Exodus 15:8
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At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up; like a wall the currents stood firm; the depths congealed in the heart of the sea.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
In this chapter, I. Israel looks back upon Egypt with a song of praise for their deliverance. Here is, I. The song itself (v. 1-19). 2. The solemn singing of it (Exo 15:20, Exo 15:21). II. Israel marches forward in the wilderness (Exo 15:22), and there, 1. Their discontent at the waters of Marah (Exo 15:23, Exo 15:24), and the relief granted them (Exo 15:25, Exo 15:26). 2. Their satisfaction in the waters of Elim (Exo 15:27).
Open source ↗15:8 blast (literally nostrils): In other contexts, the same word may be translated “anger.” The hot breath from God’s nose is an image of God’s anger. • your breath: The Hebrew word translated as “breath” (ruakh) is the same one translated as “wind” in 14:21 and as “Spirit” in Gen 1:2. Nature is not God, but God is everywhere at work in nature.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.
He split the sea and brought them through; He set the waters upright like a wall.
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.
The channels of the sea appeared, and the foundations of the world were exposed at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
The mountains saw You and quaked; torrents of water swept by. The deep roared with its voice and lifted its hands on high.
but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.
Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’”