Exodus 15:16
ESV
Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone, till your people, O Lord, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased.
NIV
terror and dread will fall on them. By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone— until your people pass by, Lord, until the people you bought pass by.
NASB
Terror and dread fall upon them; By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone, Until Your people pass over, Lord, Until the people pass over whom You have purchased.
CSB
terror and dread will fall on them. They will be as still as a stone because of your powerful arm until your people pass by, Lord, until the people whom you purchased pass by.
NLT
terror and dread fall upon them. The power of your arm makes them lifeless as stone until your people pass by, O Lord, until the people you purchased pass by.
KJV
Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
NKJV
Fear and dread will fall on them; By the greatness of Your arm They will be as still as a stone, Till Your people pass over, O Lord, Till the people pass over Whom You have purchased.
What does Exodus 15:16 mean?
Israel has just been rescued from an Egyptian army (Exodus 14:5–9) by God's miraculous parting of Red Sea (Exodus 14:21–29). The nation of Israel has been "purchased" from slavery (Exodus 1:11–14) by God's intervention (Exodus 12:29–31). Now, the Hebrews are forever free from Egypt and poised to begin taking their Promised Land (Genesis 17:8).Part of their celebration (Exodus 15:1) is knowing that the wicked Canaanite nations (Deuteronomy 9:4) will be terrified to hear this story (Exodus 15:14–15). If the God of the Hebrews (Exodus 9:1) could overpower Egypt, their lives were also at risk. Israel imagines these enemy nations cowering in stillness, like a stone, hoping to avoid being noticed. All the Lord's supernatural works on their behalf will strike fear into the Canaanites (Joshua 2:10–11).
