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 pivotal moment in the unfolding narrative of Israel's deliverance, revealing God's profound attentiveness and unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises. After generations of escalating oppression and brutal enslavement in Egypt, this verse declares that the Almighty God heard the deep groaning of His people and, in an act of active remembrance, called to mind His sacred covenant established with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, thereby initiating the long-awaited divine intervention for their redemption.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Exodus 2:24 serves as a crucial turning point, bridging the narrative gap between Israel's severe oppression and God's active intervention. The preceding verses in [Exodus 1](/exodus/1 "Exodus 1 - Israel's Oppression in Egypt") detail the rapid multiplication of the Israelites in Egypt, which prompted a new Pharaoh to enslave them and later decree the infanticide of all male Hebrew infants ([Exodus 1:15-22](/exodus/1-15-22 "Pharaoh's decree to kill Hebrew male babies")). [Exodus 2:1-22](/exodus/2-1-22 "The Birth and Early Life of Moses") then focuses on the miraculous preservation and early life of Moses, the one destined to be Israel's deliverer, culminating in his flight to Midian. This verse, therefore, shifts the focus from human suffering and the emergence of a human leader to the divine initiative, signaling that God Himself is about to act decisively in response to His people's plight and in fulfillment of His ancient promises. It sets the stage for the dramatic call of Moses in [Exodus 3](/exodus/3 "The Burning Bush and Moses' Call").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites had been in Egypt for approximately 430 years ([Exodus 12:40](/exodus/12-40 "Duration of Israel's stay in Egypt")), initially welcomed by Joseph but later subjected to brutal slavery by a new dynasty that "knew not Joseph" ([Exodus 1:8](/exodus/1-8 "A new king who did not know Joseph")). Their "groaning" was not merely a sigh but a deep, guttural expression of profound suffering, forced labor, and existential despair under the harsh conditions imposed by the Egyptian taskmasters. In the ancient Near East, covenants were solemn, legally binding agreements often sealed with rituals, and a god "remembering" a covenant implied an active commitment to uphold its terms, not a passive recollection. The Pharaoh's absolute power and the Israelites' complete subjugation made divine intervention their only hope, underscoring the significance of God's action as a challenge to the reigning human authority.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Exodus and the broader Pentateuch. It highlights the theme of **God's Covenant Faithfulness**, demonstrating that His promises, even those made centuries earlier to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, are immutable and will be fulfilled ([Genesis 12:1-3](/genesis/12-1-3 "The Abrahamic Covenant")). It also underscores **Divine Compassion and Justice**, revealing a God who is not distant but intimately aware of and moved by the suffering of His people, particularly the oppressed. The "groaning" of Israel and God's subsequent "hearing" and "remembering" initiate the theme of **Divine Deliverance and Redemption**, setting the stage for the Exodus as the paradigmatic act of salvation in Israelite history. Furthermore, it reinforces the theme of **God's Sovereignty**, asserting His ultimate control over human history and His readiness to intervene on behalf of His chosen people, regardless of the might of earthly empires.

### 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.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **heard (Hebrew, _shâmaʻ'_):** This word (H8085) is a primitive root meaning "to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)." When applied to God, as here, it signifies far more than mere auditory perception. It implies a deep, empathetic understanding, an attentive acknowledgment of the suffering, and, critically, a readiness to respond with decisive action. God's hearing is active and purposeful, leading to intervention.
* **remembered (Hebrew, _zâkar'_):** This word (H2142) is a primitive root meaning "to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention." In the context of God, "remembering" is not a passive mental recall as if He had forgotten and suddenly recollected. Instead, it denotes an active, purposeful engagement with a past commitment, leading to decisive action in the present. It signifies God's unwavering commitment to fulfill His solemn promises, bringing His covenant into active operation.
* **covenant (Hebrew, _bᵉrîyth'_):** This word (H1285) is derived from a root meaning "to cut" (referencing the ancient practice of cutting animals in half to seal a covenant, as in [Genesis 15:9-18](/genesis/15-9-18 "God's covenant with Abraham")). It refers to "a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh); confederacy, (con-) feder(-ate), covenant, league." This term highlights the binding, solemn, and often unconditional nature of God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which now serve as the foundation for His intervention.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And God heard their groaning,"**: This clause emphasizes God's empathetic awareness and active attentiveness to the deep distress of the Israelites. Their "groaning" (H5009, _nᵉʼâqâh_), a sign of profound anguish and helplessness under oppression, reached the very throne of the Almighty, signifying that their suffering was not unnoticed or unheeded by their sovereign Lord. This hearing is a precursor to His declaration in [Exodus 3:7](/exodus/3-7 "God sees and hears the affliction of His people") that He has indeed "seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry."
* **"and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob."**: This second clause reveals the theological basis and motivation for God's impending action. God's "remembering" (H2142, _zâkar_) is not a sudden recollection but a dynamic, covenant-keeping act. It signifies His unwavering commitment to fulfill the solemn promises made generations earlier to the patriarchs (H85, _ʼAbrâhâm_; H3327, _Yitschâq_; H3290, _Yaʻăqôb_). This covenant (H1285, _bᵉrîyth_), detailed in passages like [Genesis 12:1-3](/genesis/12-1-3 "The initial call of Abraham and the covenant promise") and [Genesis 15:13-14](/genesis/15-13-14 "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.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 2:24 employs several significant literary devices to convey its profound theological message. The **Repetition** of "God" at the beginning of both clauses ("And God heard... and God remembered...") serves to emphasize divine agency and sovereignty, highlighting that this turning point is entirely God's initiative, not a result of human merit or strategy. This repetition also creates a sense of **Parallelism**, linking God's compassionate hearing of suffering directly to His active remembrance of His covenant, suggesting a cause-and-effect relationship where suffering triggers covenant faithfulness. The "groaning" itself functions as **Metonymy**, representing the entire experience of Israel's oppression, suffering, and desperate plight. Furthermore, the entire verse acts as a **Pivot Point** or **Turning Point** in the narrative, shifting the focus from the detailed accounts of Israel's suffering and Moses' early life to the imminent divine intervention that will lead to the Exodus.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 2:24 is a foundational verse for understanding God's character and His relationship with humanity. It unequivocally declares God's active engagement with the suffering of His people, demonstrating that His compassion is not passive but leads to decisive action. More profoundly, it underscores the immutability of God's covenant promises. His "remembering" is an assurance that His word is reliable and His commitments are eternal, transcending generations and even the most dire circumstances. This verse establishes that Israel's deliverance is not earned but is a gracious fulfillment of God's prior, unconditional pledges, setting the stage for the entire redemptive history of the Old Testament.

* [Genesis 15:13-14](/genesis/15-13-14 "God's prophecy of Israel's affliction and deliverance")
* [Psalm 105:8-10](/psalms/105-8-10 "God remembers His covenant forever")
* [Luke 1:72-73](/luke/1-72-73 "God remembers His holy covenant with Abraham")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 2:24 offers profound and enduring encouragement for believers today, assuring us of God's unchanging character and unwavering commitment to His people. In moments of deep distress, when our circumstances seem overwhelming and our prayers feel like mere groans, this verse reminds us that God hears. He is not distant or indifferent to our suffering, but intimately aware and deeply compassionate. Just as He actively remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He remains faithful to His new covenant promises in Christ, demonstrating unwavering loyalty and perfect timing. This truth should build 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, reminding us that even in our deepest valleys, His covenant faithfulness is our sure hope.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the concept of God "hearing" our groaning, as described in Exodus 2:24, deepen your understanding of His compassion and attentiveness to your personal struggles?**
* **In what ways does God's "remembering" His covenant challenge the idea that He might forget or abandon His promises to you today?**
* **How does this verse encourage you to trust in God's timing, even when deliverance seems delayed or impossible?**

### 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. This is consistent with God's omniscient nature, as seen in passages like [Psalm 139:1-4](/psalms/139-1-4 "God's omnipresence and omniscience").

**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 ([Genesis 12:1-3](/genesis/12-1-3 "The Abrahamic Covenant")). 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. It highlights that their salvation was rooted in God's character and His prior commitments, not in their own merit or actions.

**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. This active hearing is further elaborated in [Exodus 3:7](/exodus/3-7 "God sees the affliction and hears the cry of His people"), where God states, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sufferings."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 2:24, with its depiction of God hearing the groans of His people and actively remembering His covenant to initiate their deliverance, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While God delivered Israel from physical bondage in Egypt, Christ came to deliver humanity from a far greater and more pervasive bondage: the dominion of sin and death. Jesus is the ultimate "seed" of Abraham, through whom all the nations of the earth are blessed, fulfilling the very covenant God remembered in Exodus 2:24 ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Christ as the Seed of Abraham") and [Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Heirs according to the promise")). His atoning sacrifice on the cross is God's supreme act of "remembering" His covenant of grace, providing a perfect and eternal redemption for all who believe ([Hebrews 9:12](/hebrews/9-12 "Christ entered once for all into the holy place")). Just as God heard Israel's cries and sent Moses as their deliverer, He heard the universal groaning of a world enslaved by sin and sent His Son, the greater Deliverer, to secure an eternal salvation that transcends any earthly liberation, establishing a new and better covenant sealed by His own blood ([Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "A more excellent ministry and a better covenant")).

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;