The Meaning of Exodus 15:5 Explained

Exodus 15:5

KJV: The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.

YLT: The depths do cover them; They went down into the depths as a stone.

Darby: The depths covered them; they sank to the bottom as a stone.

ASV: The deeps cover them: They went down into the depths like a stone.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The depths  have covered  them: they sank  into the bottom  as  a stone. 

What does Exodus 15:5 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 15:5 mean?

The depths have covered them they sank to the bottom like a stone
תְּהֹמֹ֖ת יְכַסְיֻ֑מוּ יָרְד֥וּ בִמְצוֹלֹ֖ת כְּמוֹ־ אָֽבֶן

תְּהֹמֹ֖ת  The  depths 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: תְּהֹום  
Sense: deep, depths, deep places, abyss, the deep, sea.
יְכַסְיֻ֑מוּ  have  covered  them 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּסָה  
Sense: to cover, conceal, hide.
יָרְד֥וּ  they  sank 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
בִמְצוֹלֹ֖ת  to  the  bottom 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural
Root: מְצֹולָה 
Sense: depth, the deep, the deep sea.
כְּמוֹ־  like 
Parse: Preposition
Root: כְּמֹו  
Sense: like, as, the like of which conj.
אָֽבֶן  a  stone 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).