Red Sea

Biblical GN 1. Body of water between Africa and Arabia, crossed by the Israelites (1 Nephi [2x]; 17;26, 27; 2 Nephi 19:1 = Isaiah 9:1; Mosiah 7:19; Alma 36:28; Helaman 8:11)

Lehite GN 2. Body of water near which Lehi and his family traveled (1 Nephi [2x], 8, 9; 16:14)

Brief Etymology: The GN RED SEA is the name of a body of water separating ancient Egypt and Africa from Arabia and Asia.

Extended Discussion: the GN RED SEA is the name of a body of water separating ancient Egypt and Africa from Arabia and Asia. The name RED SEA may also include its northern extensions, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba. Lehi’s family sojourned near the shores of the RED SEA until their departure further southward. Certain passages in the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi 17:26, 27; Mosiah 7:19; Alma 36:28; Helaman 8:11) also refer to Moses’s crossing the RED SEA with the children of Israel. The name RED SEA may be based on the Vulgate rendering of the Old Testament Mare Rubrum (“RED SEA”), itself taken from the Septuagint Greek rendering Erythra Thalassa (also meaning “RED SEA”). Through the Hebrew original form which RED SEA, comes is Yām Sûp (with the traditional meaning “Sea of Reeds”), it is possible that sûp could also have the meaning “to cease to exist, to end” (cf. sōp). Thus, it is possible that Yām Sûp may have the meaning “Sea at the End of the World” since the RED SEA was at, or close to, a frontier at the end of the Israelites’ world.