Exodus 4:19

KJV

And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto Moses {H4872} in Midian {H4080}, Go {H3212}, return {H7725} into Egypt {H4714}: for all the men {H582} are dead {H4191} which sought {H1245} thy life {H5315}.

Complete Jewish Bible

ADONAI said to Moshe in Midyan, "Go on back to Egypt, because all the men who wanted to kill you are dead."

Berean Standard Bible

Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who sought to kill you are dead.”

American Standard Version

And Jehovah said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt; for all the men are dead that sought thy life.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 4:19 marks a pivotal moment in Moses' divine commission, as the Lord directly addresses and removes a significant personal obstacle that had kept Moses in exile for forty years. This verse records God's explicit instruction for Moses to return to Egypt, coupled with the crucial assurance that the individuals who had previously sought his life were now dead. This divine declaration not only clears the path for Moses to obey God's call to deliver Israel but also powerfully demonstrates God's sovereign control over circumstances and His meticulous providence in preparing His chosen servant for an monumental task.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows a lengthy and intense dialogue between God and Moses at the burning bush, detailed in [Exodus 3-4](/exodus/3-4 "God commissions Moses at the burning bush"). Moses had offered a series of objections to God's call to lead Israel out of Egypt, ranging from his perceived inadequacy ("Who am I?") to concerns about the Israelites' belief and his own speaking ability. While not explicitly stated as an objection, the lingering threat of Pharaoh's wrath for the murder of an Egyptian (recounted in [Exodus 2:11-15](/exodus/2-11-15 "Moses kills an Egyptian and flees Pharaoh")) would have been a profound, unspoken barrier to Moses' return. God's declaration in [Exodus 4:19](/exodus/4-19 "The Lord commands Moses to return to Egypt") directly addresses this specific, life-threatening fear, providing the necessary assurance for Moses to finally move forward with his divine assignment. It serves as the definitive word that transitions Moses from hesitant contemplation to active obedience.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Forty years prior to this event, Moses had fled Egypt as a fugitive, guilty of murder and facing the death penalty under Pharaoh's law. The "men" who sought his life would have been Pharaoh's officials or agents tasked with apprehending him. In ancient Near Eastern monarchies, the pursuit of justice (or vengeance) for such a crime, especially against a royal figure, could be relentless and span decades. Moses' flight to Midian, a desert region east of Egypt, provided him refuge but also isolated him from his people. The cultural expectation of justice, combined with the power of the Egyptian state, made a return to Egypt seem suicidal without divine intervention. God's declaration that these specific individuals were "dead" signifies a complete and irreversible removal of the immediate, personal threat, making a return feasible and safe in God's timing.
* **Key Themes:** [Exodus 4:19](/exodus/4-19 "The Lord commands Moses to return to Egypt") profoundly contributes to several overarching themes in Exodus. It underscores **Divine Providence and Protection**, demonstrating God's active involvement in orchestrating events for His purposes, even to the point of controlling the lifespan of Moses' enemies. It highlights the theme of **Overcoming Fear and Obstacles**, as God directly addresses Moses' deepest human apprehension, enabling him to move past his past and embrace his future. This verse also reinforces the theme of **God's Perfect Timing**, illustrating that God prepares His servants and circumstances precisely when the moment is right for His redemptive plan to unfold. Finally, it emphasizes the ultimate **Call to Obedience**, as all human objections and external threats are systematically removed by God, leaving Moses with no further excuse to delay his divine mission.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
The command in [Exodus 4:19](/exodus/4-19 "The Lord commands Moses to return to Egypt") is a direct and unequivocal instruction from the Lord to Moses while he was still residing in Midian. After forty years of shepherding in exile, Moses is told, "Go, return into Egypt." This reiterates the divine mandate given at the burning bush, signaling that the time for hesitation is over and the time for action has arrived. The crucial assurance follows: "for all the men are dead which sought thy life." This statement is the lynchpin of the verse, providing the necessary impetus for Moses to overcome his fear and proceed.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This refers to H3068, "the self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God." The use of this specific divine name, Yahweh, emphasizes the covenant-keeping, personal God who is actively involved in the affairs of His people and His chosen servant. It underscores the authority and faithfulness behind the command and the assurance given to Moses.
* **dead (Hebrew, _mûwth'_):** This word (H4191) signifies "to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill." In this context, it is a literal declaration of physical death, confirming that the individuals who posed a direct threat to Moses' life are no longer alive. This complete cessation of the threat is a divine act, demonstrating God's sovereign control over life and death and His meticulous removal of obstacles for His servant.
* **sought thy life (Hebrew, _bâqash nephesh'_):** This phrase combines H1245 ("to search out... by implication, to strive after; ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for)") and H5315 ("properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it"). Together, "sought thy life" (Hebrew: *biqqeshū naphshekha*) is a strong idiom denoting an active, murderous intent, indicating that these individuals were relentlessly pursuing Moses to kill him for his crime. It signifies a focused effort to bring him to justice, or rather, to his death.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian,"**: This opening clause establishes the divine origin of the command and its specific setting. It highlights that this is a direct, personal communication from Yahweh to His chosen servant, emphasizing God's intimate involvement in Moses' life and mission. Midian, Moses' place of refuge and preparation for forty years, is now designated as the point of departure for his new assignment.
* **"Go, return into Egypt:"**: This is a clear, imperative command, echoing God's earlier call to deliver Israel. The dual verbs "Go" and "return" emphasize the decisive end of Moses' long exile and the beginning of his active, public ministry. It signifies a fundamental shift in Moses' life from a shepherd in the wilderness to the appointed leader of God's people, heading back to the very place he fled in fear.
* **"for all the men are dead which sought thy life."**: This is the crucial divine assurance that directly addresses Moses' primary personal fear and removes the most significant obstacle to his obedience. The phrase "sought thy life" refers to the active, murderous pursuit by Pharaoh's agents after Moses killed an Egyptian. God's declaration that these specific individuals are "dead" signifies a complete and irreversible cessation of the threat. This highlights God's sovereign control over life and death, and His meticulous providence in preparing the way for His chosen servant, ensuring that Moses could return without fear of immediate retribution from his past crime.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Divine Speech**, as it records a direct utterance from the Lord to Moses, underscoring the authority and certainty of the message. The phrase "sought thy life" is an **Idiom** (Hebrew: *biqqeshū naphshekha*), a common expression in biblical Hebrew signifying a murderous intent or active pursuit to kill someone. This idiom powerfully conveys the severity of the threat Moses faced. The statement "for all the men are dead" functions as **Divine Assurance** and **Providence**, serving to alleviate Moses' implicit fears and remove a practical barrier to his obedience. It is an act of **Divine Intervention** that clears the path for God's larger redemptive plan. The entire verse also exhibits **Foreshadowing**, as God's removal of this specific obstacle for Moses hints at the greater deliverances God will orchestrate for Israel through Moses.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 4:19 serves as a profound testament to God's meticulous providence and His unwavering commitment to His redemptive plan. It reveals a God who not only calls His servants but also actively clears the path for their obedience, removing obstacles that might otherwise hinder their mission. This verse showcases God's sovereign control over life and death, demonstrating that He orchestrates circumstances, even the timing of individuals' deaths, to fulfill His divine purposes. It underscores that God's call is always accompanied by His provision, addressing deep-seated fears and enabling His chosen instruments to step out in faith.

* [Psalm 37:23-24](/psalm/37-23-24 "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD")
* [Proverbs 16:9](/proverbs/16-9 "A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps")
* [Isaiah 43:1-2](/isaiah/43-1-2 "God's promise to be with His people through trials")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 4:19 offers immense encouragement and a powerful lesson for believers navigating God's call in their own lives. Just as God proactively removed a tangible, life-threatening obstacle for Moses, He continues to work providentially in our lives, often clearing unseen paths or neutralizing hidden dangers that might otherwise prevent us from fulfilling His will. This verse calls us to trust in God's perfect timing and His sovereign care, even when our past fears or present anxieties seem overwhelming. It reminds us that God's commission is always accompanied by His enabling power and provision. When we sense God leading us into a new season or a challenging task, we can step forward with confidence, knowing that He has already accounted for and dealt with the obstacles, whether by removing them or by equipping us to overcome them. Our obedience is not contingent on our ability to see a clear path, but on our faith in the One who has already prepared the way.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "men" or past fears might be holding you back from fully obeying God's call in your life today?**
* **How does the assurance of God's sovereign control over circumstances, as seen in Exodus 4:19, impact your willingness to step out in faith?**
* **Can you recall a time when God unexpectedly removed an obstacle, clearing the way for you to move forward in His will?**
* **What practical steps can you take to release your fears and trust more deeply in God's providential care for your future?**

### FAQ
**Who were "the men" who sought Moses' life?**

Answer: While the text does not name them specifically, "the men" refers to those in Pharaoh's court or his agents who were actively seeking to apprehend and execute Moses after he killed an Egyptian (as detailed in [Exodus 2:15](/exodus/2-15 "Pharaoh seeks to kill Moses")). These were likely officials, guards, or others directly involved in enforcing Pharaoh's decree. God's declaration means that these specific individuals, who posed a direct and deadly threat to Moses, were no longer alive, thus neutralizing the danger for his return.

**Does God always remove obstacles before calling us to a task?**

Answer: Not always in the same manner, but God always provides the necessary means or strength to overcome them. In Moses' case, a specific, life-threatening obstacle was physically removed. In other instances, God may call us to walk through difficulties, promising His presence, strength, and wisdom to navigate them (e.g., [Isaiah 43:2](/isaiah/43-2 "God's promise to be with us through trials") or [Philippians 4:13](/philippians/4-13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me")). The key is that God's call is always accompanied by His provision, whether it's the removal of an external obstacle or the empowering of His servant to face it.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 4:19, where God sovereignly removes a life-threatening obstacle for Moses, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate work of Christ. Moses' deliverance from his enemies allowed him to fulfill his role as a deliverer for Israel, leading them out of physical bondage. In a far greater and redemptive sense, Jesus Christ, through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, utterly defeated the ultimate enemies of humanity: sin, death, and the devil. The author of Hebrews declares that Christ shared in our humanity "that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Christ's victory over death and the devil")). Just as God cleared the path for Moses to lead His people to freedom from Pharaoh, Christ cleared the path for all humanity to enter into a relationship with God, overcoming the greatest spiritual obstacles that sought our eternal lives. His victory ensures that those who are called by God can walk in obedience, confident that the ultimate threat of eternal separation has been neutralized by the cross, allowing us to live in the freedom of His grace (as promised in [Romans 8:1-2](/romans/8-1-2 "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus")).

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

Matthew 2:20

Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

Exodus 2:15

Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

Exodus 2:23

¶ 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.