and the earth swallowed them up
This part of the verse refers to the destruction of the Egyptian army in the Red Sea. The phrase "the earth swallowed them up" is a vivid depiction of their complete defeat and disappearance. It echoes other biblical instances where the earth opens to execute divine judgment, such as in Numbers 16:32 with Korah's rebellion. This event is a testament to God's protection over His people and His ability to vanquish their enemies. It also prefigures the ultimate victory over evil through Christ, who conquers sin and death. The crossing of the Red Sea is a foundational event in Israel's history, symbolizing salvation and liberation, themes that are fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus' death and resurrection.

The song of Moses begins this phrase with God’s decisive action. He is never passive in delivering His people.

• Exodus 3:20: “So I will stretch out My hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders I will perform among them.” Long before Israel left Egypt, the Lord stated His plan in the exact same terms, showing continuity between promise and fulfillment.

• Exodus 14:16: “And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.” The Lord involved Moses, but the initiative and power were unmistakably His.

• Deuteronomy 26:8 reminds Israel that God “brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,” anchoring their national identity in this historical fact.

Every time Scripture speaks of God stretching out His hand, it signals purposeful intervention—never mere observation.

In the Ancient Near East, the right hand symbolized supreme strength and authority; the Bible uses the same imagery while affirming its literal truth.

• Exodus 15:6 had already proclaimed, “Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy.” The repetition highlights confidence in the same hand that just delivered them.

• Psalm 118:15-16 echoes the theme: “The LORD’s right hand performs valiantly; the LORD’s right hand is raised. The LORD’s right hand performs valiantly!”

• Psalm 136:12 connects God’s covenant love to this act: He led Israel out “with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His loving devotion endures forever.”

The right hand is not only powerful; it is covenant-keeping. What He promises, He accomplishes.

Though the verse speaks of “earth,” Exodus 14:27-28 clarifies how it happened: the Red Sea returned to its place and buried the Egyptian forces. From Israel’s vantage point on solid ground, the closing waters looked like the earth itself devouring their pursuers.

• Exodus 14:30-31 states Israel “saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore,” confirming the totality of God’s judgment.

• Later, Numbers 16:32 uses the same verb when “the earth opened its mouth and swallowed” Korah, underscoring that God’s judgments, whether by sea or soil, are equally final.

• Revelation 12:16 employs similar imagery to assure believers that God can still make the earth “swallow” what threatens His people.

What began as deliverance ended as decisive justice: God’s enemies were utterly removed, allowing Israel to move forward unthreatened.

Exodus 15:12 celebrates three linked realities: God acts (“You stretched out”), God acts with irresistible power (“Your right hand”), and God’s action completely removes the threat (“the earth swallowed them up”). The verse is a brief but potent reminder that the Lord’s promises, strength, and judgments are all literal and trustworthy—for Israel at the Red Sea and for believers today.