Exodus 2:23

KJV

¶ And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

KJV (with Strong's)

And it came to pass in process {H1992}{H7227} of time {H3117}, that the king {H4428} of Egypt {H4714} died {H4191}: and the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} sighed {H584} by reason of {H4480} the bondage {H5656}, and they cried {H2199}, and their cry {H7775} came up {H5927} unto God {H430} by reason of the bondage {H5656}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Sometime during those many years the king of Egypt died, but the people of Isra'el still groaned under the yoke of slavery, and they cried out, and their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.

Berean Standard Bible

After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God.

American Standard Version

And it came to pass in the course of those many days, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 2:23 marks a critical turning point in the narrative of Israel's oppression in Egypt, as the death of the reigning Pharaoh fails to alleviate their suffering, prompting the Israelites to cry out to God. This verse underscores the depth of their prolonged bondage and signals God's compassionate attentiveness and impending intervention, setting the stage for the dramatic deliverance of the Exodus.

### CONTEXT
Following Moses' flight to Midian after killing an Egyptian and his subsequent establishment of a family there, the narrative shifts back to the dire situation of the Israelites in Egypt. The Pharaoh who had initiated their harsh enslavement and decreed the murder of male Hebrew infants dies. However, his death does not bring an end to the Israelites' suffering; instead, their "bondage" persists under a new regime, highlighting the deeply entrenched and systemic nature of their oppression. This verse serves as a crucial bridge, establishing the desperate circumstances that will directly trigger God's active involvement, leading to the divine calling of Moses and the unfolding events of the Exodus.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
The verse opens with a significant temporal marker: "And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died." This indicates a passage of years, during which Moses matured in Midian and the oppressive conditions in Egypt continued unabated. The death of the reigning Pharaoh, while a major political event, surprisingly brings no relief to the enslaved Israelites.

* **"and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage"**: This phrase vividly portrays the profound and prolonged suffering of the Israelites. Their "sighs" (Hebrew: *anaq*) denote deep groaning, a visceral expression of pain, distress, and weariness that has reached an unbearable level. It speaks to a deep, internal anguish that has become outwardly manifest, reflecting the cumulative burden of their oppression.
* **"and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage"**: The shift from "sighs" to "cries" (Hebrew: *za'aq*) is significant. *Za'aq* implies an urgent, loud, and desperate appeal for help, typically directed to a higher authority in times of severe distress or oppression. This is not a passive groan but an active, fervent plea for divine intervention. The repetition of "by reason of the bondage" emphasizes that their suffering was the direct, persistent cause of their cries, highlighting the intensity and duration of their affliction. Crucially, their "cry came up unto God," signifying that their desperate appeal was heard and acknowledged by the Almighty. This phrase indicates God's active attentiveness to the plight of His people, even when they seemed forgotten or abandoned. It foreshadows His imminent response and deliverance, demonstrating that their lament did not fall on deaf ears.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **God's Attentiveness to Suffering:** This verse powerfully illustrates that God is not distant or indifferent to the suffering of His people. Their cries "came up unto God," signifying His active hearing and compassionate awareness of their plight, even when human efforts or changes in leadership fail to bring relief.
* **The Efficacy of Lament and Prayer:** The Israelites' "sighs" and "cries" are presented as a direct catalyst for divine action. This highlights the biblical principle that genuine lament and desperate prayer are not merely expressions of pain but potent appeals that reach God's ears and move Him to intervene on behalf of the afflicted.
* **Divine Remembrance of Covenant:** God's hearing of their cry implicitly connects to His covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ([Genesis 15:13-14](/genesis/15-13 "God's covenant with Abraham to deliver his descendants from affliction")). Though not explicitly stated in this verse, the subsequent narrative in [Exodus 2:24-25](/exodus/2-24 "God remembers His covenant") confirms that God remembered His covenant, underscoring His faithfulness even in long periods of apparent silence.
* **Sovereignty Amidst Human Failure:** The death of Pharaoh, a seemingly significant event, proves insufficient to end Israel's bondage. This subtly underscores God's ultimate sovereignty; human political changes are not the source of true deliverance, but rather God's direct intervention in His own timing.
* **The Catalyst for Deliverance:** This verse serves as the immediate precursor to God's direct involvement in the Exodus narrative. The intensified suffering and the desperate cries of Israel are the final prompt for God to raise up Moses and initiate the process of liberation ([Exodus 3:7-8](/exodus/3-7 "God's promise to deliver Israel")).

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 2:23 offers profound encouragement for all who endure prolonged suffering, oppression, or seemingly unchangeable circumstances. It reminds us that our deepest pains, our most desperate sighs, and our most fervent prayers do not go unnoticed by the Almighty. Even when human solutions fail or when the passage of time brings no relief, God remains attentive to the plight of His people. This verse serves as a powerful testament to God's compassion and His readiness to act on behalf of those who are afflicted, urging believers to bring their burdens to God with fervent prayer, trusting in His divine timing and power to intervene, just as He did for Israel, setting the stage for their dramatic deliverance.

### FAQ
**Why did the death of the king of Egypt not immediately end Israel's bondage?**

Answer: The oppression of the Israelites was deeply systemic, not merely the whim of a single monarch. While the king's death was a significant event, the institution of slavery and the policies against the Hebrews were entrenched within the Egyptian state. A new Pharaoh would naturally inherit and likely continue these policies, especially given the perceived threat of the growing Israelite population, ensuring the continuation of their "bondage."

**What is the significance of the Israelites' "sighs" and "cries" coming "up unto God"?**

Answer: This phrase signifies God's active perception and acknowledgment of their suffering. It is not merely a poetic expression but indicates that their desperate pleas penetrated the heavens and reached the divine ear. It underscores God's attentiveness and compassion, showing that He is not indifferent to the pain of His people and is poised to respond to their earnest appeals.

**Does this verse imply that God only acts when people cry out to Him?**

Answer: While this verse highlights the importance of human lament and prayer as a catalyst for divine action, it does not imply that God is inactive until His people cry out. The preceding verses and subsequent narrative show God's sovereign plan was already in motion (e.g., preserving Moses). However, the Israelites' cries serve as a crucial moment of human desperation meeting divine compassion, demonstrating that God hears and responds to the pleas of His afflicted, often in alignment with His predetermined will and timing.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 2:23, with its depiction of Israel's desperate cries under bondage and God's compassionate response, foreshadows the ultimate deliverance accomplished through Jesus Christ. Just as Israel's suffering led to a divine intervention that brought them out of physical slavery, humanity's spiritual bondage to sin and death elicits a divine response in the person of Christ. Jesus, hearing the cries of a fallen world, entered into our suffering, not merely to alleviate symptoms but to break the chains of sin and death definitively. His coming, crucifixion, and resurrection represent the ultimate act of God's remembrance of His covenant and His powerful intervention to bring His people out of a far greater captivity, fulfilling the pattern of deliverance initiated in the Exodus narrative.

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

Genesis 18:20

And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

Genesis 18:21

I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

James 5:4

Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

Acts 7:30

¶ And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.

Exodus 3:7

¶ And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which [are] in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

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 22:22

Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.