Most translations connect this verse with the preceding verses because it still speaks about the deliverance at the sea. But Muilenburg connects it with the two lines of verse 13 because of the Hebrew style. For one thing, the response in verse 11 concludes the second of the three parts of the song. (See the pattern outlined above.) Furthermore the first word, Thou didst stretch out, is parallel with the first words in the two lines of verse 13, “Thou didst lead” and “Thou didst guide.” There is also a noticeable rhyme in the Hebrew: natitha … nachitha … nehalta.

Thou didst stretch out thy right hand again speaks of Yahweh as having a hand, which represents his power, as in 3.20. Right hand refers back to verse 6. In some languages this first clause may be rendered as “When you stretched out your right hand [or, arm] ….”

The earth swallowed them is a bit surprising, for earth is used rather than “sea.” Some scholars understand earth here to represent the “underworld” (so Fox and Translator’s Old Testament), which would refer to the land beneath the sea, as in Jonah 2.6. But even with this interpretation there is no need to change earth to “underworld.” The word for swallowed literally means to gulp down, suggesting swift action and sudden death. This vividly describes how the forces of nature are completely under Yahweh’s power. Them is translated by Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version as “enemies,” but one may also say “the Egyptians.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• When you stretched out your right hand [or, arm], the earth swallowed up your enemies.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .