Exodus 15:14

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 15:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The peoples have heard, they tremble: Pangs have taken hold on the inhabitants of Philistia.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The peoples have heard, they tremble: Pangs have taken hold on the inhabitants of Philistia.
Exodus 15:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14The peoples have heard, they tremble: Pangs have taken hold on the inhabitants of Philistia.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the people shall hear, and be afraid, etc.] What follows from hence to the end of the song is plainly prophetic, a prediction of future events; and this clause respects the case of all the nations of the earth, who should hear the report of the plagues, brought upon the Egyptians for the sake of Israel, and of their being brought out of Egypt, and of their being led through the Red sea as on dry land, and of the destruction of Pharaoh and his host in it, which report would strike a panic in all that heard it, throughout the whole world; as well as of what the Lord would after this do for them in the wilderness, (see <050225>Deuteronomy 2:25) sorrow shall take hold of the inhabitants of…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“With the deliverance of Israel is associated the development of the national poetry, which finds its first and perfect expression in this magnificent hymn. It was sung by Moses and the people, an expression which evidently points to him as the author. That it was written at the time is an assertion expressly made in the text, and it is supported by the strongest internal evidence. In every age this song gave the tone to the poetry of Israel; especially at great critical epochs of deliverance: and in the book of Revelation Exodus 15:3 it is associated with the final triumph of the Church. The division of the song into three parts is distinctly marked: Exodus 15:1-5; Exodus 15:6-10; Exodus…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“15:14-15 Philistia, Edom, Moab, and Canaan are the four peoples that would most feel the hand of God’s judgment as he dispossessed them to give the land to the people of Israel. What God had done to Egypt would have been common news throughout that part of the world (see Rahab’s report in Josh 2:9-11, where the same imagery as in Exod 15:15, to melt away, is used).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“hear: Num 14:14, Num 22:5; Deu 2:4, Deu 2:5; Jos 2:9, Jos 2:10, Jos 9:24; Psa 48:6 of Palestina: Isa 14:29, Isa 14:31 Exodus 15:15”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification