Exodus 15:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble.

NIV: "In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble.

NASB: And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You; You send out Your burning anger, and it consumes them like chaff.

CSB: You overthrew your adversaries by your great majesty. You unleashed your burning wrath; it consumed them like stubble.

NLT: In the greatness of your majesty, you overthrow those who rise against you. You unleash your blazing fury; it consumes them like straw.

KJV: And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.

NKJV: And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath; It consumed them like stubble.

Moses speaks of the Lord as an invincible king. The English word "majesty" refers to something impressive and beautiful (Psalm 29:5; 45:3; 68:34). It is most often used as a reference to royalty. Translations such as the KJV and NASB use "excellence." This is part of an extended response (Exodus 15:1–6) to Israel's recent miraculous rescue at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21–29). There, those who opposed God—"adversaries" in the form of Egyptian soldiers (Exodus 14:5–9)—were utterly defeated by God's majestic power.

The word "fury" describes anger which produces drastic results. It can also refer to the actions themselves. The Hebrew term implies a face which turns red from anger. It is almost always associated with the Lord's intense anger, typically against those who defy Him. Many translations call this "burning anger."

Stubble is the plant stalks leftover after a harvest. These quickly become dry and burn easily. God's wrath is compared to how a blazing fire would destroy stubble in a field. The reference is also a clever reminder of Egypt's cruel treatment of Israel, when they were forced to make bricks (Exodus 1:11–14) and when Pharaoh spitefully withheld straw for that work (Exodus 5:10–12).

Exodus 15:1–18 is Moses' song of celebration. Israel has just been saved from an attacking Egyptian army (Exodus 14:5–9). God miraculously parted the waters of the sea so His people could cross safely; the pursuing soldiers were all drowned (Exodus 14:21–29). In this song, Moses recounts this amazing series of events. He also looks ahead to Israel's conquest of the Promised Land (Genesis 13:12, 14–16).

Israel celebrates the supernatural event which eliminated the Egyptian army. God's power parted the waters of the Red Sea for the Hebrews to cross, then collapsed the same waters over the pursuing soldiers (Exodus 14:21–29). Moses, his sister Miriam, and the other Israelites praise the Lord for His works. They anticipate that this event will strike fear into the hearts of the wicked Canaanite nations (Deuteronomy 9:4). Yet, when the only water they find is undrinkable, the Israelites complain and criticize Moses. God provides a means to purify the water. He then provides a clear message about obedience and leads the people to a well-watered oasis.

When the nation of Israel was freed (Exodus 12:40–41), God led them to a specific place (Exodus 13:17–18). The Egyptians sent an army in pursuit (Exodus 14:5–9). God completed Israel's salvation by leading them across the Red Sea and wiping out the Egyptian army (Exodus 14:21–28). Here, the people celebrate their freedom with singing and dancing. However, they will soon complain when water runs short. In the following chapter, they will complain about food and be given the gift of "manna" (Exodus 16).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.