The big picture
Exodus 14 opens in verse 1 with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 16 with “But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and…”, and closes in verse 31 with “And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people…” Repeated or prominent terms include Egyptians, Israel, LORD, children, Pharaoh. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Exodus · King James Version · 31Exodus 14:1-8
1–8: The LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Exodus 14:1–8 opens with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” and reaches “And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The sea crossing as the waters divide, families move through, and Pharaoh’s force approaches from behind, with particular weight carried by Israel, children, Pharaoh.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Exodus 14:1-8
King James Version1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.
3For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.
4And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD . And they did so.
5And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
6And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
7And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.
8And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.
Exodus 14:9-16
9–16: The Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of…
Exodus 14:9–16 opens with “But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen…” and reaches “But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The sea crossing as the waters divide, families move through, and Pharaoh’s force approaches from behind, with particular weight carried by Egyptians, children, Israel.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and…” Naming Baal and Egyptians keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD , which he will shew to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Exodus 14:9-16
King James Version9But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.
10And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD .
11And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD , which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
15And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
16But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
Exodus 14:17-24
17–24: I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall…
Exodus 14:17–24 opens with “And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will…” and reaches “And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The sea crossing as the waters divide, families move through, and Pharaoh’s force approaches from behind, with particular weight carried by Egyptians, camp, chariots.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“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…” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots…” Naming Egyptians and Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Exodus 14:17-24
King James Version17And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
18And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD , when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
19And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
20And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
21And 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.
22And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
23And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
24And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
Exodus 14:25-31
25–31: Took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the…
Exodus 14:25–31 opens with “And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let…” and reaches “And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The sea crossing as the waters divide, families move through, and Pharaoh’s force approaches from behind, with particular weight carried by Egyptians, LORD, Israel.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians…” Naming Egyptians and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and…” Naming Egyptians and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Exodus 14:25-31
King James Version25And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
26And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
27And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
29But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
31And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD , and believed the LORD , and his servant Moses.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Exodus 14:1 begins with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”
Where the chapter turns
Exodus 14:16 forms a natural hinge: “But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of…”
The final note
Exodus 14:31 leaves the reader with “And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD , and believed the LORD , and his servant Moses.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Egyptians, Israel, LORD, children, Pharaoh, chariots help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What contrasts the two royal encounters?
Melchizedek blesses God as the source of victory; Abram refuses a financial arrangement that would let Sodom claim credit for his wealth.
How does Abram treat Lot after their separation?
He risks resources to rescue him rather than treating earlier disagreement as a reason for abandonment.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.