and He has become my salvation
This phrase reflects the transformation of God's deliverance into personal salvation. In the historical context, the Israelites experienced physical salvation from slavery and imminent death. Theologically, this prefigures the ultimate salvation through Jesus Christ, who delivers believers from sin and death. The concept of God as salvation is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, seen in passages like Psalm 27:1 and Isaiah 43:11, where God is recognized as the sole source of salvation.

He is my God, and I will praise Him
Here, the declaration "He is my God" signifies a personal acknowledgment and acceptance of God's sovereignty and authority. This personal claim is significant in the cultural context of the ancient Near East, where multiple deities were worshiped. The commitment to praise God is an act of worship and devotion, reflecting a heart of gratitude and reverence. This sentiment is echoed in Psalm 63:1, where the psalmist expresses a deep longing and commitment to worship God.

my father’s God, and I will exalt Him
This phrase connects the present generation with the faith of their ancestors, acknowledging the continuity of God's covenantal relationship with His people. "My father’s God" refers to the God of the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—emphasizing the fulfillment of God's promises across generations. The act of exalting God is a response to His faithfulness and mighty acts, as seen in other biblical passages like Psalm 145:1, where exalting God is a central theme of worship. This connection to the patriarchs also underscores the importance of heritage and tradition in the faith journey.

The very first claim Moses and Israel make is intensely personal: “The LORD is my strength”.

• Strength here is not borrowed power; it is God Himself actively sustaining His people in real time. They had just watched the Red Sea collapse on Egypt’s army—victory none of them could have engineered.

• Psalm 28:7 echoes the same truth: “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.” When circumstances drain us, the believer turns to an unfailing, divine reservoir.

• Isaiah 40:29‒31 reassures weary hearts that those who wait on the LORD will “renew their strength.”

Deliverance naturally erupts into music. God isn’t only the One who rescues; He becomes the melody of celebration.

• Psalm 118:14 repeats these words verbatim, linking triumph and worship.

• In Revelation 15:3 the redeemed sing “the song of Moses, the servant of God,” showing that heaven still resounds with this ancient chorus.

• When we let God write the soundtrack of our lives, gratitude replaces grumbling.

Salvation is not merely something God gives; it is what He becomes to His people.

• Isaiah 12:2 reflects the same line, tying together strength, song, and salvation.

• 1 Peter 1:5 reminds believers that they are “shielded by God’s power” until the final unveiling of salvation.

• The Exodus was a picture pointing forward to the greater rescue Jesus accomplished at the cross (John 19:30).

With enemy chariots sinking behind them, Israel claims a covenant reality: this infinite LORD is “my” God.

• Deuteronomy 10:21 declares, “He is your praise and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome wonders.”

• Personal devotion builds on objective acts; God proved Himself, then invited intimate relationship.

Response is required. Praise is the fitting answer to power and grace.

• Psalm 145:4‒6 models this: “One generation will commend Your works to the next… they will proclaim the power of Your awesome deeds.”

• Hebrews 13:15 calls believers to offer “a sacrifice of praise.” Worship is not optional adornment; it is commanded allegiance.

The song anchors the present miracle in past faithfulness.

• In Exodus 3:6 God introduced Himself to Moses as “the God of your father.” The same God who watched over Joseph in Egypt now rescues Joseph’s descendants.

• Acts 3:13 speaks of “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” glorifying His Servant Jesus. Our faith is never an isolated episode; it rests on a long history of covenant fidelity.

Praise that starts in the heart must rise outward and upward. Exalting means lifting God high in word and deed.

• Psalm 99:5 commands, “Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His footstool; He is holy.”

• Philippians 2:9 shows the ultimate exaltation: God has “highly exalted” Jesus and given Him the name above every name. Our lifting up of God mirrors heaven’s verdict.

Exodus 15:2 moves from power experienced (“The LORD is my strength”) to praise expressed (“I will exalt Him”), weaving past covenant (“my father’s God”) with present rescue (“He has become my salvation”). It teaches that God Himself is the source, song, and Savior of His people. Having witnessed His mighty acts, believers respond with personal trust, generational gratitude, and vocal worship—exalting the LORD who alone deserves the highest place in every heart.

He is become my salvation.--Heb,, he has been to me for salvation: i.e., "he has saved me out of the hand of Pharaoh." The beauty and force of the passage causes Isaiah to adopt it into one of his most glorious poems, the "joyful thanksgiving of the faithful for the mercies of God," contained in his twelfth chapter. (See Exodus 15:2.)

I will prepare him an habitation.--So Onkelos and Aben-Ezra; but Jarchi, the Targums of Jerusalem and Jonathan, the LXX., and Vulg., with most moderns, translate, "I will glorify him." It is a strong objection to the rendering of the Authorised Version that Moses is not likely to have had the idea of preparing God a habitation until the revelation of God's will on the subject was made to him on Sinai (Exodus 25-27). The law of parallelism also requires such a meaning as "glorify" to correspond with the "exalt" of the next clause.

My father's God.--"Father" here, by a common Hebrew idiom, stands for "forefathers" generally. (Comp. Note on Exodus 3:6.)