Keraia
Exodus 15

Exodus 15:1

The Song at the Sea · Exodus 15:1–21
Read Exodus 15

Translations

Modern
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.
Traditional
Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Literal
Then Moses sang—and the sons of Israel—this song to YHWH, and they spoke, saying: “I will sing to YHWH, for He has greatly triumphed; the horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea.
Latin
Tunc cecinit Moyses et filii Israël carmen hoc Domino, et dixerunt: Cantemus Domino: gloriose enim magnificatus est, equum et ascensorem dejecit in mare.

Original

Hebrew
English
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.

Notes

Exodus 15:1

  • Moses and the Israelites: In this joyful moment, there was no division between them. They sang together as one people.

  • I will sing: The first two verses use very personal words. They show that God relates to people in a personal way. He is not an impersonal force. He relates to us as one person relates to another.

    In the Bible, songs of thanks and praise usually state the reason for praise near the beginning (see Psalm 95:1–3; 96:1–4). Here, the reason is clear: the Lord has triumphed gloriously.

    During the dark night, the people trusted God. Now their trust was shown to be right. God had given them victory.

Exodus 15:1–5

God’s salvation (deliverance) and rescue had meaning for personal faith.

Exodus 15:1–18

Scholars believe this song of rescue to be one of the oldest preserved examples of the Hebrew language, attesting to its importance in Israel’s thought and faith. It is divided into three stanzas:

  1. The first stanza celebrates the Lord's rescue of Moses and his people (using many first-person pronouns, 15:1–5).

  2. The second stanza celebrates the great difference between the Lord and the Egyptians (verses 6–12).

  3. The third stanza considers what these events would mean for the future (verses 13–18).

Events

Parallels

Judges 5:1–31

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Glossary

Book of Exodus Chronology of the Bible (New Testament) Deuteronomy, Book of Edom, Edomites Exodus, the God, Names of Moses Music Poetry, Biblical Praise Red Sea Song of Deborah Song of Moses

Topics

Epic: (Heroic Poetry): Miriam's Song Faith: Exemplified Faith: Trial of Moses, at the Red Sea, by the Complaints of the People Glory of God: His Power Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Through the Red Sea: Israel's Song of Praise Joy of Moses and the Israelites, when Pharaoh and his Army Were Destroyed Moses: Composes a Song for the People of Israel on Their Deliverance from Pharaoh Music: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Musicians Poetry: Epic: Moses' Song Poetry: Lyrics, Sacred: Moses' and Miriam's Songs Praise: Moses Praise: Song of Moses, After the Passage Through the Red Sea Praise: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Psalms of Moses, Celebrating the Deliverance at the Red Sea Red Sea: Israelites Cross; Pharaoh and his Army Drowned In Select Readings: Song of Moses when Pharaoh and his Army Were Overthrown Song: War Thankfulness: Exemplified Thankfulness: To God of Moses The Armies of Israel: Congratulated on Returning Victorious The Glory of God: Exhibited in His Power