Red Sea

The sea so called extends along the west coast of Arabia for about 1,400 miles, and separates Asia from Africa. It is connected with the Indian Ocean, of which it is an arm, by the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb. At a point (Ras Mohammed) about 200 miles from its nothern extremity it is divided into two arms, that on the east called the AElanitic Gulf, now the Bahr el-‘Akabah, about 100 miles long by 15 broad, and that on the west the Gulf of Suez, about 150 miles long by about 20 broad. This branch is now connected with the Mediterranean by the Suez Canal. Between these two arms lies the Sinaitic Peninsula.

The Hebrew name generally given to this sea is Yam Suph. This word suph means a woolly kind of sea-weed, which the sea casts up in great abundance on its shores. In these passages, Ex. 10:19; 13:18; 15:4, 22; 23:31; Num. 14:25, etc., the Hebrew name is always translated “Red Sea,” which was the name given to it by the Greeks. The origin of this name (Red Sea) is uncertain. Some think it is derived from the red colour of the mountains on the western shore; others from the red coral found in the sea, or the red appearance sometimes given to the water by certain zoophytes floating in it. In the New Testament (Acts 7:36; Heb. 11:29) this name is given to the Gulf of Suez.

This sea was also called by the Hebrews Yam-mitstraim, i.e., “the Egyptian sea” (Isa. 11:15), and simply Ha-yam, “the sea” (Ex. 14:2, 9, 16, 21, 28; Josh. 24:6, 7; Isa. 10:26, etc.).

Recorded scripture occurrences (26)

References recorded in the source data; this is not an exhaustive list of mentions.

Show passage in OET: EXO 10:19

OET-RV EXO 10:19

19 and Yahweh caused a very strong sea wind. The wind carried away the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea—not a single locust remained anywhere in Mitsri territory.

OET-LV EXO 10:19

19 And_ YHWH _he _turned a _wind _of west strong very and_it _carried _away DOM the_locust[s] and_it_blew _it sea _of_towards_the reed[s] not a _locust one it _remained in_all _of the _territory _of Miʦrayim.

Show passage in OET: EXO 13:18

OET-RV EXO 13:18

18 So God caused the people to take the path going towards the wilderness and the Red Sea. The Israeli left Mitsrayim in formation as if ready for battle.

OET-LV EXO 13:18

18 And_ god _he _caused _to _go _around DOM the_people the _way _of the _wilderness the_sea _of reed[s] and_arrayed _for _battle the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) they _went _up from_the _land _of Miʦrayim.

Show passage in OET: EXO 15:4

OET-RV EXO 15:4

⇔  4 He threw Par’oh’s (Pharaoh) chariots and his army into the sea.
⇔ ≈ His hand-picked officers have been sunk in the sea.

OET-LV EXO 15:4

4 The _chariots _of Parˊoh and_army _of_his he _has _thrown in_sea and_the _choicest _of his _officers _of_his they _have _been _sunk in_the_sea _of reed[s].

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