The Meaning of Exodus 15:8 Explained

Exodus 15:8

KJV: And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

YLT: And by the spirit of Thine anger Have waters been heaped together; Stood as a heap have flowings; Congealed have been depths In the heart of a sea.

Darby: And by the breath of thy nostrils the waters were heaped up; The streams stood as a mound; The depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

ASV: And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were piled up, The floods stood upright as a heap; The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And with the blast  of thy nostrils  the waters  were gathered together,  the floods  stood upright  as an heap,  [and] the depths  were congealed  in the heart  of the sea. 

What does Exodus 15:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 15:1-18 - Moses' Song Of Praise To Jehovah
This sublime ode falls into three divisions. We learn, first, what God is: strength in the day of battle; song in victory; salvation always. He is the God of our fathers, and our own; the mighty champion of His people. Notice that the Spirit of Inspiration gives but a line or two to Israel's murmurings, but records this happy song with elaborate care. Praise is comely!
We discover, second, what God is to His foes. They are covered by the engulfing waves of destruction. As well might thorns fight fire as a man succeed against God.
We are taught, third, what God does for His friends. He leads forth the people whom He has redeemed. He guides them in His strength to their home. He who brought them out brings them in, and plants them in the place He has prepared. Claim that He should do this for you. He who brought you out from Egypt can bring you into Canaan. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 15

1  The song of Moses, Miriam, and Israel on their deliverance
22  The people want water in the desert
23  The waters at Marah are bitter,
24  they murmur,
25  Moses prays, and sweetens the waters by God's direction
27  They encamp at Elim, where are twelve wells, and seventy palm trees

What do the individual words in Exodus 15:8 mean?

And with the blast of Your nostrils were gathered together the waters stood upright like a heap the floods congealed the depths in the heart of the sea
וּבְר֤וּחַ אַפֶּ֙יךָ֙ נֶ֣עֶרְמוּ מַ֔יִם נִצְּב֥וּ כְמוֹ־ נֵ֖ד נֹזְלִ֑ים קָֽפְא֥וּ תְהֹמֹ֖ת בְּלֶב־ יָֽם

וּבְר֤וּחַ  And  with  the  blast 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
אַפֶּ֙יךָ֙  of  Your  nostrils 
Parse: Noun, mdc, second person masculine singular
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
נֶ֣עֶרְמוּ  were  gathered  together 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָרַם  
Sense: (Niphal) to heap up, pile, be heaped up.
מַ֔יִם  the  waters 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
נִצְּב֥וּ  stood  upright 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: הֻצַּב 
Sense: to stand, take one’s stand, stand upright, be set (over), establish.
כְמוֹ־  like 
Parse: Preposition
Root: כְּמֹו  
Sense: like, as, the like of which conj.
נֵ֖ד  a  heap 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֵד  
Sense: heap.
נֹזְלִ֑ים  the  floods 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: נָזַל 
Sense: to flow, distil, flow forth or down, trickle, drop.
קָֽפְא֥וּ  congealed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: קָפָא 
Sense: to thicken, condense, congeal, settle, become dense.
תְהֹמֹ֖ת  the  depths 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: תְּהֹום  
Sense: deep, depths, deep places, abyss, the deep, sea.
בְּלֶב־  in  the  heart 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
יָֽם  of  the  sea 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.