Exodus 15:4
New International Version
Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh’s officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

New Living Translation
Pharaoh’s chariots and army he has hurled into the sea. The finest of Pharaoh’s officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

English Standard Version
“Pharaoh’s chariots and his host he cast into the sea, and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea.

Berean Standard Bible
Pharaoh’s chariots and army He has cast into the sea; the finest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

King James Bible
Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.

New King James Version
Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.

New American Standard Bible
“Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has thrown into the sea; And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

NASB 1995
“Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

NASB 1977
“Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

Legacy Standard Bible
Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; And the choicest of his officers are sunk in the Red Sea.

Amplified Bible
“Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has thrown into the sea; His chosen captains are drowned in the Red Sea.

Christian Standard Bible
He threw Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea; the elite of his officers were drowned in the Red Sea.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He threw Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea; the elite of his officers were drowned in the Red Sea.

American Standard Version
Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea; And his chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea.

Contemporary English Version
He threw the chariots and army of Egypt's king into the Red Sea, and he drowned the best of the king's officers.

English Revised Version
Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: And his chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He has thrown Pharaoh's chariots and army into the sea. Pharaoh's best officers were drowned in the Red Sea.

Good News Translation
"He threw Egypt's army and its chariots into the sea; the best of its officers were drowned in the Red Sea.

International Standard Version
"Pharaoh's chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea; his best officers sank in the Reed Sea.

NET Bible
The chariots of Pharaoh and his army he has thrown into the sea, and his chosen officers were drowned in the Red Sea.

New Heart English Bible
He has cast Pharaoh's chariots and his army into the sea. His choice officers were drowned in the Sea at the End.

Webster's Bible Translation
Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
Pharaoh’s chariots and army He has cast into the sea; the finest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

World English Bible
He has cast Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea. His chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Chariots of Pharaoh and his force "" He has cast into the sea; And the choice of his captains "" Have sunk in the Red Sea!

Young's Literal Translation
Chariots of Pharaoh and his force He hath cast into the sea; And the choice of his captains Have sunk in the Red Sea!

Smith's Literal Translation
The chariots of Pharaoh and his army he threw into the sea; his chosen rulers sank in the sea of sedge.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Pharao's chariots and his army he hath cast into the sea: his chosen captains are drowned in the Red Sea.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The chariots of Pharaoh, and his army, he has cast into the sea; his elect leaders have been submerged in the Red Sea.

New American Bible
Pharaoh’s chariots and army he hurled into the sea; the elite of his officers were drowned in the Red Sea.

New Revised Standard Version
“Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he cast into the sea; his picked officers were sunk in the Red Sea.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Pharaoh's chariots and his host he cast into the sea; his valiant men also are drowned in the Red Sea.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The chariots of Pharaoh and his army he cast into the sea and he drowned the chosen of his mighty men in The Sea of Reeds.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea, And his chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He has cast the chariots of Pharao and his host into the sea, the chosen mounted captains: they were swallowed up in the Red Sea.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses' Song of Deliverance
3The LORD is a warrior, the LORD is His name. 4Pharaoh’s chariots and army He has cast into the sea; the finest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea. 5The depths have covered them; they sank there like a stone.…

Cross References
Psalm 136:15
but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His loving devotion endures forever.

Nehemiah 9:11
You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into raging waters.

Psalm 106:11
The waters covered their foes; not one of them remained.

Isaiah 51:10
Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea for the redeemed to cross over?

Joshua 24:6-7
When I brought your fathers out of Egypt and you reached the Red Sea, the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. / So your fathers cried out to the LORD, and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, over whom He brought the sea and engulfed them. Your very eyes saw what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.

Hebrews 11:29
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.

Psalm 78:53
He led them safely, so they did not fear, but the sea engulfed their enemies.

Isaiah 43:16-17
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters, / who brings out the chariots and horses, the armies and warriors together, to lie down, never to rise again; to be extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

Revelation 15:3
and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!

Psalm 77:16-20
The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken. / The clouds poured down water; the skies resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth. / Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. ...

1 Corinthians 10:1-2
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

Deuteronomy 11:4
what He did to the Egyptian army and horses and chariots when He made the waters of the Red Sea engulf them as they pursued you, and how He destroyed them completely, even to this day;

Acts 7:36
He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.

Psalm 114:3-5
The sea observed and fled; the Jordan turned back; / the mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. / Why was it, O sea, that you fled, O Jordan, that you turned back,

Isaiah 63:11-13
Then His people remembered the days of old, the days of Moses. Where is He who brought them through the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is the One who set His Holy Spirit among them, / who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown, / who led them through the depths like a horse in the wilderness, so that they did not stumble?


Treasury of Scripture

Pharaoh's chariots and his host has he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.

Exodus 14:13-28
And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever…

chosen

Exodus 14:7
And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.

Jump to Previous
Army Best Captains Cast Chariots Choice Choicest Chosen Drowned Force Host Hurled Officers Pharaoh Pharaoh's Picked Red Sea Sunk
Jump to Next
Army Best Captains Cast Chariots Choice Choicest Chosen Drowned Force Host Hurled Officers Pharaoh Pharaoh's Picked Red Sea Sunk
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














Pharaoh’s chariots and army He has cast into the sea;
This phrase refers to the miraculous event where God delivered the Israelites from the pursuing Egyptian forces. The chariots and army symbolize the might and power of Egypt, the superpower of the ancient world. The casting into the sea signifies divine intervention, highlighting God's sovereignty and power over nature and nations. This event is a fulfillment of God's promise to deliver His people and is a pivotal moment in Israel's history, marking their liberation from slavery. The Red Sea crossing is often seen as a type of baptism, symbolizing the transition from bondage to freedom, paralleling the Christian experience of salvation through Christ.

the finest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.
The "finest of his officers" indicates the elite forces of Pharaoh's army, emphasizing the totality of Egypt's defeat. The drowning in the Red Sea serves as a judgment against Egypt's oppression and idolatry. This event is a demonstration of God's justice and protection over His chosen people. The Red Sea, also known as the Sea of Reeds, is a geographical location that has been subject to much archaeological and scholarly study, though its exact crossing point remains debated. This act of divine deliverance is echoed in other scriptures, such as Psalm 136:15, and serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and power to save. The destruction of the Egyptian forces prefigures the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death, as He leads His people to eternal freedom.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Pharaoh
The ruler of Egypt who enslaved the Israelites and refused to let them go, leading to the plagues and the eventual Exodus.

2. Chariots and Army
Represents the military might of Egypt, which pursued the Israelites as they fled.

3. The Sea (Red Sea)
The body of water that God miraculously parted to allow the Israelites to escape, and then used to destroy the Egyptian forces.

4. Officers
The elite leaders of Pharaoh's army, signifying the strength and pride of Egypt's military.

5. The Event of the Red Sea Crossing
A pivotal moment in the Exodus account where God demonstrates His power and deliverance.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty and Power
The destruction of Pharaoh's army demonstrates God's supreme power over earthly rulers and military might.

Deliverance and Salvation
Just as God delivered the Israelites from their enemies, He offers spiritual deliverance to believers through Jesus Christ.

Judgment and Justice
The fate of the Egyptians serves as a reminder of God's justice and the consequences of opposing His will.

Faith and Trust in God
The Israelites' crossing of the Red Sea is a testament to the importance of faith and trust in God's promises and timing.

Remembrance and Praise
The song of Moses in Exodus 15 encourages believers to remember and praise God for His past acts of deliverance and faithfulness.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Exodus 15:4?

2. How does Exodus 15:4 demonstrate God's power over earthly rulers and armies?

3. What lessons can we learn about God's deliverance from Exodus 15:4?

4. How does Exodus 15:4 connect to God's promises in Exodus 14:13-14?

5. How can believers today trust God to fight their battles like in Exodus 15:4?

6. What does Exodus 15:4 teach about God's justice against oppressors?

7. How does Exodus 15:4 reflect God's power and justice in the Old Testament narrative?

8. What historical evidence supports the events described in Exodus 15:4?

9. How should believers interpret the destruction of Pharaoh's army in Exodus 15:4?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 15?

11. In Exodus 15:4–5, if Pharaoh’s entire army truly drowned, why is there no corroborating historical or archaeological evidence in Egyptian records?

12. Why does Exodus 15 portray a complete military defeat of Egypt, yet no known Egyptian texts mention such a catastrophic loss?

13. Is "Red Sea" or "Reed Sea" the correct translation?

14. Why do some scholars argue that Exodus 14 refers to the Reed Sea rather than the Red Sea, creating a contradiction in traditional interpretations?
What Does Exodus 15:4 Mean
Pharaoh’s chariots and his army

• Scripture paints the might of Egypt in vivid detail. Exodus 14:7 describes Pharaoh mustering “six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them,” the ancient equivalent of a modern armored division.

• The Israelites, newly freed slaves (Exodus 12:41), had no cavalry or chariots, underscoring the impossibility of victory by human means alone—Psalm 20:7 reminds us, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

• The verse highlights that every level of Egypt’s military power—both the hardware (chariots) and manpower (army)—stood against God’s people, just as Isaiah 31:1 warns against relying on “horses” and “chariots because they are many.”


He has thrown into the sea

• The subject is unmistakably the LORD. Exodus 14:27 records that “the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea,” making clear who controlled the event.

Nehemiah 9:11 looks back on the same scene: “You divided the sea before them… You hurled their pursuers into the depths.” The repetition across Scripture emphasizes God’s direct intervention, not a coincidence of nature.

• The verb underscores finality; the enemy was not merely delayed or discouraged—Psalm 78:53 notes that Israel’s foes “were covered by the sea,” eliminating any future pursuit.


The finest of Pharaoh’s officers

Exodus 14:7 already singled out the elite: “officers over all of them.” Moses wants readers to see that even Egypt’s best-trained warriors were powerless before the Lord.

Psalm 136:15 echoes this humiliation: God “swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea,” a reminder that human rank means nothing compared to divine sovereignty.

• The inclusion of Egypt’s “finest” underscores God’s total victory; He did not merely pick off stragglers but toppled the cream of the enemy’s leadership (Psalm 147:10–11).


Are drowned in the Red Sea

Exodus 14:28 confirms the completeness of the judgment: “Not one of them survived.”

Psalm 106:11 celebrates the same truth: “The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them remained.”

Hebrews 11:29 later cites this crossing as a triumph of faith: Israel walked through by faith, whereas Egypt’s attempt to follow ended in drowning—demonstrating that deliverance or destruction hinges on relationship to the Lord.


summary

Exodus 15:4 rejoices that every dimension of Egypt’s military—chariots, army, elite officers—was decisively defeated by God Himself when He hurled them into the Red Sea. The verse magnifies the Lord’s unmatched power, underscores the futility of trusting human strength, and celebrates complete deliverance for His covenant people.

(4) His chosen captains.--Comp. Exodus 14:7, where the same word is used.

Are drowned.--Rather, were drowned.

Verse 4. - Pharaoh's chariots and his host. The "host" of this passage is not the "army" of Exodus 14:9, though in the original the same word is used, but the whole multitude of those who rode in the chariots, and were drowned in the sea. Hath he cast. Or "hurled." The verb commonly expresses the hurling of a javelin or the shooting of an arrow. His chosen captains. Compare Exodus 14:7. Are drowned. Literally, "were submerged." The word describes the act of drowning, not the state of lying drowned in the depths of the sea.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Pharaoh’s
פַּרְעֹ֛ה (par·‘ōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings

chariots
מַרְכְּבֹ֥ת (mar·kə·ḇōṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4818: A chariot

and army
וְחֵיל֖וֹ (wə·ḥê·lōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2426: An army, an intrenchment

He has thrown
יָרָ֣ה (yā·rāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3384: To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teach

into the sea;
בַיָּ֑ם (ḇay·yām)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

the finest
וּמִבְחַ֥ר (ū·miḇ·ḥar)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4005: Choicest, best

of his officers
שָֽׁלִשָׁ֖יו (šā·li·šāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7991: A triple, a triangle, a three-fold measure, a general of the third rank

are drowned
טֻבְּע֥וּ (ṭub·bə·‘ū)
Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2883: To sink, sink down

in the Red
סֽוּף׃ (sūp̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5488: A reed, the papyrus

Sea.
בְיַם־ (ḇə·yam-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin


Links
Exodus 15:4 NIV
Exodus 15:4 NLT
Exodus 15:4 ESV
Exodus 15:4 NASB
Exodus 15:4 KJV

Exodus 15:4 BibleApps.com
Exodus 15:4 Biblia Paralela
Exodus 15:4 Chinese Bible
Exodus 15:4 French Bible
Exodus 15:4 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Exodus 15:4 He has cast Pharaoh's chariots and his (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 15:3
Top of Page
Top of Page