Bible Strands
Exodus 14:31
When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised over the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and believed in Him and in His servant Moses.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records Israel’s response immediately after God drowns the Egyptian army and delivers the nation at the sea. The passage addresses the reader by documenting the nation’s collective reaction at the conclusion of the crossing event.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיַּרְא (va.yar) translates literally as “and he saw,” denoting direct visual perception of the event. The noun יָד (yad) means “hand,” used here to describe the LORD’s exercised power or authority over the Egyptians.
The thread — This sequence of witnessing divine action followed by belief recurs in John 2:11 and John 11:45, where sight precedes faith in Jesus. Psalm 106:12 similarly links Israel’s immediate belief to God’s prior acts of deliverance.
Why it lands — The text demands that readers acknowledge faith as a response to observed divine action rather than abstract assent. It requires trusting both God’s authority and the leadership He appoints, as demonstrated by Israel’s fear and belief in Moses.
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 Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.
Cross-references
- John 2:11 Jesus performed this, the first of His signs, at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
- John 11:45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in Him.
- Psalms 106:12 Then they believed His promises and sang His praise.
- John 2:23 While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the signs He was doing and believed in His name.
- John 8:30 As Jesus spoke these things, many believed in Him.
- Exodus 4:31 and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD had attended to the Israelites and had seen their affliction, they bowed down and worshiped.
- Exodus 19:9 The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you.” And Moses relayed to the LORD what the people had said.
- 1 Samuel 12:18 So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
- 2 Chronicles 20:20 Early in the morning they got up and left for the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Hear me, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be upheld; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.”
- Psalms 119:120 My flesh trembles in awe of You; I stand in fear of Your judgments.