The Meaning of Exodus 15:15 Explained

Exodus 15:15

KJV: Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.

YLT: Then have chiefs of Edom been troubled: Mighty ones of Moab -- Trembling doth seize them! Melted have all inhabitants of Canaan!

Darby: Then the princes of Edom were amazed; The mighty men of Moab, trembling hath seized them; All the inhabitants of Canaan melted away.

ASV: Then were the chiefs of Edom dismayed; The mighty men of Moab, trembling taketh hold upon them: All the inhabitants of Canaan are melted away.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then  the dukes  of Edom  shall be amazed;  the mighty men  of Moab,  trembling  shall take hold  upon them; all the inhabitants  of Canaan  shall melt away. 

What does Exodus 15:15 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 15:15 mean?

Then will be dismayed the chiefs of Edom the mighty men of Moab will take hold of them Trembling will melt away All the inhabitants of Canaan
אָ֤ז נִבְהֲלוּ֙ אַלּוּפֵ֣י אֱד֔וֹם אֵילֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב יֹֽאחֲזֵ֖מוֹ רָ֑עַד נָמֹ֕גוּ כֹּ֖ל יֹשְׁבֵ֥י כְנָֽעַן

נִבְהֲלוּ֙  will  be  dismayed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בָּהַל  
Sense: to disturb, alarm, terrify, hurry, be disturbed, be anxious, be afraid, be hurried, be nervous.
אַלּוּפֵ֣י  the  chiefs 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אַלּוּף 
Sense: tame, docile.
אֱד֔וֹם  of  Edom 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱדֹום 
Sense: Edom.
אֵילֵ֣י  the  mighty  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אַיִל 
Sense: ram.
מוֹאָ֔ב  of  Moab 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.
יֹֽאחֲזֵ֖מוֹ  will  take  hold  of  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: אָחוּז 
Sense: grasp, take hold, seize, take possession.
רָ֑עַד  Trembling 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רַעַד 
Sense: trembling, fear.
נָמֹ֕גוּ  will  melt  away 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: מוּג  
Sense: to melt, cause to melt.
יֹשְׁבֵ֥י  the  inhabitants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
כְנָֽעַן  of  Canaan 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּנַעַן 
Sense: the 4th son of Ham and the progenitor of the Phoenicians and of the various nations who peopled the seacoast of Palestine.