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Bible Dictionaries
Red Sea
Easton's Bible Dictionary
or 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, Exodus 10:19; 13:18; 15:4,22; 23:31; Numbers 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; Hebrews 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" (Isaiah 11:15 ), and simply Ha-yam, "the sea" (Exodus 14:2,9,16,21,28; Joshua 24:6,7; Isaiah 10:26 , etc.).
The great historical event connected with the Red Sea is the passage of the children of Israel, and the overthrow of the Egyptians, to which there is frequent reference in Scripture (Exodus 1415,15; Numbers 33:8; Deuteronomy 11:4; Joshua 2:10; Judges 11:16; 2 Samuel 22:16; Nehemiah 9:9-11; Psalm 66:6; Isaiah 10:26; Acts 7:36 , etc.).
These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.
Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Red Sea'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/r/red-sea.html. 1897.
