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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Exodus 7:1–7.
Here, I. God encourages Moses to go to Pharaoh, and at last silences all his discouragements. 1. He clothes him with great power and authority (Exo 7:1): I have made thee a god to Pharaoh; that is, my representative in this affair, as magistrates are called gods, because they are God's viceregents. He was authorized to speak and act in God's name and stead, and, under the divine direction, was endued with a divine power to do that which is above the ordinary power of nature, and invested with a divine authority to demand obedience from a sovereign prince and punish disobedience. Moses was a god, but he was only a made god, not essentially one by nature; he was no god but by commission. He was a god, but he was a god only to Pharaoh; the living and true God is a God to all the world. It is an instance of God's condescension, and an evidence that his thoughts towards us are thoughts of peace, that when he treats with men he treats by men, whose terror shall not make us afraid. 2. He again nominates him an assistant, his brother Aaron, who was not a man of uncircumcised lips, but a notable spokesman: "He shall be thy prophet," that is, "he shall speak from thee to Pharaoh, as prophets do from God to the children of men. Thou shalt, as a god, inflict and remove the plagues, and Aaron, as a prophet, shall denounce them, and threaten Pharaoh with them." 3. He tells him the worst of it, that Pharaoh would not hearken to him, and yet the work should be done at last, Israel should be delivered and God therein would be glorified, Exo 7:4, Exo 7:5. The Egyptians, who would not know the Lord, should be made to know him. Note, It is, and ought to be, satisfaction enough to God's messengers that, whatever contradiction and opposition may be given them, thus far they shall gain their point, that God will be glorified in the success of their embassy, and all his chosen Israel will be saved, and then they have no reason to say that they have laboured in vain. See here, (1.) How God glorifies himself; he makes people know that he is Jehovah. Israel is made to know it by the performance of his promises to them (Exo 6:3), and the Egyptians are made to know it by the pouring out of his wrath upon them. Thus God's name is exalted both in those that are saved and in those that perish. (2.) What method he takes to do this: he humbles the proud, and exalts the poor, Luk 1:51, Luk 1:52. If God stretch out his hand to sinners in vain, he will at last stretch out his hand upon them; and who can bear the weight of it?
II.Moses and Aaron apply themselves to their work without further objection:
They did as the Lord commanded them, Exo 7:6. Their obedience, all things considered, was well worthy to be celebrated, as it is by the Psalmist (Psa 105:28), They rebelled not against his word, namely, Moses and Aaron, whom he mentions, v. 26. Thus Jonah, though at first he was very averse, at length went to Nineveh. Notice is taken of the age of Moses and Aaron when they undertook this glorious service. Aaron the elder (and yet the inferior in office) was eighty-three, Moses was eighty; both of them men of great gravity and experience, whose age was venerable, and whose years might teach wisdom, v. 7. Joseph, who was to be only a servant to Pharaoh, was preferred at thirty years old; but Moses, who was to be a god to Pharaoh, was not so dignified until he was eighty years old. It was fit that he should long wait for such an honour, and be long in preparing for such a service.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
One surviving comment on this verse from the historical church.
On the same basis, you would not be able to point to anyone of the past generations approaching a pregnant woman in the pages of Scripture. Only later, after the birth and weaning of the child, would you again find the wives in physical relations with their husbands. You will find that Moses’ father observed this point. He left a three-year gap after Aaron’s birth before fathering Moses.
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Summary
Exodus 7:7 precisely records the advanced ages of Moses, eighty, and Aaron, eighty-three, at the pivotal moment they first confronted Pharaoh. This detail underscores the divine timing and God's sovereign choice to use seasoned leaders, not based on youthful vigor or human strength, but on His perfect appointment and equipping, to initiate the miraculous liberation of Israel from centuries of Egyptian bondage.
Context
Literary Context
This verse serves as a crucial chronological marker within the unfolding narrative of the Exodus, immediately preceding the commencement of the ten plagues. Following God's definitive call to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3, and the initial, somewhat disheartening, encounter with Pharaoh in Exodus 5, the narrative has been building towards this decisive confrontation. The preceding verses in Exodus 6 detail God's reaffirmation of His covenant promises to Moses and Aaron, preparing them for the monumental task ahead. Exodus 7:1-6 specifically outlines God's commission to Moses as "God to Pharaoh" and Aaron as his "prophet," setting the stage for their direct challenge to the Egyptian monarch. Thus, Exodus 7:7 functions as a final, significant detail before the divine judgment begins to fall upon Egypt.
Historical & Cultural Context
Ancient Egypt was the preeminent superpower of the ancient Near East, characterized by a highly centralized government, a powerful pharaoh considered a divine king, and a sophisticated religious system. The Israelites had been enslaved for centuries, their labor crucial to the Egyptian economy. To challenge Pharaoh was to challenge the very fabric of Egyptian power, religion, and national identity. In this context, the ages of Moses and Aaron are particularly striking. In a society that often valued youthful strength for leadership and warfare, the appointment of two octogenarians to confront the world's most powerful ruler would have been highly unusual and counter-cultural. This detail emphasizes that their authority did not stem from conventional human qualifications but from a divine source, contrasting sharply with the human-centric power structures of Egypt.
Key Themes
Exodus 7:7 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Exodus and the broader Pentateuch. It powerfully illustrates God's sovereignty and perfect timing, demonstrating that His plans unfold according to His divine timetable, not human expectations or limitations. The advanced ages of Moses and Aaron underscore the theme of divine equipping and enablement, highlighting that God does not call the equipped but equips the called, often using instruments that appear weak or unlikely by human standards to display His immense power. This verse also reinforces the theme of obedience and faith, as Moses and Aaron, despite their age and the daunting nature of their task, faithfully respond to God's command. Furthermore, it foreshadows the recurring biblical motif that God's strength is perfected in human weakness, a principle echoed throughout the biblical narrative, from Gideon's small army in Judges 7 to Paul's declaration in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This word directly translates to "eighty" or "eightieth." Its inclusion here precisely quantifies Moses' age at the time of this crucial confrontation. The repetition of "fourscore" for both Moses and Aaron emphasizes their advanced years, setting a deliberate tone for the narrative that follows.
The phrase "years old" combines two Hebrew words: shâneh (year, as a revolution of time) and bên (son, used idiomatically here in the construct "son of years" to denote age). This construction is a common Hebrew idiom for expressing age, literally meaning "son of eighty years" for Moses and "son of eighty-three years" for Aaron. This precise phrasing underscores the specific measurement of their lives up to this point, highlighting the cumulative experience and preparation God had orchestrated for them.
This primitive root primarily means "to speak," but also carries connotations of arranging, commanding, or even subduing. In this context, it signifies the authoritative declaration and communication of God's demands to Pharaoh. It's not merely a casual conversation but a divinely ordained pronouncement, marking the beginning of the verbal and confrontational phase of Israel's liberation.
Verse Breakdown
"And Moses was fourscore years old,"
This clause establishes Moses' exact age as eighty at the moment of his initial, direct confrontation with Pharaoh, as God's appointed messenger. This detail is significant, highlighting that Moses had spent a considerable portion of his life (forty years in Pharaoh's court, forty years in Midian) being prepared for this very moment, demonstrating God's long-term, meticulous orchestration of events.
"and Aaron fourscore and three years old,"
This clause provides Aaron's age, eighty-three, indicating he was three years Moses' senior. Aaron's slightly older age and his role as Moses' spokesman (as established in Exodus 4:16) underscore the collaborative nature of their divinely appointed leadership. Their combined age and experience present a picture of mature, seasoned individuals, chosen by God for a task that would require immense wisdom, patience, and unwavering faith.
"when they spake unto Pharaoh."
This final clause pinpoints the precise historical moment when their ages are recorded: the very first time they delivered God's command directly to Pharaoh. This marks the transition from God's private commissioning to Moses and Aaron to the public, confrontational phase of the Exodus narrative. It signifies the beginning of the great struggle between Yahweh and the gods of Egypt, mediated through these two elderly brothers.
Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs Emphasis through the precise enumeration of ages, drawing the reader's attention to Moses and Aaron's advanced years. This emphasis serves to highlight the extraordinary nature of their divine commission, as it challenges conventional expectations of leadership. There is also an element of Irony at play: God chooses not young, vigorous leaders, but two men well past their prime, to confront the most powerful empire of their day. This ironic choice underscores that the power and success of their mission would come not from human strength or capability, but solely from God. Furthermore, the detail serves as a form of Historical Marker, anchoring the narrative in a specific, verifiable timeline and lending credibility to the biblical account by providing concrete, measurable data points.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Exodus 7:7 is far more than a simple biographical detail; it is a profound theological statement about God's character and methods. It reveals a God who operates outside of human limitations and expectations, demonstrating that His perfect timing and sovereign appointments transcend conventional wisdom regarding age, ability, or perceived strength. The fact that Moses, after eighty years of life, including forty in the wilderness, is called to lead, and Aaron, at eighty-three, is called to speak, powerfully illustrates that God's preparation can span an entire lifetime, equipping His servants precisely for the tasks He has ordained, often in ways they could never anticipate. This verse reassures believers that no one is "too old" or "too seasoned" to be used mightily by God, and that accumulated life experience, even that gained in obscurity, is valuable in His divine economy.
Reflection and Application
Exodus 7:7 offers profound encouragement and a powerful challenge for believers in every stage of life. It dismantles the common misconception that one's usefulness to God diminishes with age or that significant ministry is reserved for the young and energetic. Instead, it vividly illustrates that God's calling is not bound by human calendars or physical prowess, but by His sovereign will and the willingness of His servants to obey. For those who feel past their prime, this verse is a beacon of hope, reminding them that their accumulated wisdom, experience, and resilience, forged over decades, are precisely what God might use for His glory. For younger believers, it teaches patience and trust in God's long-term preparation, reminding them that every season of life is a training ground for future service. Ultimately, this passage calls us to surrender our timelines and perceived limitations to God, trusting that He will equip us, at any age, for the unique purposes He has designed, demonstrating His power most clearly through our yieldedness.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why are the specific ages of Moses and Aaron mentioned in this verse?
The precise mention of Moses' age (80) and Aaron's age (83) serves several crucial purposes. Firstly, it underscores the historical veracity of the biblical narrative, providing a specific chronological marker for this pivotal event. Secondly, and more significantly, it highlights a profound theological truth: God's choice of leaders is not based on human criteria of youth, strength, or conventional capability. By selecting two octogenarians to confront the most powerful ruler of their time, God demonstrates His sovereignty and power to work through any instrument He chooses, regardless of perceived human limitations. Their advanced ages emphasize that their authority and success would come solely from divine appointment and equipping, rather than from their own physical vigor or political acumen. This detail powerfully illustrates that God prepares individuals over a lifetime for His purposes, and that He can use anyone, at any stage of life, to accomplish His mighty works, as seen throughout biblical history, from Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17:17 to Simeon and Anna in Luke 2:25-38.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
While Exodus 7:7 primarily details the ages of Moses and Aaron at a crucial juncture, it profoundly foreshadows the person and work of Christ through its underlying themes of divine timing, chosen leadership, and God's power made perfect in seeming weakness. Moses, as God's appointed deliverer, stands as a significant type of Christ, sent at the precise moment in history to confront the spiritual "Pharaoh" of sin and death and lead His people to ultimate freedom. Just as Moses and Aaron were prepared over decades for their formidable mission, so too was Christ's entire life, culminating in His perfect obedience and sacrificial death, God's ultimate fulfillment of the promise of deliverance. The advanced age of Moses and Aaron highlights God's sovereignty over time and His ability to use unlikely instruments, a sovereignty perfectly embodied in Jesus, who, in God's perfect timing, "when the fullness of time had come" (Galatians 4:4), entered the world. He accomplished the greatest liberation from sin and death, not by human strength or political power, but through His divine power, perfect submission to the Father's will, and the ultimate act of self-giving love on the cross, echoing the principle that God's power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).