Exodus 14:15 · Bible study
Exodus 14:15 Commentary: Prayer, Action, and God’s Assurance
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does God ask Moses why he is crying out? This study explores the relationship between prayer and obedient action when deliverance is assured.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God calls Moses to stop praying and lead Israel to move forward in faith.
- Key words: “Cry out” (H6817 tsa’aq), desperate plea; “Speak” (H1696 dabar), authoritative command; “Go forward” (H5265 nasa‛), to set out on a journey.
- Main debate: Does the question imply God is rebuking Moses? Consensus: no, it is a call to action.
- Theological theme: The synergy of prayer and obedient action in the life of God’s people.
- Best use: Encouragement for those waiting on God to take the next step of faith.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Yahweh said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward.
KJV King James Version 1769
And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Jehovah said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `What? thou criest unto Me--speak unto the sons of Israel, and they journey;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Jehovah said to Moses, Why dost thou cry unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the Lord said to Moses: Why criest thou to me? Speak to the children of Israel to go forward.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Entonces Jehová dijo á Moisés: ¿ Por qué clamas á mí? di á los hijos de Israel que marchen:
Então o SENHOR disse a Moisés: Por que clamas a mim? Diz aos filhos de Israel que marchem.
L’ Éternel dit à Moïse: Pourquoi ces cris? Parle aux enfants d’ Israël, et qu’ ils marchent.
Der HERR sprach zu Mose: Was schreist du zu mir? sage den Kindern Israel, daß sie ziehen.
Toen zeide de HEERE tot Mozes: Wat roept gij tot Mij? Zeg den kinderen Israels, dat zij voorttrekken.
E l’Eterno disse a Mosè: “Perché gridi a me? Di’ ai figliuoli d’Israele che si mettano in marcia.
I rzekł Pan do Mojżesza: Cóż wołasz do mnie? Mów do synów Izraelskich, aby ciągnęli;
И сказал Господь Моисею: что ты вопиешь ко Мне? скажи сынам Израилевым, чтоб они шли,
耶和華 對 摩西 說：「你為甚麼 向我 哀求呢？你吩咐 以色列 人 往前走。
And the Lord said to Moses, Why are you crying out to me? give the children of Israel the order to go forward.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 14:15
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that God’s question is not a rebuke but a summons to act on the assurance already given. Calvin notes that Moses had prayed apart and that God now tells him, “Weary not yourself by crying any more; the event will prove that you are heard.” Gill and Keil & Delitzsch similarly see the question as an admonition to resolute action, not displeasure. The verb “cry” (H6817 tsa’aq) denotes an urgent cry for help, yet Moses’ prayer is described nowhere in the text, a silence that Adam Clarke calls “the language of sighs, tears, and desires.” Barnes observes that we learn of Moses’ intercession only from God’s reply. All agree that once God has decreed deliverance, persistent prayer gives way to obedient movement. The command “go forward” (H5265 nasa‛, to set out, journey) is not a formula for the miracle but the people’s part in God’s plan: they must march toward the sea. Wesley summarises: “Wherefore shouldst thou press thy petition any farther, when it is already granted?”
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God’s question is not a rebuke but a call to action; the command to go forward precedes the miraculous dividing of the sea and requires trust in God’s provision.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of Moses's prayer | Moses was praying, whether silently or aloud, and God heard him. | Clarke (Methodist) argues the prayer was silent, sighs and tears; others assume vocal prayer, though the text records none. |
| God's attitude toward the prayer | God is not angry or displeased with the prayer itself. | Some see the question as a mild correction (Calvin: “weary not yourself”); others as a simple redirection to action (Gill, Keil & Delitzsch). |
| Content of Moses's petition | Moses was interceding for the people in their distress. | Wesley suggests Moses prayed for pardon of the people's murmuring; Calvin sees a prayer for deliverance. The text does not specify. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The scene is the climax of the exodus. Israel has left Egypt after the plagues, and Pharaoh has hardened his heart again and pursues them with chariots. The people are trapped between the sea and the Egyptian army at Pi-hahiroth (Exodus 14:1-4). In panic they cry out against Moses, saying it would have been better to serve the Egyptians than die in the wilderness (v.11-12). Moses responds with faith: “Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh” (v.13). Then God speaks.
Critics note that no explicit prayer by Moses is recorded in the preceding verses. The Cambridge Bible suggests that the mention of crying “has not been mentioned before in the existing narrative,” possibly pointing to a different source. Yet Moses’ heart is clearly engaged. In the ancient Near East crying out to God was a standard response in crisis, often accompanied by ritual cries. Moses’ role as intercessor for the people is consistent with his character throughout the Pentateuch (e.g., Exodus 17:4, where he cries again).
The command “go forward” (H5265 nasa‛) is a military term used for breaking camp and moving. This is not a retreat or a lateral move; it is a march directly toward the sea. The surrounding context shows that the pillar of cloud then moves behind them to shield them from the Egyptians (v.19-20). The historical setting, then, is one of imminent peril where human logic says “retreat” but God says “advance.” Moses must shift from intercessor to commander, and Israel must shift from panic to obedient movement. The miracle of the sea will follow, but only after the people take the first step.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Exodus 14:15. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and the verse appears consistently in all major traditions. The only minor variation is the Ketiv/Qere of the divine name (YHWH read as Adonai), but this does not affect the meaning.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, this verse is often read as an example of God’s immediate response to intercession. The Mekhilta, an early rabbinic commentary on Exodus, interprets God’s question as a gentle nudge: “There is a time to pray and a time to act.” Among Christian interpreters, Calvin and the Reformed tradition saw it as highlighting the priority of God’s word over human anxiety. Matthew Henry used it to teach that “everything is beautiful in its season”, there is a season for prayer and a season for action. In evangelical preaching, the verse frequently appears in sermons on stepping out in faith and trusting God’s promises even when the path seems blocked. The interplay between prayer and action has remained a key theme across traditions, with each emphasizing that God’s assurance is meant to spur movement, not passivity.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God hears the prayer you didn’t voice. Moses’ silent cry (not recorded) is fully known to God. Clarke calls this “the language of sighs, tears, and desires”, an encouragement for those who cannot articulate their need.
- God redirects from persistence to action. The question “Why do you cry to me?” is a gentle nudge, not a rebuke. As Henry writes, “Wherefore shouldst thou press thy petition any farther, when it is already granted?”
- Obedience is the next step of faith. “Speak to them that they go forward” calls for concrete action that trusts the promise before the miracle appears.
Five-point outline
- The crisis that drives us to prayer (Exodus 14:10-12)
- The assurance that stills our fear (vv.13-14)
- The question that calls us to move (v.15a)
- The command that requires trust (v.15b)
- The miracle that follows the step (vv.16-29)
Illustration hooks
- A leader who prays for God to open a door while the door is already unlocked, the action is to push.
- A student praying for a exam result while refusing to open the textbook; the prayer is genuine, but the next step is to study.
- A church praying for revival but unwilling to send workers into the neighbourhood; the command to “go forward” applies to congregations as well.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “Is it possible to pray too much? When should I stop praying and start acting?”
- “How do I know whether God wants me to wait or to move?”
- “Does God ever get impatient with my repeated prayers?”
Leading a Discussion
Exodus 14:15 sits in a moment of extreme pressure. Israel is trapped, the people are angry, and Moses is caught between faith and fear. God’s response surprises us: instead of rebuke, he asks a question that shifts the focus from crying out to walking forward.
Discussion questions
- What do we learn about Moses’ prayer life from this verse? Why might the writer not mention his prayer explicitly?
- God asks “Why do you cry to me?” If prayer is always appropriate, why does God seem to redirect Moses here?
- How does the command “go forward” challenge the idea that faith is only about waiting and being still (compare v.13-14)?
- What other passages of Scripture connect persistent prayer with a call to action? (Consider Joshua 7:10, Nehemiah 9:9, and the wider exodus narrative.)
- In your own life, when have you felt God saying, “Why do you cry to me?”, prompting you to stop asking and start obeying?
- How can your small group help one another discern when it is time to move from prayer to action?
- What would “go forward” look like for you right now, a step of faith you have been hesitating to take?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 17:4 | Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, “What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” |
| Joshua 7:10 | Yahweh said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face like that? |
| Ezra 10:4 | Arise, for the matter belongs to you and we are with you. Be courageous, and do it.” |
| Ezra 10:5 | Then Ezra arose, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel to swear that they would do according to this word. So they swore. |
| Nehemiah 9:9 | “You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red Sea, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke points out that Moses was not praying aloud, yet God heard his unspoken distress. Sighs, tears, and wordless desires are as clear to God as spoken words. This comforts anyone who cannot find words to pray but can still groan or weep before Him.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that Moses does not mention his own intercessory prayer in the narrative. The only clue that Moses cried out to God comes from God's answer itself, which reveals what the story leaves unstated.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that Moses had prayed privately during the people's rebellion, and God's answer here confirms that prayer was heard. The command to stop crying and lift the rod shows that Moses' confidence came from a direct divine promise, not rashness. This teaches that no one should promise specific blessings without a special testimony from God.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible Schools note that the question "Why do you cry to me?" appears abruptly, since nothing before records Moses crying out. They explain this verse likely comes from a different ancient source (E) than the surrounding story, which belongs to other narrative strands (J and P).
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note treats God's question as a gentle rebuke: Moses should stop pleading and instead command the people to move. The point is that action born of faith sometimes matters more than continued prayer, especially when God has already given clear instruction for the next step.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill observes that Moses was praying silently, and God was not displeased with the prayer, but now He had heard and would save. The Lord told Moses to stop praying and instead command the people to move forward in orderly fashion toward the sea shore, showing the time for action had come.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that God's command to Moses to go forward was itself the answer to his prayers. This direct instruction removed Moses' remaining uncertainty about how the deliverance would actually be accomplished.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
God's question to Moses is not a rebuke but a call to resolute action. Moses had been crying out to God, and now he is told to move forward and stretch out his staff over the sea. The angel of God then moves behind Israel as a defense against the Egyptian army, which consisted entirely of chariots and horsemen.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange understands the crossing as neither a bare natural event nor a purely supernatural spectacle. He sees a miracle in which God intensified natural forces (an east wind, an extraordinary ebb tide) and directed them at the prophet’s word, while
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that God interrupted Moses’ silent, heartfelt prayer not to rebuke him but to redirect him: the time for pleading was over, and the time for acting had come. Moses was to lift his rod and command Israel forward, showing that faithful prayer must give way to obedient action when God gives the signal.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights that Moses's silent prayer moved God more than Israel's loud cries. God's question is not a rebuke but an announcement that the request is already granted. Now Moses must act: command Israel to go forward, for God chooses the humbling path of dividing the sea rather than an easier way.