Exodus 2:24

KJV

And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

KJV (with Strong's)

And God {H430} heard {H8085} their groaning {H5009}, and God {H430} remembered {H2142} his covenant {H1285} with Abraham {H85}, with Isaac {H3327}, and with Jacob {H3290}.

Complete Jewish Bible

God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov.

Berean Standard Bible

So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

American Standard Version

And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 2:24 marks a profound turning point in Israel's history, revealing God's active and compassionate engagement with His suffering people. After generations of harsh Egyptian bondage, this verse declares that God "heard their groaning" and, crucially, "remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob," signifying His unwavering faithfulness and initiating the long-awaited divine intervention for their deliverance.

### CONTEXT
Following a period of rapid growth for the Israelites in Egypt, a new Pharaoh, threatened by their numbers, subjected them to brutal slavery and eventually decreed the infanticide of all male Hebrew infants ([Exodus 1:15-22](/exodus/1-15 "Pharaoh's decree against Hebrew infants")). Despite this escalating oppression, the preceding verses in Exodus 2 detail the miraculous preservation and early life of Moses, the destined deliverer. This verse, therefore, represents the culmination of Israel's anguish and the divine response, setting the stage for the dramatic events of the Exodus as God prepares to act on behalf of His covenant people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Exodus 2:24 serves as the divine pivot point, transitioning from Israel's suffering to God's active intervention. The repetition of "God" emphasizes His singular, sovereign agency in this pivotal moment.

* **"And God heard their groaning"**: This phrase conveys more than mere auditory perception. The Hebrew verb *shama* (שָׁמַע) implies a deep understanding, empathetic awareness, and a readiness to respond. It signifies God's attentive and compassionate acknowledgment of His people's suffering, a direct precursor to His declaration in [Exodus 3:7](/exodus/3-7 "God hears and sees the affliction") that He has indeed "seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry." Their groans, a sign of profound distress and helplessness under oppression, reached the very throne of the Almighty.

* **"and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob"**: The Hebrew verb *zakhar* (זָכַר), translated as "remembered," is not a passive mental recall, as if God had forgotten and suddenly recollected. Instead, it denotes an active, purposeful engagement with a past commitment, leading to decisive action in the present. God's "remembering" here is a dynamic, covenant-keeping act, signifying His unwavering commitment to fulfill the solemn promises made generations earlier to the patriarchs. This covenant, detailed in various passages such as [Genesis 12:1-3](/genesis/12-1 "The initial call of Abraham and the covenant promise") and [Genesis 15:13-14](/genesis/15-13 "God's prophecy of Egyptian bondage and deliverance"), included promises of land, numerous descendants, and a special relationship with God. God's remembrance is the catalyst for the miraculous events that will follow, demonstrating His faithfulness regardless of the passage of time or the severity of the circumstances.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **God's Covenant Faithfulness:** The verse underscores God's unwavering loyalty to His promises, demonstrating that His character is immutable and His word is reliable across generations.
* **Divine Sovereignty and Intervention:** It highlights God's active involvement in human history, asserting His ultimate control over nations and His readiness to intervene on behalf of His chosen people.
* **God's Compassion for the Oppressed:** The emphasis on God hearing their groaning reveals His profound empathy and attentiveness to the cries of those suffering injustice and bondage.
* **The Foundation of Redemption:** God's remembrance of the covenant is the theological bedrock upon which the entire narrative of the Exodus, and indeed Israel's national identity, is built. It is not Israel's merit, but God's faithfulness, that initiates their salvation.
* **Prayer and Divine Response:** The Israelites' groaning, though not explicitly a prayer, functions as a cry for help that elicits God's response, illustrating that God hears and acts upon the distress of His people.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 2:24 offers profound encouragement for believers today, assuring us of God's enduring character. It reminds us that our suffering and distress are not unnoticed by God; He hears our groans and prayers, even when we feel forgotten or our circumstances seem hopeless ([Psalm 34:17](/psalms/34-17 "The Lord hears the cry of the righteous")). Just as He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He remains faithful to His promises to us, His people, demonstrating unwavering covenant loyalty ([Deuteronomy 7:9](/deuteronomy/7-9 "God's faithfulness and covenant loyalty")). This verse builds a foundational trust in God's active involvement in our lives, His perfect timing, and His ultimate commitment to deliver His people according to His will and for His glory.

### FAQ
**Did God literally forget His covenant before this point?**

Answer: No, the Hebrew word *zakhar* (זָכַר), translated as "remembered," does not imply that God had a lapse of memory. For God, "remembering" is an active, purposeful act of bringing a past commitment or promise into the present for decisive action. It signifies His unwavering faithfulness and the activation of His plan based on His prior pledges, rather than a sudden recollection of something previously forgotten.

**What is the significance of God remembering His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?**

Answer: This remembrance is the theological basis for Israel's deliverance. The covenant was a series of unconditional promises made by God to the patriarchs, including the promise of land, numerous descendants, and a special relationship with God. By remembering this covenant, God was reaffirming His commitment to these ancient promises, demonstrating His faithfulness, and initiating the process by which He would fulfill them, starting with the liberation of His people from Egyptian bondage.

**How does God "hear" groaning, and what does it imply?**

Answer: The Hebrew word *shama* (שָׁמַע), translated as "heard," implies more than just auditory perception. When used in relation to God, it signifies deep understanding, empathetic awareness, and a readiness to respond with action. It means God was not merely aware of their suffering, but He was deeply moved by it and prepared to intervene on their behalf, demonstrating His compassionate nature and His active engagement with the plight of His people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 2:24, with its depiction of God hearing the groans of His people and remembering His covenant to initiate their deliverance, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While God delivered Israel from physical bondage in Egypt, Christ came to deliver humanity from a far greater bondage: sin and death. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant, through whom all the nations of the earth are blessed ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Christ as the Seed of Abraham")). His sacrifice on the cross is God's ultimate act of "remembering" His covenant of grace, providing a perfect and eternal redemption. Just as God heard Israel's cries and sent Moses, He heard the cries of a world enslaved by sin and sent His Son, the greater Deliverer, to secure an eternal salvation that transcends any earthly liberation.

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 26:3

Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

Psalms 105:42

For he remembered his holy promise, [and] Abraham his servant.

Exodus 6:5

And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.

Genesis 15:14

And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

Genesis 15:18

In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Psalms 106:45

And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

Psalms 102:20

To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;