King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The people believed; when they heard that ADONAI had remembered the people of Isra'el and seen how they were oppressed, they bowed their heads and worshipped.
Berean Standard Bible:
and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD had attended to the Israelites and had seen their affliction, they bowed down and worshiped.
American Standard Version:
And the people believed: and when they heard that Jehovah had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the people{H5971} believed{H539}: and when they heard{H8085} that the LORD{H3068} had visited{H6485} the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}, and that he had looked{H7200} upon their affliction{H6040}, then they bowed their heads{H6915} and worshipped{H7812}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 3:18
- And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.
Exodus 12:27
- That ye shall say, It [is] the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
Psalms 106:12
- Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
Psalms 106:13
- ¶ They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
Exodus 3:16
- ¶ Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and [seen] that which is done to you in Egypt:
Genesis 24:26
- And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
Exodus 2:25
- And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto [them].
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Commentary for Exodus 4:31
Exodus 4:31 is a verse that captures a pivotal moment in the early narrative of the Israelites' journey from slavery to freedom. The historical context of this verse is set during the period of Israelite enslavement in Egypt, which, according to biblical chronology, would place it around the late Bronze Age, approximately the 13th century BCE.
In this verse, the Israelites have just been given a message of hope and liberation by Moses and Aaron, who have been commissioned by God to confront Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelite people. The verse specifically states, "And the people believed," indicating a significant shift in the collective spirit of the Israelites. Up to this point, they had been laboring under the harsh conditions imposed by the Egyptians, with little reason to hope for a change in their circumstances.
The themes present in this verse include faith, deliverance, and worship. The people's belief in God's willingness to intervene on their behalf is a turning point, marking the beginning of their transformation from a despairing, oppressed people to a nation with a renewed sense of identity and purpose. Their belief is not just in the mere fact that God has noticed their suffering—"that he had looked upon their affliction"—but also in the promise of divine intervention, "that the LORD had visited the children of Israel."
Upon hearing this good news, the Israelites respond with an act of worship, bowing their heads in a gesture of reverence and submission. This act of worship is significant as it demonstrates their recognition of God's sovereignty and their gratitude for His compassion towards them. It also serves as a prelude to the miraculous events that will soon unfold, as God is about to initiate a series of plagues upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release His people.
In summary, Exodus 4:31 encapsulates the Israelites' transition from despair to hope, from passive acceptance of their fate to active faith in God's promise of deliverance. It highlights the power of belief in a divine plan and the response of worship as an appropriate reaction to the awareness of God's involvement in human affairs. This verse sets the stage for the Exodus, one of the most significant events in the Hebrew Bible, which would come to define the identity of the Israelite nation for generations to come.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H539
There are 176 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַן
Transliteration: ʼâman
Pronunciation: aw-man'
Description: a primitive root; (Isaiah 30:21; interchangeable with אָמַן, to go to the right hand); properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain; hence, assurance, believe, bring up, establish, [phrase] fail, be faithful (of long continuance, stedfast, sure, surely, trusty, verified), nurse, (-ing father), (put), trust, turn to the right. - Strong's Number: H8085
There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמַע
Transliteration: shâmaʻ
Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H6485
There are 270 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּקַד
Transliteration: pâqad
Pronunciation: paw-kad'
Description: a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.; appoint, [idiom] at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep, be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up, look, make, [idiom] by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to) remember(-brance), set (over), sum, [idiom] surely, visit, want. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H7200
There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָאָה
Transliteration: râʼâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. - Strong's Number: H6040
There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֳנִי
Transliteration: ʻŏnîy
Pronunciation: on-ee'
Description: from עָנָה; depression, i.e. misery; afflicted(-ion), trouble. - Strong's Number: H6915
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָדַד
Transliteration: qâdad
Pronunciation: kaw-dad'
Description: a primitive root; to shrivel up, i.e. contract or bend the body (or neck) in deference; bow (down) (the) head, stoop. - Strong's Number: H7812
There are 166 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁחָה
Transliteration: shâchâh
Pronunciation: shaw-khaw'
Description: a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God); bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.