Exodus 14:12

[Is] not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For [it had been] better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

Is not this the word {H1697} that we did tell {H1696} thee in Egypt {H4714}, saying {H559}, Let us alone {H2308}, that we may serve {H5647} the Egyptians {H4714}? For it had been better {H2896} for us to serve {H5647} the Egyptians {H4714}, than that we should die {H4191} in the wilderness {H4057}.

Didn't we tell you in Egypt to let us alone, we'll just go on being slaves for the Egyptians? It would be better for us to be the Egyptians' slaves than to die in the desert!"

Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Is not this the word that we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

Commentary

Context

Exodus 14:12 captures a moment of intense fear and desperation for the newly liberated Israelites. Having just witnessed God's mighty hand in the Exodus from Egypt, including the ten devastating plagues against Pharaoh, they now find themselves trapped. Pharaoh and his army, regretting their decision to let the Israelites go, are rapidly closing in from behind, while the vast Red Sea lies before them. This verse records the people's immediate and panicked reaction to this seemingly impossible situation, turning on Moses, their leader, with bitter reproach.

Key Themes

  • Fear Overriding Faith: Despite fresh memories of divine miracles, the immediate threat of Pharaoh's army causes the Israelites to succumb to overwhelming fear, leading them to forget God's power and promises. Their panic overshadows any recent experience of God's faithfulness.
  • Short-Term Memory and Grumbling: This verse highlights a recurring theme in the wilderness narrative: the Israelites' tendency to quickly forget God's powerful acts of deliverance and instead fall into complaint and mistrust. They prefer the "known" misery of slavery to the "unknown" perils of freedom with God.
  • The Lure of Familiar Bondage: Ironically, the people express a desire to return to the very servitude from which they were so miraculously set free. They declare it "better to serve the Egyptians" than to face death in the wilderness, revealing how fear can make even oppressive familiarity seem preferable to the challenges of true liberty.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "serve the Egyptians" uses the Hebrew verb 'avad (עָבַד), which means to work, serve, or be enslaved. This emphasizes the totality of their former bondage. Their outcry reveals a profound loss of perspective, preferring a life of forced labor and oppression over the uncertain path of freedom under divine guidance. The stark contrast between "serve the Egyptians" and "die in the wilderness" underscores their perceived no-win situation, yet it also highlights their lack of trust in the One who had already demonstrated His power over Egypt.

Related Scriptures

This complaint is met by Moses' steadfast faith and God's powerful intervention, which immediately follows in the narrative. The miraculous parting of the Red Sea demonstrates God's immediate response to their dire straits. This episode also foreshadows a recurring pattern of grumbling and lack of trust throughout their wilderness journey, particularly seen in later desires to return to Egypt.

Practical Application

Exodus 14:12 serves as a powerful reminder for believers today. When faced with overwhelming obstacles or seemingly insurmountable challenges, it is easy to forget God's past faithfulness and fall into fear and complaint. This verse challenges us to:

  • Remember God's Deliverance: Reflect on past instances where God has shown His power and provided for you.
  • Trust in His Sovereignty: Even when circumstances appear dire, God is in control and has a plan.
  • Resist the Lure of Retreat: Do not be tempted to return to old patterns or "bondage" (sin, unhealthy habits, comfort zones) when the path of faith seems difficult or uncertain. True freedom in Christ often involves stepping into the unknown with Him.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jonah 4:3

    Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for [it is] better for me to die than to live.

  • Exodus 6:9

    And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

  • Exodus 3:9

    Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

  • Exodus 5:21

    And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

  • Jonah 4:8

    And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, [It is] better for me to die than to live.

  • Mark 1:24

    Saying, Let [us] alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

  • Mark 5:17

    And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
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