Exodus 15:16

and terror and dread will fall on them. By the power of Your arm they will be as still as a stone until Your people pass by, O LORD, until the people You have bought pass by.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites immediately following the Red Sea crossing, describing the immediate reaction of hostile nations to God's deliverance.

The words — תִּפֹּל (ti.Pol) and אֵימָתָה (ei.Ma.tah) denote terror falling upon them, while יִדְּמוּ (yi.de.Mu) describes them becoming motionless as stone.

The thread — The theme of God placing dread upon opposing groups runs in Deuteronomy 2:25 and Joshua 2:9, while the concept of a purchased people reappears in Psalm 74:2.

Why it lands — The text states that terror and stillness will overtake enemies until the redeemed pass through, requiring the reader to acknowledge God's sovereign power in securing the path for His people.

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

תִּפֹּ֨לti.Polit has fallen עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם'a.lei./Hemon/ them אֵימָ֙תָה֙'ei.Ma.tahterror וָפַ֔חַדva./Fa.chadand/ dread בִּגְדֹ֥לbi/g.Dolon/ [the] greatness of זְרוֹעֲךָ֖ze.ro.'a./Khastrength/ your יִדְּמ֣וּyi.de.Muthey have become still כָּאָ֑בֶןka./'A.venlike <the>/ stone עַד־'ad-until יַעֲבֹ֤רya.'a.Vorit has passed by עַמְּךָ֙'a.me./Khapeople/ your יְהוָ֔הYah.wehO Yahweh עַֽד־'ad-until יַעֲבֹ֖רya.'a.Vorit has passed by עַם־'am-[the] people ז֥וּzuwhich קָנִֽיתָ׃ka.Ni.tayou have bought

King James Version

Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

Cross-references

Psalms 74:2 Remember Your congregation, which You purchased long ago and redeemed as the tribe of Your inheritance—Mount Zion, where You dwell.
Deuteronomy 2:25 This very day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon all the nations under heaven. They will hear the reports of you and tremble in anguish because of you.”
Joshua 2:9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you.
1 Samuel 25:37 In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these events, and his heart failed within him, and he became like a stone.
Exodus 11:7 But among all the Israelites, not even a dog will snarl at man or beast.’ Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.
Deuteronomy 11:25 No man will be able to stand against you; the LORD your God will put the fear and dread of you upon all the land, wherever you set foot, as He has promised you.
Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!
Isaiah 51:10 Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea for the redeemed to cross over?
Jeremiah 31:11 For the LORD has ransomed Jacob and redeemed him from the hand that had overpowered him.
Titus 2:14 He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.