulfed the pursuing Egyptian force.
Why it lands — The text records that the sea's physical return directly sweeps the retreating Egyptians under the water. It requires the reader to acknowledge that divine judgment operates through the reversal of the created order rather than through abstract intervention.
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 Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
Cross-references
- Joshua 4:18 When the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up out of the Jordan and their feet touched the dry land, the waters of the Jordan returned to their course and overflowed all the banks as before.
- Psalms 78:53 He led them safely, so they did not fear, but the sea engulfed their enemies.
- Deuteronomy 11:4 what He did to the Egyptian army and horses and chariots when He made the waters of the Red Sea engulf them as they pursued you, and how He destroyed them completely, even to this day;
- Hebrews 11:29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.
- Exodus 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided,
- Exodus 15:1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.
- Judges 5:20 From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera.