The Meaning of Exodus 14:21 Explained

Exodus 14:21

KJV: And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

YLT: And Moses stretcheth out his hand towards the sea, and Jehovah causeth the sea to go on by a strong east wind all the night, and maketh the sea become dry ground, and the waters are cleaved,

Darby: And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah made the sea go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

ASV: And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Moses  stretched out  his hand  over the sea;  and the LORD  caused the sea  to go  [back] by a strong  east  wind  all that night,  and made  the sea  dry  [land], and the waters  were divided. 

What does Exodus 14:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 14:21-31 - The Egyptians Destroyed In The Sea
As the front ranks of Israel approached the surf, the billows parted. The very waves they dreaded became a wall. By faith Israel passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. They went through the flood on foot. So shalt thou, oh frightened child of God! Behind thee, the terror of the foe; before thee, the horror of the unknown. But God is with thee. The sheen of the Presence-Cloud shines upon and before thee. Be of good cheer, though thou passest through the waters, thou shalt not be overwhelmed. See Psalms 66:6; Psalms 78:13; Isaiah 43:2.
The Egyptians owed their safety at first to the presence of Israel; but it was only for a time. The ungodly owe more to the presence of God's children than they realize. See Genesis 19:22. On which side of God's cloud are you? In Christ we may stand without fear before the searchlight of God! Compare Exodus 14:24 with Hebrews 4:13 and Revelation 6:16. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 14

1  God instructs the Israelites in their journey
5  Pharaoh pursues after them
10  The Israelites murmur
13  Moses comforts them
15  God instructs Moses
19  The cloud removes behind the camp
21  The Israelites pass through the Red sea, which drowns the Egyptians

What do the individual words in Exodus 14:21 mean?

And stretched out Moses - his hand over the sea and caused to go [back] Yahweh the sea by a wind east strong all that night and made the sea into dry [land] and were divided the waters
וַיֵּ֨ט מֹשֶׁ֣ה אֶת־ יָדוֹ֮ עַל־ הַיָּם֒ וַיּ֣וֹלֶךְ יְהוָ֣ה ׀ הַ֠יָּם בְּר֨וּחַ קָדִ֤ים עַזָּה֙ כָּל־ הַלַּ֔יְלָה וַיָּ֥שֶׂם הַיָּ֖ם לֶחָרָבָ֑ה וַיִּבָּקְע֖וּ הַמָּֽיִם

וַיֵּ֨ט  And  stretched  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
מֹשֶׁ֣ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יָדוֹ֮  his  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַיָּם֒  the  sea 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
וַיּ֣וֹלֶךְ  and  caused  to  go  [back] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
יְהוָ֣ה ׀  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הַ֠יָּם  the  sea 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
בְּר֨וּחַ  by  a  wind 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
קָדִ֤ים  east 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קָדִים  
Sense: east, east wind.
עַזָּה֙  strong 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: עַז 
Sense: strong, mighty, fierce.
הַלַּ֔יְלָה  that  night 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.
וַיָּ֥שֶׂם  and  made 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
הַיָּ֖ם  the  sea 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
לֶחָרָבָ֑ה  into  dry  [land] 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָרָבָה  
Sense: dry land, dry ground.
וַיִּבָּקְע֖וּ  and  were  divided 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בָּקַע  
Sense: to split, cleave, break open, divide, break through, rip up, break up, tear.
הַמָּֽיִם  the  waters 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.