Exodus 2:12

KJV

And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that [there was] no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he looked {H6437} this way {H3541} and that way {H3541}, and when he saw {H7200} that there was no man {H376}, he slew {H5221} the Egyptian {H4713}, and hid {H2934} him in the sand {H2344}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He looked this way and that; and when he saw that no one was around, he killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand.

Berean Standard Bible

After looking this way and that and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand.

American Standard Version

And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 2:12 records a pivotal yet flawed moment in Moses' early life, where his deep identification with his oppressed Hebrew people led him to an impulsive act of violence. Witnessing an Egyptian taskmaster brutalizing a Hebrew slave, Moses took matters into his own hands, slaying the Egyptian and attempting to conceal the act, an event that marked a significant, albeit problematic, turning point in his journey toward becoming Israel's divinely appointed deliverer.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the narrative of Moses' formative years, immediately following his miraculous preservation from Pharaoh's decree and his unique upbringing in the Egyptian royal court. The preceding verse, [Exodus 2:11](/exodus/2-11 "Exodus 2:11 - Moses Visits His Brethren"), establishes Moses' conscious decision to "go out unto his brethren" and "look on their burdens," indicating a growing awareness and empathy for his true heritage and their suffering. This act of "looking" culminates in the violent intervention described in [Exodus 2:12](/exodus/2-12 "Exodus 2:12 - Moses Kills the Egyptian"), which then directly precipitates his flight from Egypt in [Exodus 2:15](/exodus/2-15 "Exodus 2:15 - Moses Flees to Midian"), setting the stage for his forty years of preparation in Midian. The immediate narrative flow highlights Moses' burgeoning sense of justice and his premature attempt to deliver his people through human strength rather than divine timing.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop is the severe oppression of the Israelites under Egyptian bondage, characterized by forced labor and brutal taskmasters, as detailed in [Exodus 1](/exodus/1 "Exodus 1 - The Oppression of Israel"). Egyptians held a superior social and racial status, viewing the enslaved Hebrews as expendable. The act of an Egyptian beating a Hebrew was a common, yet deeply unjust, occurrence. For Moses, an adopted Egyptian prince, to intervene on behalf of a slave was an extraordinary act of defiance against the established order and a profound identification with the oppressed. Hiding a body in the sand was a practical attempt to conceal a crime in a desert environment where such a deed might remain undiscovered for a time, reflecting the legal consequences he would face if caught.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes in Exodus and the broader Pentateuch. It introduces the theme of **deliverance**, albeit through flawed human means, foreshadowing God's ultimate, perfect deliverance. It highlights the theme of **divine calling and preparation**, showing that God often uses imperfect individuals and even their mistakes as part of a longer process of shaping them for His purposes. Furthermore, it touches upon the theme of **justice versus self-justice**, where Moses' righteous indignation leads to an act outside of God's timing and method, contrasting with God's perfect justice. Finally, it subtly introduces the theme of **human sin and its consequences**, as Moses' action leads to his flight and a forty-year delay in his divine assignment, echoing the consequences of sin seen throughout [Genesis](/genesis "The Book of Genesis") and [Exodus](/exodus "The Book of Exodus").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **looked (Hebrew, _pânâh'_):** From H6437, meaning "to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. appear, look, etc." In this context, it emphasizes Moses' deliberate and cautious act of surveying his surroundings, indicating a conscious awareness of the illegality and secrecy of his impending action. His "looking this way and that way" is an act of reconnaissance, a search for witnesses, underscoring the premeditated nature of his intervention.
* **slew (Hebrew, _nâkâh'_):** From H5221, meaning "to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, ... kill, ... slay." This verb is potent, denoting a decisive and often fatal blow. While it can imply a non-fatal strike in other contexts, here, coupled with the immediate act of concealment, it unequivocally signifies a killing. It highlights the severity of Moses' action and the finality of the Egyptian's fate at his hand.
* **hid (Hebrew, _ṭâman'_):** From H2934, meaning "to hide (by covering over); hide, lay privily, in secret." This word reveals Moses' immediate attempt to conceal his crime, emphasizing his awareness of wrongdoing and his desire to avoid detection and accountability. The act of hiding the body "in the sand" speaks to the desperate and secretive nature of his deed, attempting to bury the evidence and the consequences of his impulsive act.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he looked this way and that way":** This opening clause immediately sets a tone of stealth and premeditation. Moses is not acting blindly or in a fit of uncontrolled rage, but with a calculated assessment of his environment. His gaze is searching, indicating a desire to ensure privacy for the act he is about to commit, revealing his awareness that his actions are illicit and require concealment.
* **"and when he saw that [there was] no man":** This phrase confirms Moses' deliberate search for witnesses. The absence of "man" (Hebrew, _ʼîysh'_ - H376, referring to a male individual or person) signifies that Moses perceived himself to be unobserved by any human eye. This perceived solitude emboldened him to proceed, highlighting his reliance on human secrecy rather than divine sanction.
* **"he slew the Egyptian":** This is the central, decisive action of the verse. Driven by a powerful sense of injustice and perhaps a nascent, yet misdirected, calling to deliver his people, Moses takes a life. This act, while stemming from a righteous indignation against oppression, is an unauthorized and violent intervention, demonstrating Moses' reliance on his own strength and timing rather than waiting for God's clear instruction. It is a moment of human impulsivity overriding divine wisdom.
* **"and hid him in the sand":** This concluding clause underscores the illegality and secrecy of Moses' act. The immediate attempt to conceal the body in the sand (Hebrew, _chôwl'_ - H2344, referring to loose, whirling particles) reveals his guilt and his desperate effort to escape the consequences of his deed. This act of concealment is a stark reminder of the human tendency to hide sin, believing that what is unseen by man is unknown to God.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 2:12 is rich in **Irony**, as Moses, destined to be Israel's great deliverer, attempts to initiate that deliverance through a flawed, violent act that ultimately leads to his flight rather than liberation. There is also significant **Foreshadowing** in this verse; while Moses' method is wrong, his deep identification with his suffering people and his passionate response hint at the future role he will play, albeit under divine guidance. The act of "looking this way and that way" before acting introduces an element of **Suspense**, building tension before the decisive, violent act. Furthermore, Moses' attempt to hide the body in the sand can be seen as **Symbolism**, representing the human desire to bury mistakes and consequences, a futile effort against the all-seeing eye of God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This pivotal moment in Moses' life profoundly illustrates the tension between human agency and divine sovereignty. While Moses' act was impulsive and sinful, stemming from a premature attempt to fulfill a perceived calling through his own strength, God sovereignly weaves this flawed action into His overarching redemptive plan. Rather than disqualifying Moses, this event marks the beginning of a forty-year period of wilderness preparation, during which God would strip away Moses' self-reliance and equip him for true, Spirit-led leadership. This demonstrates God's incredible patience and grace, using even human failures to shape His chosen instruments for His perfect will.

* [Psalm 33:10-11](/psalm/33-10-11 "Psalm 33:10-11 - God's Counsel Stands Forever")
* [Proverbs 19:21](/proverbs/19-21 "Proverbs 19:21 - Many Devices in a Man's Heart")
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - All Things Work Together for Good")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 2:12 offers profound lessons for believers today, particularly regarding the dangers of acting impulsively, even when driven by righteous indignation or a sincere desire to serve God. Moses' reliance on his own strength and his attempt to "fix" a problem through human means, rather than waiting for God's timing and method, resulted in significant personal consequences and a delay in God's plan. This passage challenges us to examine our own motivations and methods. Are we quick to act in our own strength, or do we patiently wait upon the Lord for His guidance and empowerment? It reminds us that God's ways are higher than our ways, and His timing is perfect ([Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8-9 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts and Ways are Higher")). Furthermore, Moses' subsequent flight and forty years of obscurity serve as a powerful testament to God's refining process. He uses our wilderness experiences, even those stemming from our failures, to humble us, teach us dependence, and prepare us for the tasks He has ordained. We are called to trust in God's sovereign hand, knowing that He can redeem our mistakes and use our imperfections for His glory, shaping us into vessels fit for His service.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I tempted to "look this way and that way" and act in my own strength, rather than waiting on God's timing and guidance?**
* **How does Moses' impulsive act challenge my understanding of righteous indignation and the appropriate response to injustice?**
* **What "wilderness" periods in my life, perhaps stemming from my own mistakes, has God used to humble me and prepare me for His purposes?**

### FAQ
**Was Moses justified in killing the Egyptian?**

Answer: From a divine and moral perspective, Moses' act was not justified. While he undoubtedly felt a righteous indignation against the oppression he witnessed, his action was an impulsive act of violence, not a divinely commanded execution or an act of self-defense for himself. It was a sin, as evidenced by his immediate attempt to conceal the body and his subsequent flight from Pharaoh's wrath ([Exodus 2:15](/exodus/2-15 "Exodus 2:15 - Moses Flees to Midian")). His method was outside of God's will and timing, leading to personal consequences and a delay in God's plan for Israel's deliverance. Stephen's account in [Acts 7:25](/acts/7-25 "Acts 7:25 - Stephen on Moses' Expectation") indicates Moses' expectation that his brethren would understand his intention to deliver them, but this expectation was rooted in his own human understanding rather not a clear divine mandate at that moment.

**Why did Moses look "this way and that way" before acting?**

Answer: Moses looked "this way and that way" to ensure no human witnesses were present. This action highlights his awareness that what he was about to do was illegal under Egyptian law and morally questionable, even if driven by a sense of justice. It demonstrates his attempt to conceal his crime and avoid accountability, indicative of the human tendency to hide sin and its consequences. This detail underscores the secretive and premeditated nature of his act, not a spontaneous outburst of rage, but a calculated, albeit flawed, decision.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Moses, as a deliverer and lawgiver, serves as a significant type of Christ, yet this particular event in [Exodus 2:12](/exodus/2-12 "Exodus 2:12 - Moses Kills the Egyptian") highlights the profound contrast between the two. Moses attempted to deliver his people through human strength, an impulsive act of violence that ultimately failed and led to his flight and forty years of exile. He was a flawed deliverer, whose sin underscored the need for a perfect one. In stark contrast, Christ, the true and greater Moses ([Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - A Prophet Like Moses")), accomplished salvation not through violence against His enemies, but through perfect obedience, self-sacrifice, and divine power. He did not come to slay the oppressor but to lay down His life for the oppressed, offering a perfect and complete redemption from the bondage of sin and death ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). While Moses' act was driven by a desire for justice, Christ perfectly embodied justice and mercy, becoming the propitiation for our sins ([Romans 3:25](/romans/3-25 "Romans 3:25 - Christ Our Propitiation")). Moses' failure here underscores the necessity of the sinless Lamb of God, whose atoning sacrifice perfectly fulfills the ultimate deliverance that Moses could only imperfectly foreshadow.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 7:24

And seeing one [of them] suffer wrong, he defended [him], and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

Acts 7:26

And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?