and they all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
Parallel translations
- WEB and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
- KJV And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
- BSB They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
- NKJV all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
- NLT In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
All the Israelites were "baptized into Moses" in the cloud and the sea, united to him as their leader. Their deliverance prefigures Christian baptism and incorporation into a deliverer.
Overview
Paul interprets the exodus typologically: as Israel was bound to Moses through their passage under the cloud and through the sea, so believers are united to Christ in baptism. This drawing of parallels warns the Corinthians that, like Israel, they have visible signs of belonging to God's people—yet such signs, apart from faith, did not save the wilderness generation. Privilege carries no automatic guarantee.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Heb 3:2–3who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.
- Rom 6:3Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
- Exod 14:31Israel saw the great work which Yahweh did to the Egyptians, and the people feared Yahweh; and they believed in Yahweh, and in his servant Moses.
- 1 Cor 1:13–16Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?
- John 9:28–29They insulted him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
- Gal 3:27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 10:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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