Exodus 2:25

And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto [them].

And God {H430} looked {H7200} upon the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, and God {H430} had respect {H3045} unto them.

God saw the people of Isra'el, and God acknowledged them.

God saw the Israelites and took notice.

And God saw the children of Israel, and God took knowledge of them.

Commentary

Commentary on Exodus 2:25 (KJV)

Exodus 2:25 concludes a pivotal chapter in the early life of Moses and sets the stage for God's dramatic intervention in the history of Israel. Following decades of severe oppression and forced labor under the Egyptians, this verse marks a turning point, emphasizing God's active awareness and compassionate response to the suffering of His people.

Context

This verse follows the crucial Exodus 2:23-24, which describes the death of the oppressive Pharaoh and the intensified groaning and crying out of the children of Israel under their harsh bondage. Their cries "came up unto God," and in response, "God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and Jacob." Therefore, verse 25 is the divine culmination of this sequence: God's perception and acknowledgment of their plight, rooted in His unwavering faithfulness to His ancient promises.

Key Themes

  • Divine Awareness and Omniscience: The phrase "God looked upon the children of Israel" signifies more than mere observation. It denotes a deep, understanding gaze, an active perception of their condition and suffering. God is not distant or unaware of the pains of His people.
  • Divine Compassion and Knowledge: "And God had respect unto them" (KJV) or "God knew their condition" (ESV, NIV). The Hebrew word here, vayyeda' (from yada'), translated as "had respect unto" or "knew," implies an intimate, relational knowledge and concern, not just intellectual awareness. It speaks to God's profound empathy and personal engagement with their suffering, valuing them despite their enslaved state. This is a compassionate knowing that precedes action.
  • Covenant Faithfulness: While not explicitly stated in verse 25, the preceding verse (Exodus 2:24) makes it clear that God's actions are directly tied to His remembrance of the covenant He made with their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This divine remembrance is the foundation for the impending deliverance. God's character is one of unwavering loyalty to His promises, even when circumstances seem hopeless.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated as "looked upon" is vayyar' (from ra'ah), meaning to see, perceive, or consider. It implies a thorough observation, not just a superficial glance. The subsequent phrase, "had respect unto them," comes from the Hebrew vayyeda' (from yada'), which is often translated as "knew." This "knowing" in a biblical context is profound; it's an intimate, personal, and active knowledge that often leads to intervention. It's the same kind of knowing God speaks of when He says, "I knew you before you were born" (Jeremiah 1:5) or when He declares He "knows" those who are His (2 Timothy 2:19). It signifies a relationship and a caring recognition of their plight.

Practical Application

Exodus 2:25 offers profound comfort and insight for believers today. It assures us that God is never unaware of our struggles, pain, or oppression. Our cries do not go unheard, and our suffering is not unnoticed by Him. Just as God remembered His covenant with Israel and prepared for their deliverance, so too does He remain faithful to His promises to us. This verse is a powerful reminder of God's active presence, His deep compassion, and His readiness to intervene on behalf of those who are His, always in accordance with His perfect timing and plan.

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Cross-References

  • Exodus 4:31 (12 votes)

    And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

  • Exodus 3:7 (9 votes)

    ¶ 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 3:8 (9 votes)

    And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

  • Psalms 55:22 (9 votes)

    Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

  • Psalms 1:6 (8 votes)

    For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

  • Matthew 7:23 (7 votes)

    And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

  • 2 Samuel 16:12 (7 votes)

    It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.