Hebrews 11:29

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 11:29 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up.
Hebrews 11:29 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“By faith they passed through the Red sea, as by dry land, etc..] Not through a river, but through the sea, the Red sea, the sea of Suph, or weeds; (see Gill on “<440736>Acts 7:36”). Some say they came out on the same side they went in; but it should seem rather, by the phrase here used, that they passed through it, from one side to the other; and that all one as if it had been on dry ground; even Moses, and all the children of Israel: and this they did by faith, believing, that God would make a passage quite through it for them, and deliver them out of the hands of their enemies, who were closely pursuing them: which the Egyptians assaying to do, were drowned. These were Pharaoh, and his…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“they--Moses and Israel. Red Sea--called so from its red seaweed, or rather from Edom (meaning "red"), whose country adjoined it. which . . . assaying to do--Greek, "of which (Red Sea) the Egyptians having made experiment." Rashness and presumption mistaken by many for faith; with similar rash presumption many rush into eternity. The same thing when done by the believer, and when done by the unbeliever, is not the same thing [BENGEL]. What was faith in Israel, was presumption in the Egyptians. were drowned--Greek, "were swallowed up," or "engulfed." They sank in the sands as much as in the waves of the Red Sea. Compare Exo 15:12, "the earth swallowed them."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land - Exodus 14:22, Exodus 14:29. That is, it was only by confidence in God that they were able to do this. It was not by power which they had to remove the waters and to make a passage for themselves; and it was not by the operation of any natural causes. It is not to be supposed that all who passed through the Red sea had saving faith. The assertion of the apostle is, that the passage was made in virtue of strong confidence in God, and that if it had not been for this confidence the passage could not have been made at all. Of this no one can entertain a doubt who reads the history of that remarkable transaction. Which the Egyptians…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“They - Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites. Passed the Red Sea - It washed the borders of Edom, which signifies red. Thus far the examples are cited from Genesis and Exodus; those that follow are from the former and the latter Prophets. Hebrews 11:30”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“11:29 The rescue through the Red Sea (see Exod 13:17–14:21) constitutes the greatest moment of deliverance in Israel’s history. The people’s fear and accusation at the time (Exod 14:10-12) do not obviously exemplify faith, but the people went forward when told to do so despite their fear. The episode demonstrates that obedience is central to faith.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Exod. 14:13-31, 15:1-21; Jos 2:10; Neh 9:11; Psa 66:6, Psa 78:13, Psa 106:9-11; Psa 114:1-5, Psa 136:13-15; Isa 11:15, Isa 11:16, Isa 51:9, Isa 51:10, Isa 63:11-16; Hab 3:8-10 Hebrews 11:30”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification