Exodus – Chapter 15

Old Testament27 Verses

Chapter Summary

Exodus 15 opens with the words: "Then Moses and the children of Israel sung this canticle to the Lord, and said: Let us sing to the Lord: for he is gloriously magnified,…" The chapter centers on Moses, Pharaoh and Aaron. Across its 27 verses, two threads run through the text: worship and praise and family and covenant relationships. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1Then Moses and the children of Israel sung this canticle to the Lord, and said: Let us sing to the Lord: for he is gloriously magnified, the horse and the rider he hath thrown into the sea.

2The Lord is my strength and my praise, and he is become salvation to me: he is my God, and I will glorify him: the God of my father, and I will exalt him.

3The Lord is as a man of war, Almighty is his name.

4Pharao's chariots and his army he hath cast into the sea: his chosen captains are drowned in the Red Sea.

5The depths have covered them, they are sunk to the bottom like a stone.

6Thy right hand, O Lord, is magnified in strength: thy right hand, O Lord, hath slain the enemy.

7And in the multitude of thy glory thou hast put down thy adversaries: thou hast sent thy wrath, which hath devoured them like stubble.

8And with the blast of thy anger the waters were gathered together: the flowing water stood, the depths were gathered together in the midst of the sea.

9The enemy said: I will pursue and overtake, I will divide the spoils, my soul shall have its fill: I will draw my sword, my hand shall slay them.

10Thy wind blew and the sea covered them: they sunk as lead in the mighty waters.

11Who is like to thee, among the strong, O Lord? who is like to thee, glorious in holiness, terrible and praise-worthy, doing wonders?

12Thou stretchedst forth thy hand, and the earth swallowed them.

13In thy mercy thou hast been a leader to the people which thou hast redeemed: and in thy strength thou hast carried them to thy holy habitation.

14Nations rose up, and were angry: sorrows took hold on the inhabitants of Philisthiim.

15Then were the princes of Edom troubled, trembling seized on the stout men of Moab: all the inhabitants of Chanaan became stiff.

16Let fear and dread fall upon them, in the greatness of thy arm: let them become immoveable as a stone, until thy people, O Lord, pass by: until this thy people pass by, which thou hast possessed.

17Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thy inheritance, in thy most firm habitation, which thou hast made, O Lord; thy sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.

18The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.

19For Pharao went in on horseback with his chariots and horsemen into the sea: and the Lord brought back upon them the waters of the sea: but the children of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst thereof.

20So Mary the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand: and all the women went forth after her with timbrels and with dances.

21And she began the song to them, saying: Let us sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously magnified, the horse and his rider he hath thrown into the sea.

22And Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went forth into the wilderness of Sur: and they marched three days through the wilderness, and found no water.

23And they came into Mara, and they could not drink the waters of Mara because they were bitter: whereupon he gave a name also agreeable to the place, calling it Mara, that is, bitterness.

24And the people murmured against Moses, saying: What shall we drink?

25But he cried to the Lord, and he shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, they were turned into sweetness. There he appointed him ordinances, and judgments, and there he proved him,

26Saying: If thou wilt hear the voice of the Lord thy God, and do what is right before him, and obey his commandments, and keep all his precepts, none of the evils that I laid upon Egypt, will I bring upon thee: for I am the Lord thy healer.

27And the children of Israel came into Elim, where there were twelve fountains of water, and seventy palm trees: and they encamped by the waters.

Important Verses in Exodus 15

The Lord is my strength and my praise, and he is become salvation to me: he is my God, and I will glorify him: the God of my father, and I will exalt him.

Exodus 15:2

Thy right hand, O Lord, is magnified in strength: thy right hand, O Lord, hath slain the enemy.

Exodus 15:6

In thy mercy thou hast been a leader to the people which thou hast redeemed: and in thy strength thou hast carried them to thy holy habitation.

Exodus 15:13

Saying: If thou wilt hear the voice of the Lord thy God, and do what is right before him, and obey his commandments, and keep all his precepts, none of the evils that I laid upon Egypt, will I bring upon thee: for I am the Lord thy healer.

Exodus 15:26

Historical Context

Exodus belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for israel in every generation, commanded to remember the Passover as a perpetual memorial. Chapter 15 of 40 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 27 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Moses, Pharaoh, Aaron and Mary, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. It opens with the line: "Then Moses and the children of Israel sung this canticle to the Lord, and said: Let us sing to the Lord: for he is…" The final verse reads: "And the children of Israel came into Elim, where there were twelve fountains of water, and seventy palm trees: and they…" In terms of historical background, Exodus recounts the defining event of the Old Testament: God's liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh, most likely Ramesses II. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Exodus around Describes events of the 13th century BC; reached final written form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

Who Wrote It

Traditionally attributed to Moses, with later inspired editing

When It Was Written

Describes events of the 13th century BC; reached final written form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC

Catholic Commentary

Read at the narrative level, this chapter describes real persons, decisions, and consequences within liberation, law, and worship. A pivotal line is verse 2: "The Lord is my strength and my praise, and he is become salvation to me: he is my God, and I will glorify him: the God of my father, and I will exalt him." The passage repeatedly touches on worship and praise.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 958). Here, the Church sees the Exodus as prefiguring Baptism and the Eucharist (CIC 1221, 1363). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize worship and praise as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.

People in This Chapter

Moses3 mentionsPharaoh2 mentionsAaron1 mentionMary1 mention

Reflection for Today

Exodus Chapter 15 belongs to the Old Testament and forms part of the Catholic canon proclaimed in the liturgy of the Word.

Through typology, the Church often reads Old Testament passages as preparing for Christ, while New Testament passages reveal Him explicitly. the Church sees the Exodus as prefiguring Baptism and the Eucharist (CIC 1221, 1363). Here the believer is invited to ponder worship as the heart of the Christian life.

Consider praying with this chapter again at day's end, offering God gratitude for one insight received. The Church encourages daily contact with Scripture (CIC 2105) so that Christ's mind may be formed in us.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Exodus Chapter 15 about?

Exodus 15 contains 27 verses. It opens with "Then Moses and the children of Israel sung this canticle to the Lord, and said: Let us sing to the Lord: for he is…" and closes with "And the children of Israel came into Elim, where there were twelve fountains of water, and seventy palm trees: and they…". The book as a whole is narrative, law, and liturgical instruction.

What is a key verse in Exodus 15?

One of the most significant verses is verse 2: "The Lord is my strength and my praise, and he is become salvation to me: he is my God, and I will glorify him: the God of my father, and I will exalt him." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Exodus Chapter 15?

This chapter mentions Moses, Pharaoh, Aaron, Mary.

Who wrote Exodus and when?

Traditionally attributed to Moses, with later inspired editing. Describes events of the 13th century BC; reached final written form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

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