Psalms 136:14 Meaning and Explanation
“And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A divided sea would still leave Israel afraid at its edge. This verse remembers the next mercy: God enabled the people to enter the path and pass through it. Deliverance includes both an opened way and God's leading of people along that way.
Psalms 136:14 praises God for bringing Israel safely through the midst of the Red sea, showing that his enduring mercy provides a path for his people through mortal danger.
The Context of Psalms 136:14
In Psalm 136, the exodus is remembered as a chain of God's mighty acts. Verse 13 says that he divided the Red sea into parts. Verse 14 says that he made Israel pass through its midst. Verse 15 then recalls Pharaoh and his host being overthrown in the sea. These lines follow Israel's release from Egypt in verses 10-12 and precede the Lord's wilderness guidance in verse 16. The broader psalm begins with creation and ends with God's care for all flesh, returning throughout to the confession that his mercy endureth for ever.
What Does Psalms 136:14 Mean?
The phrase "made Israel to pass through the midst of it" places Israel within the opened sea, where the danger surrounded them and the route depended wholly on God. The verse credits the Lord with making the passage happen. Israel truly passed through, yet their movement occurred within a way God had provided and sustained. "The midst" heightens the wonder: they did not merely travel around the edge of the threat. The sea became the setting of their rescue. The final refrain names this act as mercy, inviting worshipers to remember that God's care reaches people in the very place where they are most exposed.
Verse 14 is the central movement of the sea-crossing lines. The waters are divided in verse 13, Israel goes through in verse 14, and the pursuing host is overthrown in verse 15. The psalm's wording keeps Israel's deliverance in view before it recounts the enemy's defeat. It also prepares for verse 16, where the Lord leads his people through the wilderness. The sea crossing was a beginning rather than the end of their journey. God's mercy carried the people out of Egypt, through the waters, and onward toward the inheritance he would give. The repeated refrain gathers every stage under one enduring character of God.
The crossing is celebrated elsewhere as a defining act of salvation and worship. Exodus 15 responds with song after the people have passed through the sea, and later psalms call God's people to remember it. The New Testament also draws on the passage through the sea when reflecting on Israel's shared experience under God's guidance. These connections retain the communal shape of Psalms 136:14. God brought a people through together. The verse encourages reverent trust in the Lord's leading, especially when obedience calls us beyond familiar ground into a path whose safety rests in his faithfulness.
Bible Verses Related to Psalms 136:14
“And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.”
- Exodus 14:22
“For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.”
- Exodus 15:19
“And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.”
- Psalm 78:53
“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;”
- 1 Corinthians 10:1
Where Psalms 136:14 Echoes in Scripture
1 Corinthians 10:1 is a particularly strong canonical echo because it begins Paul's remembrance of Israel's shared experience under the cloud and through the sea. The verse keeps the event communal: "our fathers" passed under God's guidance. Psalm 136:14 likewise praises the Lord for bringing Israel through together, preserving the crossing as a formative memory for God's people.
How to Apply Psalms 136:14 Today
Many responsibilities are carried with others: family decisions, grief, illness, work transitions, and the shared life of a congregation. This verse invites us to ask where God is leading a people together and how we can walk faithfully beside one another. We can resist the urge to treat fear as proof that no path exists. Prayer, patient obedience, practical help, and remembrance of past mercies may steady us on difficult ground. When God brings us through a trial, giving thanks together can strengthen bonds and make our care for others more generous.
Reflection & Prayer
Who may need our companionship as they walk through a frightening season? Pray: "Faithful Lord, lead us through the places where we feel exposed. Help us walk in the paths you provide, support one another with courage, and remember that your mercy endures through every stage of the journey."