Lexical Definition

‎סוּף‎ çûwph (soof) Red (Sea) ^N:N--L
probably of Egyptian origin

flag, Red (sea), weed. Compare ‎סוּף‎.

• a reed, especially the papyrus

1) reed, rush, water plant
1a) rushes
1b) sea of rushes
1b1) of Red Sea
1b2) of arms of Red Sea
1b3) of Gulf of Suez
1b4) of sea from straits to Gulf of Akaba

Extended Information

• Also named: eruthros (ἐρυθρός "Red( Sea)" ἐρυθρός) as "Reed Sea"

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. ‎סוּף‎ noun masculine^{Jonah 2:6*} reeds, rushes (collective) (probably loan-word from Egyptian ‰wfi, reeds, Steind^{BAS i. 603} Erman^{ZMG xivi (1892), 122}; Semitic according to WMM^{As. u.Eur.101}); —

1. rushes, in Nile Exod 2:3; Exod 2:5 (E); ‎קָנֶה וָסוּף‎ Isa 19:6 (of Egypt).

2. usually in combination ‎יַםסֿוּף‎ probably = sea of rushes or reeds ( > sea of (city) Suph), which Greek included in wider name θάλασσα Ἐρυθρἀ, Red Sea (compare Di^{Exod 13:18 and} especially WMM^{As.u.Eur.42f.}, who explains as name originally given to upper end of Gulf of Suez, extending into Bitter Lakes, shallow and marshy, whence reeds (probably also reddish colour)); **compare also Che^{EB RED SEA}. — name applied only to arms of Red Sea; most often
a. to Gulf of Suez Exod 10:19; Josh 2:10 (both J), Exod 13:18; Exod 15:4; Exod 15:22; Exod 23:31 (all E), Deut 11:4; Josh 4:23 (D), Num 33:10; Num 33:11 (P), elsewhere late Neh 9:9; Ps 106:7; Ps 106:9; Ps 106:22; Ps 136:13; Ps 136:15.
b. sometimes to Gulf of Akaba 1Kgs 9:26, and ‎דֶּרֶךְ יַםסֿוּף‎ Num 21:4 (E), probably also Num 14:25 (E), Deut 1:40; Deut 2:1 perhaps Judg 11:16; Jer 49:21 possibly read ‎מִיַּםסֿוּף‎ for ‎׳‎‎מוֺל ס‎ Deut 1:1 (see infor.).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Red Sea • Sea crossed by Israelites in the Exodus

The Red Sea was the body of water miraculously crossed by the Israelites in their escape from Egypt (Exo. 13:18; 15:4).

• A location first mentioned at Exo.10.19;
• referred to as Red_Sea סוּף, or Red (Sea) ἐρυθρός.
  

The Red Sea is significant in the Bible as the sea the Israelites miraculously crossed during the Exodus from Egypt. God parted the waters, allowing Israel to cross on dry ground, but drowned the pursuing Egyptian army when the waters closed back over them (Exo. 14-15). This event is remembered as a great act of divine deliverance (Jos. 2:10; Neh. 9:9; Psa. 106:7-9; 136:13-15). The Red Sea also marked the southern border of the Promised Land (Exo. 23:31). King Solomon later built a fleet of ships on the Red Sea at Ezion-geber (1 Ki. 9:26). The Hebrew name Yam Suph means "Sea of Reeds", so the body of water was likely one of the shallow lakes along Egypt's eastern border rather than the main body of the Red Sea. Its exact location is debated.

All entries for Red Sea: סוּף ☩ ἐρυθρός