Exodus 15:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up; the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.

NIV: By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood up like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.

NASB: At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up, The flowing waters stood up like a heap; The depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

CSB: The water heaped up at the blast from your nostrils; the currents stood firm like a dam. The watery depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

NLT: At the blast of your breath, the waters piled up! The surging waters stood straight like a wall; in the heart of the sea the deep waters became hard.

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.

NKJV: And with the blast of Your nostrils The waters were gathered together; The floods stood upright like a heap; The depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

Moses and Israel are celebrating (Exodus 15:1–7). God has rescued them from slavery (Exodus 12:40–41). He has also thwarted an Egyptian attack (Exodus 14:5–9) by miraculously opening a dry path through the sea (Exodus 14:22).

These references to God's "nostrils" are both poetic and literal. When the waters of the sea were divided (Exodus 14:16), God brought an east wind (Exodus 14:21). An entirely natural wind might have split the sea into walls on either side. But such a wind would tear away any person trying to walk. Using His power, however, the Lord divided the water into two walls on either side of a now-dry sea floor.

Some miracles are harder to describe than others. Here, phrasing gives a unique level of detail. This verse describes the stacked-up water as "congealed." This Hebrew word is also used to refer to the way milk thickens as it ages (Job 10:10). Stews and soups can also "congeal" as they cool and become stiff. Hebrew has entirely different terms for "ice" and "freezing." So, the water did not appear hard or icy. Rather, the effect reminded the Israelites of curdling milk. It would have been stunning to see the depths of the sea divided and solidified in this way.

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.