Exodus 14:11

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And they said unto Moses, Because [there were] no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

Complete Jewish Bible:

and said to Moshe, "Was it because there weren't enough graves in Egypt that you brought us out to die in the desert? Why have you done this to us, bringing us out of Egypt?

Berean Standard Bible:

They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?

American Standard Version:

And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to bring us forth out of Egypt?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And they said^{H559} unto Moses^{H4872}, Because there were no graves^{H6913} in Egypt^{H4714}, hast thou taken us away^{H3947} to die^{H4191} in the wilderness^{H4057}? wherefore^{H2063} hast thou dealt^{H6213} thus with us, to carry us forth^{H3318} out of Egypt^{H4714}?

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Commentary for Exodus 14:11

Exodus 14:11 is set within the larger narrative of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, where they had been enslaved for generations. The verse captures a moment of intense fear and complaint from the Israelites as they face the Red Sea with the Egyptian army in pursuit.

**Themes:**
1. **Fear and Complaint:** The Israelites, overwhelmed by the imminent danger, express their fear of death and their distrust in Moses' leadership. This reflects a recurring theme in the Exodus story where the people question God's plan and Moses' role, despite the miracles they have witnessed.
2. **Faith and Doubt:** The verse highlights the tension between faith in God's promises and the natural human response to immediate, life-threatening situations. It underscores the struggle to maintain trust in the face of adversity.
3. **Deliverance and Redemption:** Although the Israelites are doubting, the context of the verse is part of a larger narrative of divine deliverance. Their complaint is juxtaposed with the impending miracle of the parting of the Red Sea, which serves as a powerful sign of God's saving power.

**Historical Context:**
The book of Exodus is traditionally attributed to Moses and is part of the Jewish Torah and the Christian Old Testament. It recounts the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and their journey towards the Promised Land. The events are set in the Late Bronze Age, around the 13th century BCE, although the exact historical timing is debated among scholars.

The Israelites' journey out of Egypt was initiated by a series of plagues that culminated in the Passover, after which Pharaoh finally allowed them to leave. Exodus 14:11 occurs shortly after their departure, as they are seemingly trapped between the sea and Pharaoh's chariots. This moment of crisis is a pivotal point in the narrative, leading to one of the most iconic miracles in the Bible—the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22).

This verse reflects the historical and cultural memory of the Israelites, encapsulating the challenges faced by a fledgling nation on their path to freedom and identity as God's chosen people.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
2. Strong's Number: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6913
   There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קֶבֶר
   Transliteration: qeber
   Pronunciation: keh'-ber
   Description: or (feminine) קִבְרָה; from קָבַר; a sepulchre; burying place, grave, sepulchre.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4714
   There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִצְרַיִם
   Transliteration: Mitsrayim
   Pronunciation: mits-rah'-yim
   Description: dual of מָצוֹר; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt; Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3947
   There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָקַח
   Transliteration: lâqach
   Pronunciation: law-kakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
   
6. Strong's Number: H4191
   There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מוּת
   Transliteration: mûwth
   Pronunciation: mooth
   Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.
   
7. Strong's Number: H4057
   There are 257 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִדְבָּר
   Transliteration: midbâr
   Pronunciation: mid-bawr'
   Description: from דָבַר in the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs); desert, south, speech, wilderness.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2063
   There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זֹאת
   Transliteration: zôʼth
   Pronunciation: zothe'
   Description: irregular feminine of זֶה; this (often used adverb); hereby (-in, -with), it, likewise, the one (other, same), she, so (much), such (deed), that, therefore, these, this (thing), thus.
   
9. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3318
    There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָצָא
    Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
    Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
    Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter.