Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 15:8
And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as a heap, [and] the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
8. the blast of thy nostrils ] Fig. for the wind ( v. 10), as Psa 18:15.
were piled up ] The hyperbole, as Exo 14:22 (the ‘wall’). The Heb. word occurs only here. ‘Heap’ in Rth 3:7 is cognate.
floods ] or streams, lit. the flowing ones. A poet. word; cf. Psa 78:16; Psa 78:44, Son 4:15, Isa 44:3.
an heap ] Cf. Jos 3:13; Jos 3:16; Psa 78:13.
congealed ] or, solidified (cf. Zep 1:12 RVm., the same word).
the heart of the sea ] Cf. Psa 46:2, Eze 27:4.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 8. The depths were congealed] The strong east wind (Ex 14:21) employed to dry the bottom of the sea, is here represented as the blast of God’s nostrils that had congealed or frozen the waters, so that they stood in heaps like a wall on the right hand and on the left.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Of thy nostrils; or, of thine anger, to wit. that vehement east wind, Exo 15:10; 14:21, which was raised by thine anger in order to the ruin of thine enemies.
The floods, Heb. the streams, or the flowing waters, whose nature it is to be constantly in motion.
Were congealed, i.e. hardened, stood still, as if they had been frozen, and so they were a wall on both hands, Exo 14:22.
In the heart of the sea, i.e. the midst; as that word is used, Psa 18:16; 46:2; Eze 28:2.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together,…. From the bottom of the sea, and divided and laid on heaps; and this by a strong east wind, called the blast of the nostrils of the Lord, because as easily brought by him as a man’s breath or wind is drawn through his nostrils; and thus Christ with the breath of his mouth, and the brightness of his coming, will destroy antichrist, 2Th 2:8
the floods stood upright as an heap; though a fluid body, yet by the power of Christ were raised up and continued upright, firm and consistent; as things dry and solid may be laid and heaped up on one another, and remain firm and stable; and so did the waters of the sea, they stood like a wall, and were as firm as a rock; while the Israelites passed between them, they stood upright, and lift up their hands, as if they blessed them; or blessed God for the deliverance of them, or in admiration of it; see Ex 14:22,
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Exo 15:8. And with the blast of thy nostrils This is commonly supposed to refer to the wind mentioned in the 21st verse of the preceding chapter, which was the instrument of gathering the waters together. But, as the heat of the nostrils, all through the Scripture, is used to express wrath, one would rather conceive, that the expression refers to that fiery indignation of the Lord, mentioned in the foregoing verse. See, in particular, Job 4:9. The expletive and, again, in this verse, destroys much of its sublimity. Nothing can be conceived more grand and expressive, than this clause, the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. Depths,congealed, or condensed, and heart, are all peculiarly expressive.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Exo 15:8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, [and] the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
Ver. 8. And with the blast. ] In celebrating God’s favours, we must be punctual and particular.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
blast. Hebrew. ruach. See App-9.
nostrils. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. See App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
blast: Exo 14:21, 2Sa 22:16, Job 4:9, Isa 11:4, Isa 37:7, 2Th 2:8
the floods: Exo 14:22, Psa 78:13, Hab 3:10
Reciprocal: Jos 3:13 – stand upon 2Sa 22:9 – went Job 37:4 – the voice Psa 18:15 – channels Psa 33:7 – heap Psa 114:3 – sea Pro 23:34 – midst Isa 23:11 – stretched
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 15:8. With the blast of thy nostrils Or, of thine anger, as the Hebrew word is often rendered. He means that vehement east wind, (Exo 15:10, and Exo 14:21,) which was raised by Gods anger in order to the ruin of his enemies. The floods Hebrew, the streams, or the flowing waters, whose nature it is to be constantly in motion; stood upright as a heap This is wonderfully beautiful and majestic, as indeed the whole song is. The inspired writer ennobles the wind by making God himself the principle of it; and animates the waters by making them susceptible of fear. The frighted waters withdrew with impetuosity from their wonted bed, and crowded suddenly one upon another. The depths were congealed Hardened, stood still as if they had been frozen in the heart, the midst, of the sea. So that here the imagination figures to itself mountains of solid waters in the very centre of the liquid element.