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Red Sea

Between Egypt and Sinai

Sea in Between Egypt and Sinai · today Gulf of Suez region (crossing debated)

Meaning: “Hebrew Yam Suph, "Sea of Reeds"

The sea God parted so Israel passed over on dry ground — and where Pharaoh’s army was drowned.

Location

Overview

The Red Sea (Hebrew Yam Suph, "Sea of Reeds") is the site of the central miracle of the Exodus — the deliverance that defined Israel forever as the people the LORD redeemed.

The waters divided

Trapped between the sea and Pharaoh's chariots, Israel saw Moses stretch out his hand: "and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night... and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground" (Exodus 14:21–22).

Pharaoh's army drowned

When the Egyptians pursued, the waters returned "and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh... there remained not so much as one of them" (Exodus 14:28). "Thus the LORD saved Israel that day" (Exodus 14:30).

The song of Moses

On the far shore Israel sang: "The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation... Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods?" (Exodus 15:2, 11) — the Bible's first great hymn of redemption.

Events Here

1446 BC

The sea parts and Israel crosses on dry ground

Exodus 14:22
1446 BC

Pharaoh's army is drowned; Israel sings the Song of Moses

Exodus 15:1

Scripture References

28 verses
Exodus5 verses

Exodus 10:19

And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. cast: Heb. fastened

Exodus 13:18

But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. harnessed: or, by five in a rank

Exodus 15:4

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

Exodus 15:22

So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

Exodus 23:31

And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.

Numbers5 verses

Numbers 14:25

(Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.

Numbers 21:4

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. discouraged: or, grieved: Heb. shortened

Numbers 21:14

Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon, What: or, Vaheb in Suphah

Numbers 33:10

And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red sea.

Numbers 33:11

And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.

Deuteronomy4 verses

Deuteronomy 1:1

These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab. the Red: or, Zuph

Deuteronomy 1:40

But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.

Deuteronomy 2:1

Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.

Deuteronomy 11:4

And what he did unto the army of Egypt, unto their horses, and to their chariots; how he made the water of the Red sea to overflow them as they pursued after you, and how the LORD hath destroyed them unto this day;

Joshua3 verses

Joshua 2:10

For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

Joshua 4:23

For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:

Joshua 24:6

And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.

Judges1 verse

Judges 11:16

But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;

1 Kings1 verse

1 Kings 9:26

And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom. shore: Heb. lip

Nehemiah1 verse

Nehemiah 9:9

And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea;

Psalms5 verses

Psalms 106:7

Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.

Psalms 106:9

He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.

Psalms 106:22

Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.

Psalms 136:13

To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Psalms 136:15

But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. overthrew: Heb. shaked off

Jeremiah1 verse

Jeremiah 49:21

The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea. Red sea: Heb. Weedy sea

Acts1 verse

Acts 7:36

He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

Hebrews1 verse

Hebrews 11:29

By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

Archaeology & History

The Hebrew name Yam Suph means "Sea of Reeds," and the exact body of water and crossing point are long debated — proposals range across the Gulf of Suez, the Bitter Lakes, and reedy lagoons of the eastern delta. Whatever the route, Scripture treats the crossing as the defining act of national redemption, echoed throughout the Bible.

People who appear here

Moses2×
Sihon1×
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Frequently asked about Red Sea

Where is Red Sea today?

Today, Red Sea corresponds to Gulf of Suez region (crossing debated).

What does the name Red Sea mean?

The name Red Sea means “Hebrew Yam Suph, "Sea of Reeds"”.

What happened at Red Sea in the Bible?

Key biblical events at Red Sea include the sea parts and israel crosses on dry ground; pharaoh's army is drowned; israel sings the song of moses.

Where is Red Sea first mentioned in the Bible?

Red Sea is first mentioned in Exodus 10:19.

How often is Red Sea mentioned in the Bible?

Red Sea is mentioned in 28 verses across 11 books: Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1 Kings, Nehemiah, Psalms, Jeremiah, Acts, Hebrews.

What happened at the Red Sea?

God parted the sea by a strong east wind so Israel crossed on dry ground; when the pursuing Egyptian army followed, the waters returned and drowned them. Israel then sang the Song of Moses.

What is "Yam Suph"?

It is the Hebrew name for the sea Israel crossed, literally "Sea of Reeds," traditionally rendered "Red Sea." The precise location of the crossing is debated.