The Meaning of Exodus 14:23 Explained

Exodus 14:23

KJV: And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

YLT: And the Egyptians pursue, and go in after them (all the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen) unto the midst of the sea,

Darby: And the Egyptians pursued and came after them all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots and his horsemen, into the midst of the sea.

ASV: And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the Egyptians  pursued,  and went in  after  them to the midst  of the sea,  [even] all Pharaoh's  horses,  his chariots,  and his horsemen. 

What does Exodus 14:23 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 14:21-31 - The Egyptians Destroyed In The Sea
As the front ranks of Israel approached the surf, the billows parted. The very waves they dreaded became a wall. By faith Israel passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. They went through the flood on foot. So shalt thou, oh frightened child of God! Behind thee, the terror of the foe; before thee, the horror of the unknown. But God is with thee. The sheen of the Presence-Cloud shines upon and before thee. Be of good cheer, though thou passest through the waters, thou shalt not be overwhelmed. See Psalms 66:6; Psalms 78:13; Isaiah 43:2.
The Egyptians owed their safety at first to the presence of Israel; but it was only for a time. The ungodly owe more to the presence of God's children than they realize. See Genesis 19:22. On which side of God's cloud are you? In Christ we may stand without fear before the searchlight of God! Compare Exodus 14:24 with Hebrews 4:13 and Revelation 6:16. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 14

1  God instructs the Israelites in their journey
5  Pharaoh pursues after them
10  The Israelites murmur
13  Moses comforts them
15  God instructs Moses
19  The cloud removes behind the camp
21  The Israelites pass through the Red sea, which drowns the Egyptians

What do the individual words in Exodus 14:23 mean?

And pursued Egypt and went after them all horses of Pharaoh his chariots and his horsemen Into the midst of the sea
וַיִּרְדְּפ֤וּ מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּ֚ל ס֣וּס פַּרְעֹ֔ה רִכְבּ֖וֹ וּפָרָשָׁ֑יו אֶל־ תּ֖וֹךְ הַיָּֽם

וַיִּרְדְּפ֤וּ  And  pursued 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רָדַף  
Sense: to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after.
מִצְרַ֙יִם֙  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרִי  
Sense: Egyptian—an inhabitant or citizen of Egypt.
וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ  and  went 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם  after  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
ס֣וּס  horses 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: סוּס 
Sense: swallow, swift.
פַּרְעֹ֔ה  of  Pharaoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.
רִכְבּ֖וֹ  his  chariots 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֶכֶב  
Sense: a team, chariot, chariotry, mill-stone, riders.
וּפָרָשָׁ֑יו  and  his  horsemen 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּרָשׁ 
Sense: horse, steed, warhorse.
אֶל־  Into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
תּ֖וֹךְ  the  midst 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: תָּוֶךְ  
Sense: midst, middle.
הַיָּֽם  of  the  sea 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.