Red Sea (Yam Suph / Sea of Reeds)
Overview
- Type: Body of water
- Testament: Old
- Modern Location: Eastern Mediterranean, between Egypt and Arabian Peninsula
Biblical Significance
The crossing of the Red Sea (Hebrew: Yam Suph, “Sea of Reeds”) is the defining moment of the Exodus — God’s most dramatic act of deliverance. After Pharaoh released Israel, he changed his mind and pursued with 600 chariots. Trapped between the sea and the army, Israel feared.
God commanded Moses to stretch out his staff. He divided the waters with a strong east wind all night, creating a dry path. Israel crossed, then God closed the sea on Pharaoh’s army, drowning every man. Not one survived.
This event became Israel’s defining memory of God’s salvation, retold in worship throughout their history. It foreshadows baptism and ultimate deliverance in Christ.
Key Events
- Crossing the Red Sea — Israel delivered, Pharaoh destroyed
Key People Associated
Important Verses
- “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.” — Exodus 14:21-22
- “There shall no more be seen unto eternity.” — Exodus 15:19
Cross-References
- 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 — “All were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea”
- Hebrews 11:29 — “Through faith they passed through the Red sea”
- Matthew 13: — Parable of the sower references “by the wayside”
- Revelation 15:2-3 — “Song of Moses and the song of the lamb”
- Isaiah 51:9-10 — “Wast thou not it which cut Rahab in pieces… dried up the sea”