Limitless Word
He kept them safe so they were not afraid; but the sea covered their enemies.
Psalms 78:53 · New Living Translation
Parallel translations
  • WEB He led them safely, so that they weren’t afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
  • KJV And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
  • BSB He led them safely, so they did not fear, but the sea engulfed their enemies.
  • NKJV And He led them on safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
  • NASB He led them safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea engulfed their enemies.

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

God led them safely while the sea overwhelmed their enemies. He protected His people and destroyed their pursuers.

Overview

At the Red Sea God brought Israel through 'so that they weren't afraid,' while drowning the Egyptian army. The same waters meant salvation for one people and judgment for another. This deliverance pictures God's power to save His own completely while overthrowing all that threatens them.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 6

  • Exod 14:19–20The angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them, and stood behind them.
  • Exod 15:10You blew with your wind. The sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
  • Exod 14:27–28Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it. Yahweh overthrew the Egyptians in the middle of the sea.
  • Heb 11:29By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.
  • Ps 136:15But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea; for his loving kindness endures forever:
  • Exod 14:15Yahweh said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

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

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 78:53YouTube · 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 PsalmsMatthew 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 Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.

How Psalms 78:53 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.