Exodus 3:19

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

Complete Jewish Bible:

I know that the king of Egypt will not let you leave unless he is forced to do so.

Berean Standard Bible:

But I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless a mighty hand compels him.

American Standard Version:

And I know that the king of Egypt will not give you leave to go, no, not by a mighty hand.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And I am sure{H3045} that the king{H4428} of Egypt{H4714} will not let{H5414} you go{H1980}, no, not by a mighty{H2389} hand{H3027}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Exodus 5:2

  • And Pharaoh said, Who [is] the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

Exodus 6:1

  • ¶ Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.

Exodus 7:1

  • ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

Exodus 7:14

  • ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart [is] hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.

Psalms 136:11

  • And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:

Psalms 136:12

  • With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

Isaiah 63:12

  • That led [them] by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

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Commentary for Exodus 3:19

**Exodus 3:19 Summary:**

The verse is part of the narrative where God is speaking to Moses from the burning bush, commissioning him to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. In this verse, God acknowledges the resistance Moses will face from Pharaoh, anticipating that the king of Egypt will refuse to release the Israelites despite the divine command. The theme here is God's foreknowledge and assurance of the challenges that will arise in the pursuit of delivering His people. This sets the stage for a series of miraculous signs and plagues that God will use to compel Pharaoh to let His people go, demonstrating His power over the gods of Egypt and the hardened heart of its ruler.

**Historical Context:**

The book of Exodus is traditionally attributed to Moses and is part of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. It recounts the events following the death of Joseph, when a new Pharaoh came to power who did not know Joseph and enslaved the Israelites. Exodus 3:19 is situated within the call of Moses, where God reveals His plan to deliver the Israelites from bondage. This event is set in the context of the oppressive rule of the Egyptian Pharaoh, during a time when the Israelites had been in Egypt for several centuries. The historical accuracy of the Exodus account is a subject of debate among scholars, with some viewing it as a historical record, others as a legendary or mythologized account, and still others as a blend of historical and theological narratives. The verse reflects the theological theme of God's sovereignty and deliverance, which would have been particularly meaningful to the ancient Israelites as they shaped their identity as a people chosen and redeemed by God.

*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: H3045
    There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָדַע
    Transliteration: yâdaʻ
    Pronunciation: yaw-dah'
    Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot.
  2. Strong's Number: H4428
    There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
    Transliteration: melek
    Pronunciation: meh'-lek
    Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
  3. 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.
  4. Strong's Number: H5414
    There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָתַן
    Transliteration: nâthan
    Pronunciation: naw-than'
    Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
  5. Strong's Number: H1980
    There are 468 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: הָלַךְ
    Transliteration: hâlak
    Pronunciation: haw-lak'
    Description: akin to יָלַךְ; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively); (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, [phrase] be eased, enter, exercise (self), [phrase] follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), [phrase] greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, [idiom] more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), [phrase] send, speedily, spread, still, surely, [phrase] tale-bearer, [phrase] travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-) faring man, [idiom] be weak, whirl.
  6. Strong's Number: H2389
    There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חָזָק
    Transliteration: châzâq
    Pronunciation: khaw-zawk'
    Description: from חָזַק; strong (usu. in a bad sense, hard, bold, violent); harder, hottest, [phrase] impudent, loud, mighty, sore, stiff(-hearted), strong(-er).
  7. Strong's Number: H3027
    There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָד
    Transliteration: yâd
    Pronunciation: yawd
    Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.