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But 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.
Exodus 14:29 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB But the children of Israel walked on dry land in the middle of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left.
  • BSB But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.
  • NKJV But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
  • NASB But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right and on their left.
  • NLT But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides.

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

Meanwhile Israel walked safely on dry land through the sea, the waters a wall on either side.

Overview

The narrative contrasts Israel's safe passage with Egypt's drowning, salvation and judgment side by side. The repeated image of walls of water highlights the security God provided His people. What was a way of life for Israel was a way of death for Egypt.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 10

  • Exod 14:22And 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.
  • Josh 3:16That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
  • Isa 43:2When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
  • Isa 51:10Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?
  • Isa 63:12–13That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
  • Ps 78:52–53But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
  • Job 38:8–11Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
  • Ps 77:19–20Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
  • Isa 51:13And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
  • Ps 66:6–7He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Exodus videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Exodus 14:29YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ExodusMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.

How Exodus 14:29 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.