Exodus 15:6 · Bible study
Exodus 15:6 Commentary: The Right Hand of God in Salvation and Judgment
Hebrew · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
A study on Exodus 15:6 exploring the double mention of Yahweh's right hand, its poetic structure, and what it reveals about God's power to save and judge.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Yahweh’s right hand is both majestic in power and active in crushing the enemy, a poetic summary of the Exodus deliverance.
- Key words: ne’dari (glorious, majestic); tir’atz (shatter, crush); yemin (right hand, symbol of power); Yahweh (covenant name of God).
- Main debate: Whether the participle “glorious” (ne’dari) modifies Yahweh or the right hand, and whether the verb “dashes” describes a past act or a timeless truth.
- Theological theme: God’s sovereign power expressed simultaneously in salvation and judgment; the unity of God’s glorious character and His decisive action.
- Best use: A verse for praise, reminding believers that the same hand that delivered Israel still acts for those who trust Him; also suitable for spiritual warfare and assurance.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Your right hand, Yahweh, is glorious in power. Your right hand, Yahweh, dashes the enemy in pieces.
KJV King James Version 1769
Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Thy right hand, O Jehovah, is glorious in power, Thy right hand, O Jehovah, dasheth in pieces the enemy.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Thy right hand, O Jehovah, Is become honourable in power; Thy right hand, O Jehovah, Doth crush an enemy.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Thy right hand, Jehovah, is become glorious in power: Thy right hand, Jehovah, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Thy right hand, O Lord, is magnified in strength: thy right hand, O Lord, hath slain the enemy.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Tu diestra, oh Jehová, ha sido magnificada en fortaleza; tu diestra, oh Jehová, ha quebrantado al enemigo.
Tua mão direita, ó SENHOR, foi engrandecida em força; Tua mão direita, ó SENHOR, quebrantou ao inimigo.
Ta droite, ô Éternel! A signalé sa force;
HERR, deine rechte Hand tut große Wunder; HERR, deine rechte Hand hat die Feinde zerschlagen.
O HEERE! Uw rechterhand is verheerlijkt geworden in macht; Uw rechterhand, o HEERE! heeft den vijand verbroken!
La tua destra, o Eterno, è mirabile per la sua forza, la tua destra, o Eterno, schiaccia i nemici.
Prawica twoja, Panie, uwielbiona jest w mocy, prawica twoja, Panie, potarła nieprzyjaciela.
Десница Твоя, Господи, прославилась силою; десница Твоя, Господи, сразила врага.
耶和華啊，你的右手 施展能力，顯出榮耀；耶和華啊，你的右手 摔碎 仇敵。
Full of glory, O Lord, is the power of your right hand; by your right hand those who came against you are broken.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 15:6
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse celebrates Yahweh’s power in a highly concentrated form. The “right hand” is a consistent Old Testament symbol for God’s active strength in deliverance (Psalm 17:7, 44:3). Cambridge Bible notes the repetition, “Thy right hand, O Yahweh, glorious in power, Thy right hand, O Yahweh, did dash in pieces the enemy”, and observes that the first line presents a general statement of God’s majesty, while the second specifies the action that proves it. The verb tir’atz (תִּרְעַץ) means to shatter or crush; Gill and Henry both apply it literally to Pharaoh’s army and spiritually to all enemies of God’s people. Clarke calls the right hand “omnipotence manifested in a most extraordinary way.” There is minor debate about the participle ne’dari (נֶאְדָּרִי): Cambridge argues it agrees with Yahweh (“glorious”), making the whole phrase about Yahweh himself, while others read it with the hand. But everyone holds that the verse exalts God’s power as both majestic and active.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God’s right hand is powerful and defeats the enemy, whether understood historically at the Red Sea or spiritually in ongoing salvation.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Symbolism of the right hand | All commentators agree that the right hand represents God’s power and active strength in deliverance and judgment. | Some emphasize the anthropomorphic literalness (God has a hand), while others treat it as pure metaphor. No major disagreement on meaning. |
| Grammatical subject of 'glorious' | The verse clearly attributes glory and power to Yahweh’s action. The phrase 'Thy right hand, O Yahweh, glorious in power' is the reading most accept. | Cambridge Bible argues that 'glorious' (masculine) must agree with 'Yahweh,' not with 'right hand' (feminine). A minority read would allow 'glorious' to describe the hand itself, requiring a different Hebrew vowel pointing. |
| Historical vs. spiritual interpretation | The primary reference is the literal deliverance from Egypt at the Red Sea. | Gill and others extend the 'enemy' to include sin, Satan, and antichrist forces. Some argue the verse speaks only to that historical moment; others see it as typological of Christ’s victory. |
| Verb tense of 'dashes in pieces' | The Hebrew Qal imperfect <em>tir’atz</em> can represent a past, present, or ongoing action depending on context. | Some English translations render it as past ('hath dashed'), others as present ('dashes'). This reflects whether the focus is on the completed event or the abiding truth of God’s power. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Exodus 15 is the Song of the Sea, widely regarded as one of the oldest poems in Scripture. It was sung by Moses and the Israelites immediately after they crossed the Red Sea and watched the Egyptian army drown (Exodus 14:30, 31). The historical event is the defining moment of Israel’s birth as a nation, liberation from slavery by God’s direct intervention. The song’s structure is antiphonal, with verses building in intensity.
In the ancient Near East, the “right hand” was a universal symbol of strength, honor, and skill in battle. In Egyptian iconography, the pharaoh’s right hand extended in victory; here, Yahweh’s right hand does what no pharaoh could resist. The double address “Your right hand, Yahweh… Your right hand, Yahweh” is a feature of Hebrew parallelism that the Cambridge Bible compares to Psalm 92:9 and Psalm 93:3. The repetition does not merely repeat, it piles one statement on another, driving home that the same hand that is glorious in power is also the hand that shatters the enemy. The enemy is first Pharaoh and his army, but the context of verses 4, 5 and 9, 10 makes clear the poetic scope widens: God overthrows every power that rises against His people. The later references to Philistia, Edom, Moab, and Canaan (verses 14, 16) show that this song anticipates future victories as well.
Literarily, verse 6 stands as the dramatic center of the first half of the song. Verses 2, 5 announce who God is and what He has done; verse 6 personalizes it with direct address. The rest of the song (verses 10, 18) expands on the same themes. This verse thus anchors the confession that God’s salvation and judgment are two sides of the same action, He saves His people by judging their oppressors.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Exodus 15:6. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts. The only point of discussion is the grammatical agreement of the adjective ne’dari ('glorious'): because it is masculine singular, Cambridge Bible argues it modifies 'Yahweh' rather than the feminine 'right hand.' Some scholars have proposed a different vowel pointing to make it feminine, but the existing text is clear. The verb tir’atz is a Qal imperfect with straightforward meaning.
Reception History
From the early church onward, this verse has been read both as a historical celebration of the Exodus and as a spiritual type of Christ’s victory over sin and death. Origen and other church fathers saw the Red Sea crossing as a symbol of baptism and the destruction of Pharaoh as the defeat of Satan. In the Reformation, Calvin and Henry focused on the verse as a model of praise for God’s sovereign deliverance. The Puritan commentator Gill extended the enemy to all spiritual foes, including the 'antichristian party.' In modern hymnody, the imagery of God’s right hand appears in songs like 'The Lord Is a Man of War' and many psalm settings. The verse continues to be used in both Jewish liturgy and Christian worship as a testament to God’s saving power.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God’s power is glorious in itself. The first line declares that Yahweh’s right hand is “glorious in power.” The Hebrew ne’dari suggests majesty and nobility. God does not merely use power; His power is inherently magnificent. Before He acts, He is worthy of praise.
- God’s power shatters His enemies. The second line shows the same hand in action: it “dashes the enemy in pieces.” The verb tir’atz is forceful, to break, crush. This is not abstract strength but concrete deliverance. The enemy here is Egypt, but the principle extends to anything that oppresses God’s people.
- God’s power is personal and covenantal. Twice the poet calls out “Yahweh.” This is the covenant name of God, the God who revealed Himself to Moses and kept His promises. The repetition of the name personalizes the victory: it is not fate or chance, but the Lord who acts for His own.
Five-point outline
- Declaration: “Your right hand, Yahweh, is glorious in power.”
- Demonstration: “Your right hand, Yahweh, dashes the enemy in pieces.”
- Contrast of strength: The enemy boasted in his own hand (v. 9: “My hand will destroy them”), but he is destroyed by God’s hand.
- Double emphasis: The repetition of the phrase “Your right hand, Yahweh” is not redundancy; it is a poetic hammer blow that makes the truth unforgettable.
- Application for faith: The same hand that saved Israel is available to God’s people today. It is a hand of both rescue and judgment.
Illustration hooks
- A courtroom scene where the judge’s gavel falls, once to declare authority, again to deliver the verdict. The double stroke of the gavel matches the double mention of the right hand.
- A firefighter who carries someone out of a burning building. The same arm that holds the victim safely also pushes doors open and breaks barriers. That arm is both saving and destroying.
- A parent who shields a child from a speeding car. The same hand that pushes the child to safety also braces against the impact. One action, two outcomes.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can a loving God also be a God who judges and destroys?
- Is God’s power for me or against me? It depends on which side of His right hand I stand.
- What “enemies” in my life, sin, fear, injustice, can the right hand of God shatter?
Leading a Discussion
This verse sits at the heart of Israel’s first great victory song. The people have just walked through the sea on dry ground and watched their oppressors drown. Their response is not simple relief but worship that names God’s power. As you read Exodus 15:6 together, notice the way poetic repetition shapes what they believed about God.
Discussion questions
- Observation: The verse says the same phrase twice: “Your right hand, Yahweh.” What effect does that repetition have on you as a reader?
- Observation: Look at the verbs: “is glorious” and “dashes in pieces.” How do these two statements relate to each other? Does one come before the other logically?
- Interpretation: The “right hand” appears many times in the Old Testament (Psalm 17:7, 44:3, 60:5). Why do you think the psalmists and prophets so often use this image for God?
- Interpretation: Compare verse 6 with verse 9, where the enemy boasts, “My hand will destroy them.” What does the contrast between the two hands tell us about pride versus trust in God?
- Application: If God’s right hand is “glorious in power,” what does that mean for situations where you feel powerless?
- Application: This song celebrates the destruction of an enemy. Are there enemies, sin, addiction, injustice, that you need to ask God to shatter in your own life?
- Application: The verse ends with the enemy shattered. How might this give you confidence in God’s final victory over evil, even when you see it winning in the short term?
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 15:11 | Who is like you, Yahweh, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? |
| I Chronicles 29:11 | Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty! For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, Yahweh, and you are exalted as head above all. |
| I Chronicles 29:12 | Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all! In your hand is power and might! It is in your hand to make great, and to give strength to all! |
| Psalms 2:9 | You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” |
| Psalms 17:7 | Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies. |
| Psalms 44:3 | For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable to them. |
| Psalms 60:5 | So that your beloved may be delivered, save with your right hand, and answer us. |
| Psalms 74:11 | Why do you draw back your hand, even your right hand? Take it from your chest and consume them! |
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
4 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke takes the phrase "Thy right hand" as a clear symbol of God's omnipotence. His emphasis falls on the manner of its display: this power was shown in a way that was extraordinary, not ordinary. The term points beyond strength in general to a specific, miraculous demonstration.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible Schools notes that "glorious" in the Hebrew text agrees with Yahweh, not with the right hand, and the repetition of "Thy right hand" before the verb is for emphasis. They also identify the verb for "dash in pieces" as a rare term meaning to crush violently.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Thy right hande, O Lord, is glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath brused the enemie.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill sees the right hand of God as both literally glorious in destroying Pharaoh and spiritually glorious in Christ's work of redemption and judgment. He draws a direct parallel: the same power that shattered Egypt's army also breaks sin, Satan, and every enemy of God's people through Christ.