Exodus 14:8 (YLT)

Passage

and Jehovah strengtheneth the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursueth after the sons of Israel, and the sons of Israel are going out with a high hand,

Nearby Context

Exodus 14:6 And he harnesseth his chariot, and his people he hath taken with him,

Exodus 14:7 and he taketh six hundred chosen chariots, even all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over them all;

Exodus 14:8 and Jehovah strengtheneth the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursueth after the sons of Israel, and the sons of Israel are going out with a high hand,

Exodus 14:9 and the Egyptians pursue after them, and all the chariot horses of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his force, overtake them, encamping by the sea, by Pi-Hahiroth, before Baal-Zephon.

Exodus 14:10 And Pharaoh hath drawn near, and the sons of Israel lift up their eyes, and lo, the Egyptians are journeying after them, and they fear exceedingly, and the sons of Israel cry unto Jehovah.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "jehovah", "strengtheneth", "heart", "pharaoh", "king", "egypt", "pursueth", and "after". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "jehovah" and "strengtheneth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "and he taketh six hundred chosen chariots..." into verse 9's "and the Egyptians pursue after them and...", so "jehovah" and "strengtheneth" belong inside that flow. In Exodus context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "jehovah" and "strengtheneth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.