Psalm 78:13
New International Version
He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand up like a wall.

New Living Translation
For he divided the sea and led them through, making the water stand up like walls!

English Standard Version
He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap.

Berean Standard Bible
He split the sea and brought them through; He set the waters upright like a wall.

King James Bible
He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.

New King James Version
He divided the sea and caused them to pass through; And He made the waters stand up like a heap.

New American Standard Bible
He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand up like a heap.

NASB 1995
He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand up like a heap.

NASB 1977
He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; And He made the waters stand up like a heap.

Legacy Standard Bible
He split the sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand up like a heap.

Amplified Bible
He divided the [Red] Sea and allowed them to pass through it, And He made the waters stand up like [water behind] a dam.

Christian Standard Bible
He split the sea and brought them across; the water stood firm like a wall.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He split the sea and brought them across; the water stood firm like a wall.

American Standard Version
He clave the sea, and caused them to pass through; And he made the waters to stand as a heap.

Contemporary English Version
God made a path in the sea and piled up the water as he led them across.

English Revised Version
He clave the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He divided the sea and led them through it. He made the waters stand up like a wall.

Good News Translation
He divided the sea and took them through it; he made the waters stand like walls.

International Standard Version
He divided the sea so that they were able to cross; he caused the water to stand in a single location.

Majority Standard Bible
He split the sea and brought them through; He set the waters upright like a wall.

NET Bible
He divided the sea and led them across it; he made the water stand in a heap.

New Heart English Bible
He split the sea, and caused them to pass through. He made the waters stand as a heap.

Webster's Bible Translation
He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as a heap.

World English Bible
He split the sea, and caused them to pass through. He made the waters stand as a heap.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
He cleft a sea, and causes them to pass over, "" Indeed, He causes waters to stand as a heap.

Young's Literal Translation
He cleft a sea, and causeth them to pass over, Yea, He causeth waters to stand as a heap.

Smith's Literal Translation
He rent the sea and he will cause them to pass through; and he will cause the waters to stand as a heap.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He divided the sea and brought them through: and he made the waters to stand as in a vessel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He broke the sea and he led them through. And he stationed the waters, as if in a vessel.

New American Bible
He split the sea and led them across, making the waters stand like walls.

New Revised Standard Version
He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as in skins.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He split the sea and made them pass over and he stood up the waters like water skins.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He cleaved the sea, and caused them to pass through; And He made the waters to stand as a heap.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He clave the sea, and led them through: he made the waters to stand as in a bottle.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
I Will Open My Mouth in Parables
12He worked wonders before their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan. 13He split the sea and brought them through; He set the waters upright like a wall. 14He led them with a cloud by day and with a light of fire all night.…

Cross References
Exodus 14:21-22
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, / and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.

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.

Isaiah 63:12-13
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?

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.

Exodus 15:8
At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up; like a wall the currents stood firm; the depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

Joshua 4:23
For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as He did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over.

Psalm 106:9
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; He led them through the depths as through a desert.

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.

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?

Exodus 14:29
But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.

Psalm 136:13-14
He divided the Red Sea in two His loving devotion endures forever. / and led Israel through the midst, His loving devotion endures forever.

Exodus 15:19
For when Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them. But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.

Isaiah 43:16
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters,

Exodus 14:16
And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

Exodus 14:27
So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal state. As the Egyptians were retreating, the LORD swept them into the sea.


Treasury of Scripture

He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.

he divided

Psalm 66:6
He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.

Psalm 106:9,10
He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness…

Psalm 136:13-15
To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: …

made

Psalm 38:7
For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

Joshua 3:16
That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

Habakkuk 3:15
Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.

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Caused Causeth Clave Cleaved Cleft Cut Divided Firm Heap Led Massed Sea Side Split Stand Together Wall Water Waters
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Psalm 78
1. An exhortation both to learn and to preach, the law of God
9. The story of God's wrath against the incredulous and disobedient
67. The Israelites being rejected, God chose Judah, Zion, and David.














He split the sea
This phrase refers to the miraculous event during the Exodus when God parted the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to escape from the pursuing Egyptian army. The Hebrew word for "split" is "בָּקַע" (baqa), which conveys the idea of cleaving or breaking open. This act of divine intervention is a powerful demonstration of God's sovereignty over nature and His ability to deliver His people from seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Historically, this event is central to Jewish identity and faith, symbolizing liberation and God's faithfulness to His covenant promises.

and brought them through
The phrase emphasizes God's guidance and protection as He led the Israelites safely through the parted waters. The Hebrew root "עָבַר" (avar) means to pass over or through, indicating a transition from danger to safety. This journey through the sea is a metaphor for the spiritual journey of faith, where believers are led by God through trials and challenges. It underscores the trustworthiness of God as a shepherd who leads His flock to safety.

He made the waters stand firm like a wall
This vivid imagery describes the miraculous nature of the event, where the waters of the sea stood upright, forming walls on either side. The Hebrew word "נֵד" (ned) for "wall" suggests a barrier or a protective structure. This miracle not only provided a path of escape but also served as a testament to God's power and control over creation. The standing waters symbolize God's ability to create order out of chaos and His provision of a way where there seems to be none. This act of divine intervention is a reminder of God's omnipotence and His commitment to the salvation of His people.

(13) As an heap.--See Note, Psalm 33:7.

Verse 13. - He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through (see Exodus 14:21, 22). And he made the waters to stand as an heap. The expression is taken from the Song of Moses (Exodus 15:8). It must be understood poetically.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He split
בָּ֣קַע (bā·qa‘)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1234: To cleave, to rend, break, rip, open

the sea
יָ֭ם (yām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

and brought them through;
וַיַּֽעֲבִירֵ֑ם (way·ya·‘ă·ḇî·rêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

He set
וַֽיַּצֶּב־ (way·yaṣ·ṣeḇ-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5324: To take one's stand, stand

the waters {upright}
מַ֥יִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

like
כְּמוֹ־ (kə·mōw-)
Preposition
Strong's 3644: Like, as, when

a wall.
נֵֽד׃ (nêḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5067: A mound, wave


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OT Poetry: Psalm 78:13 He split the sea and caused them (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 78:12
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