Exodus 7:16

And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

And thou shalt say {H559} unto him, The LORD {H3068} God {H430} of the Hebrews {H5680} hath sent {H7971} me unto thee, saying {H559}, Let my people {H5971} go {H7971}, that they may serve {H5647} me in the wilderness {H4057}: and, behold, hitherto {H3541} thou wouldest not hear {H8085}.

and say to him, 'ADONAI, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you to say: "Let my people go, so that they can worship me in the desert." But until now you haven't listened;

Then say to him, โ€˜The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me in the wilderness. But you have not listened until now.

And thou shalt say unto him, Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou hast not hearkened.

Commentary

Exodus 7:16 records a critical moment in the divine confrontation between God and Pharaoh, delivered through Moses. This verse serves as a direct, unyielding message from the LORD, reiterating His demand for the release of the Israelite people and clearly stating the sacred purpose behind their freedom: to worship and serve Him. It also pointedly highlights Pharaoh's continued refusal to listen, setting the stage for the intensifying plagues.

Context

This verse is spoken as Moses and Aaron are about to unleash the first of the ten plagues upon Egypt โ€“ the turning of the Nile into blood. It represents a final, stern warning and a re-statement of God's core demand, which was initially presented in Exodus 5:1. Pharaoh had already demonstrated his hardened heart by not only rejecting Moses' initial pleas but also by increasing the oppressive burdens on the Israelite laborers. This reiteration underscores God's patience, yet also His unwavering resolve to deliver His people.

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority and Identity: The declaration, "The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee," powerfully asserts God's sovereign claim over His chosen people and His direct intervention in human affairs. The title "God of the Hebrews" distinguishes Him from the myriad gods of Egypt, emphasizing His unique covenant relationship with Israel and His supreme authority over all creation.
  • Purpose of Deliverance: The fundamental reason for the command "Let my people go" is explicitly stated: "that they may serve me in the wilderness." This reveals that Israel's liberation from bondage was not an end in itself, but a means to a higher spiritual purpose โ€“ to worship, obey, and dedicate themselves to God. This theme of service is foundational to Israel's identity and is echoed throughout the Old Testament, as seen in the call to serve the LORD only.
  • Pharaoh's Stubbornness: The concluding phrase, "and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear," highlights Pharaoh's persistent refusal and hardened heart. It demonstrates that Pharaoh's resistance was a conscious and deliberate act of defiance against God's clear command, not merely ignorance. This sets the stage for the escalating divine judgments that follow, each designed to break his will and prove God's supremacy.

Linguistic Insights

The term "LORD" (capitalized in the KJV) translates the Hebrew personal name of God, Yahweh (YHWH), which conveys His eternal, self-existent nature and His covenant faithfulness to His people. The word "serve" (Hebrew: ืขึธื‘ึทื“, 'avad) is rich in meaning, encompassing both physical labor or servitude and spiritual worship or devotion. In this context, it specifically refers to the religious service, worship, and obedience that God required from His people, including offering sacrifices and following His commands in the wilderness.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound insights for believers today. It reminds us that any true freedom we experience โ€“ whether from sin, personal struggles, or spiritual oppression โ€“ is ultimately for the purpose of serving God. Our liberation is not for self-indulgence or autonomy, but for devotion, obedience, and worship of our Creator. Furthermore, Pharaoh's stubbornness serves as a powerful warning against ignoring God's clear call and resisting His will in our own lives. Persistent disobedience and a hardened heart can lead to severe consequences, as God's patience, though vast, is not without limits, and His judgments are just.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 3:18 (9 votes)

    And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

  • Exodus 9:1 (6 votes)

    ยถ Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

  • Exodus 9:13 (5 votes)

    ยถ And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

  • Exodus 3:12 (3 votes)

    And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this [shall be] a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

  • Exodus 5:1 (3 votes)

    ยถ And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

  • Exodus 5:3 (3 votes)

    ยถ And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

  • Exodus 13:15 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.