The Meaning of Exodus 15:16 Explained

Exodus 15:16

KJV: Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

YLT: Fall on them doth terror and dread; By the greatness of Thine arm They are still as a stone, Till Thy people pass over, O Jehovah; Till the people pass over Whom Thou hast purchased.

Darby: Fear and dread fall upon them; By the greatness of thine arm they are still as a stone; Till thy people pass over, Jehovah, Till the people pass over that thou hast purchased.

ASV: Terror and dread falleth upon them; By the greatness of thine arm they are as still as a stone; Till thy people pass over, O Jehovah, Till the people pass over that thou hast purchased.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Fear  and dread  shall fall  upon them; by the greatness  of thine arm  they shall be [as] still  as a stone;  till thy people  pass over,  O LORD,  till the people  pass over,  [which]  thou hast purchased. 

What does Exodus 15:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 15:1-18 - Moses' Song Of Praise To Jehovah
This sublime ode falls into three divisions. We learn, first, what God is: strength in the day of battle; song in victory; salvation always. He is the God of our fathers, and our own; the mighty champion of His people. Notice that the Spirit of Inspiration gives but a line or two to Israel's murmurings, but records this happy song with elaborate care. Praise is comely!
We discover, second, what God is to His foes. They are covered by the engulfing waves of destruction. As well might thorns fight fire as a man succeed against God.
We are taught, third, what God does for His friends. He leads forth the people whom He has redeemed. He guides them in His strength to their home. He who brought them out brings them in, and plants them in the place He has prepared. Claim that He should do this for you. He who brought you out from Egypt can bring you into Canaan. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 15

1  The song of Moses, Miriam, and Israel on their deliverance
22  The people want water in the desert
23  The waters at Marah are bitter,
24  they murmur,
25  Moses prays, and sweetens the waters by God's direction
27  They encamp at Elim, where are twelve wells, and seventy palm trees

What do the individual words in Exodus 15:16 mean?

Will fall on them fear and dread By the greatness of Your arm they will be [as] still as a stone Till pass over Your people Yahweh Till the people Whom You have purchased
תִּפֹּ֨ל עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם אֵימָ֙תָה֙ וָפַ֔חַד בִּגְדֹ֥ל זְרוֹעֲךָ֖ יִדְּמ֣וּ כָּאָ֑בֶן עַד־ יַעֲבֹ֤ר עַמְּךָ֙ יְהוָ֔ה עַֽד־ עַם־ ז֥וּ קָנִֽיתָ

תִּפֹּ֨ל  Will  fall 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם  on  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
אֵימָ֙תָה֙  fear 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אֵימָה 
Sense: terror, dread.
וָפַ֔חַד  and  dread 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּחַד  
Sense: terror, dread.
בִּגְדֹ֥ל  By  the  greatness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
זְרוֹעֲךָ֖  of  Your  arm 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: זְרֹועַ  
Sense: arm, forearm, shoulder, strength.
יִדְּמ֣וּ  they  will  be  [as]  still 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: דָּמַם 
Sense: to be silent, be still, wait, be dumb, grow dumb.
כָּאָ֑בֶן  as  a  stone 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
עַד־  Till 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
יַעֲבֹ֤ר  pass  over 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
עַמְּךָ֙  Your  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
עַֽד־  Till 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
עַם־  the  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
ז֥וּ  Whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: זוּ  
Sense: this, such rel pron.
קָנִֽיתָ  You  have  purchased 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: קָנָה 
Sense: to get, acquire, create, buy, possess.