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Exodus 3:17

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And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

And I have said {H559}, I will bring {H5927} you up out of the affliction {H6040} of Egypt {H4714} unto the land {H776} of the Canaanites {H3669}, and the Hittites {H2850}, and the Amorites {H567}, and the Perizzites {H6522}, and the Hivites {H2340}, and the Jebusites {H2983}, unto a land {H776} flowing {H2100} with milk {H2461} and honey {H1706}.

and I have said that I will lead you up out of the misery of Egypt to the land of the Kena'ani, Hitti, Emori, P'rizi, Hivi and Y'vusi, to a land flowing with milk and honey."'

And I have promised to bring you up out of your affliction in Egypt, into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’

and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

Commentary

Commentary on Exodus 3:17

Exodus 3:17 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of the Israelite exodus, where God reiterates His divine plan to Moses at the burning bush. This declaration solidifies God's intent to deliver His people from bondage and fulfill ancient promises.

Context

This verse comes immediately after God introduces Himself as "I AM THAT I AM" (Exodus 3:14) and commissions Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt. Moses has expressed hesitation, and God is providing reassurance and detailing the glorious future awaiting His people. The preceding verses establish God's awareness of Israel's suffering and His decision to act on their behalf, a divine intervention prompted by their groaning under Egyptian oppression.

Key Themes

  • Divine Promise and Deliverance: God explicitly states His intention to "bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt." This highlights His active role as a deliverer and a covenant-keeping God. It's a promise of liberation from severe servitude and suffering.
  • The Promised Land: The verse identifies the destination as the land of various Canaanite tribes (Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites). This specificity underscores the historical and geographical reality of God's plan, which involved dispossessing existing inhabitants to make way for Israel.
  • Abundance and Blessing: The iconic phrase "a land flowing with milk and honey" is a rich metaphor for fertility, prosperity, and God's provision. It contrasts sharply with the harsh conditions of slavery in Egypt, symbolizing a future of peace and plenty under God's blessing. This phrase is a recurring motif throughout the Pentateuch, affirming the goodness of the inheritance God prepared, as seen in Numbers 14:8.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "flowing with milk and honey" (Hebrew: eretz zavat chalav u'devash) is a common biblical idiom. "Milk" signifies the abundance of dairy animals, and "honey" typically refers to date syrup or wild honey, both representing the richness of agricultural produce. It’s not just about sustenance, but about a land that naturally yields bountiful resources, a stark contrast to the forced labor and limited provisions in Egypt.

Practical Application

Exodus 3:17 offers timeless encouragement. It reminds us that God is deeply aware of the suffering of His people and orchestrates powerful deliverances. Just as He provided a specific destination and a clear promise for Israel, He has a plan and a purpose for believers today. This verse encourages faith in God's promises, even when facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It speaks to God's faithfulness to His covenant and His desire to lead His people into a place of blessing and rest, both physically and spiritually. It assures us that divine intervention can transform circumstances of affliction into futures of abundance.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 50:24 (4 votes)

    And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

  • Genesis 15:13 (4 votes)

    And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land [that is] not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

  • Genesis 15:21 (4 votes)

    And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

  • Exodus 2:23 (3 votes)

    ¶ 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.

  • Exodus 2:25 (3 votes)

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

  • Genesis 46:4 (3 votes)

    I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up [again]: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

  • Joshua 24:11 (3 votes)

    And ye went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.