Pi-Hahiroth

At a Glance

Biblical campsite near the sea in the Exodus account, associated with Israel’s crossing and God’s judgment on Egypt.

Key Points

• Named in Exodus and Numbers as part of Israel’s route out of Egypt.
• Marked by God’s deliverance through the sea.
• Exact geographical identification is uncertain.

Description

Pi-Hahiroth is a place named in the Exodus narrative as the location where Israel camped before the crossing of the sea and the destruction of Pharaoh’s pursuing army (Exod. 14; Num. 33). Its significance in Scripture lies not in a theological concept attached to the name itself, but in its place within the historical setting of God’s deliverance of His people. The exact geographical identification is uncertain, and proposals for its location remain debated. For that reason, the entry should be treated as a biblical place-name associated with the exodus rather than as a doctrinal term.

Biblical Context

In Exodus 14, Pi-Hahiroth is part of the final encampment before Israel crosses the sea. The setting heightens the account’s emphasis on God’s power, protection, and salvation of His people in the face of impossible odds.

Historical Context

The location has been difficult to identify with confidence from the biblical text alone. Scholars and interpreters have offered different proposals, but no consensus identification has been established.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Ancient Jewish interpretation generally treats Pi-Hahiroth as a real place within the exodus route. The biblical text itself gives the name without further explanation of its meaning or exact location.

Primary Key Texts

• Exodus 14:2, 9
• Numbers 33:7-8

Secondary Key Texts

• Exodus 14:21-31
• Numbers 33:1-49

Original Language Note

The name is transliterated from Hebrew as Pi-Hahiroth. Its precise etymology and meaning are uncertain, so the safest treatment is as a proper place-name.

Theological Significance

Pi-Hahiroth matters because it marks the setting of one of Scripture’s great redemption events. It highlights the Lord’s faithfulness to deliver Israel and His power over Pharaoh and the sea.

Philosophical Explanation

As a place-name, Pi-Hahiroth shows how biblical theology is rooted in real history and geography. The exodus is presented not as myth but as a concrete act of divine intervention in time and space.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not build doctrine on speculative reconstructions of the site. The Bible’s main emphasis is on God’s deliverance, not on the map location itself.

Major Views

The main disagreement concerns the site’s location, not the biblical significance of the event. Interpretations vary because the evidence is insufficient for certainty.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should be read as a geographical marker in the exodus narrative, not as a symbolic term carrying hidden doctrinal meaning.

Practical Significance

Pi-Hahiroth reminds readers that God often leads His people into apparently trapped situations in order to display His saving power and faithfulness.

Related Entries

• Exodus
• Red Sea crossing
• Pharaoh
• Migdol
• Etham
• Baal-zephon

See Also

• Exodus 14
• Numbers 33
• Wilderness journeys