Exodus 15:16Terror and dread falls on them. By the greatness of your arm they are as still as a stone-- until your people pass over, Yahweh, until the people pass over who you have purchased.
The setting
Red Sea shore, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, ~1446 BC. Moses extends his staff toward the future, seeing Canaan's conquest in vision...
The emotion here: breathless wonder at God's protective power
The original word
qānītā (קָנִיתָ) — purchased, redeemed at great cost, like buying back a slave
Why it matters
The phrase 'still as a stone' became a military term for armies frozen in terror
Read with care
What most readers miss in Exodus 15:16
God's 'arm' refers to His mighty power — the same arm that split the sea now clears the path ahead
Common misconceptionMany think 'purchased' means God bought Israel from Egypt, but it refers to God buying them back from slavery through the plagues and exodus.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Exodus 15:16
Bible Genome reading
Exodus 15:16 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Exodus 15:16 comes from the book of Exodus, written during the exodus period. These words are attributed to Moses. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the poetry genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine power, protection. Notable phrases: terror and dread; greatness of your arm; still as stone.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same worship
“Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one:”
— Deuteronomy 6:4
“and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
— John 14:6
“Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."”
— John 8:58
Your reflection
What does Exodus 15:16 mean to you, today?
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