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Exodus 3:7

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¶ 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;

And the LORD {H3068} said {H559}, I have surely {H7200} seen {H7200} the affliction {H6040} of my people {H5971} which are in Egypt {H4714}, and have heard {H8085} their cry {H6818} by reason {H6440} of their taskmasters {H5065}; for I know {H3045} their sorrows {H4341};

ADONAI said, "I have seen how my people are being oppressed in Egypt and heard their cry for release from their slavemasters, because I know their pain.

The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings.

And Jehovah said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people that are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

Commentary

Exodus 3:7 marks a pivotal moment in biblical history, serving as God's direct declaration of His awareness and intent regarding the severe oppression of the Israelites in Egypt. This verse immediately follows God's initial appearance to Moses in the burning bush, setting the stage for the dramatic events of the Exodus.

Context

This divine declaration comes as Moses encounters the burning bush, a pivotal moment where God reveals His active intent to rescue the Israelites from their brutal Egyptian bondage and harsh taskmasters. For centuries, the descendants of Jacob had suffered under Pharaoh's hand, a period of affliction foretold by God to Abraham in Genesis 15:13. Exodus 3:7 is God's explicit verbalization of what was previously implied in Exodus 2:24-25: that He had indeed seen, heard, and known their plight.

Key Themes

  • Divine Awareness and Omniscience: God is not distant or unaware of human suffering. The phrase "I have surely seen" emphasizes His perfect and complete knowledge of their situation, down to the smallest detail of their affliction.
  • Divine Compassion and Empathy: God's declaration, "I know their sorrows," reveals a deep, intimate understanding and empathy for His people's pain. He is moved by their suffering, not indifferent to it.
  • God's Responsiveness to Cry: "Heard their cry" signifies that God is attentive to the prayers and desperate pleas of His oppressed people. This highlights His character as a God who listens and responds. This verse powerfully introduces God's character as one who is not distant or indifferent, but intimately involved in the affairs of humanity, particularly sensitive to the suffering of His people. It highlights His attentive ear to the cries of the oppressed.
  • Imminent Divine Intervention: This verse serves as the preamble to God's active intervention. His seeing, hearing, and knowing are not passive observations but precede His mighty acts of deliverance.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrasing in this verse carries significant weight:

  • "I have surely seen" (Hebrew: ra'oh ra'iti): This is an emphatic construction using the infinitive absolute before the finite verb, literally "seeing I have seen." It conveys absolute certainty and intensity. God didn't just glance; He observed with deep attention and certainty.
  • "Heard their cry" (Hebrew: shamati et tza'akatam): The word for "cry" (tza'akah) often refers to a desperate, urgent cry for help, particularly in situations of distress or injustice. It implies God's attentive listening and readiness to respond.
  • "I know their sorrows" (Hebrew: yadati et makh'ovam): The verb "know" (yada) in Hebrew often implies more than intellectual understanding. Here, it denotes an intimate, experiential knowledge and deep empathy, a profound familiarity with their pain and suffering.

Practical Application

For believers today, Exodus 3:7 serves as a profound assurance that God is neither unaware nor unconcerned about human suffering. Whether personal struggles, societal injustices, or global crises, God 'sees,' 'hears,' and 'knows.' This truth offers immense comfort and hope, reminding us that He is with us in our affliction and will ultimately bring about justice and deliverance. It encourages us to bring our burdens and cries to Him, knowing He is a God of compassion who responds to the plight of His people.

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

  • Psalms 145:19 (25 votes)

    He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

  • Psalms 106:44 (23 votes)

    Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:

  • Exodus 2:23 (19 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 (19 votes)

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

  • Psalms 34:6 (16 votes)

    This poor man cried, and the LORD heard [him], and saved him out of all his troubles.

  • Nehemiah 9:9 (14 votes)

    And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea;

  • Exodus 22:23 (14 votes)

    If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;