Bible/Exodus/5

Exodus 5:2

5:1 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.
And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

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Pharaoh said, “Who is Yahweh, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don’t know Yahweh, and moreover I will not let Israel go.”

And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

5:3 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.

What does Exodus 5:2 mean?

Exodus 5:2 is a verse in the book of Exodus, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh), אָמַר (ʼâmar), יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh). It connects to 14 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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And
PharaohפַּרְעֹהParʻôh/par-o'/H6547Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings
said,אָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)
Who
is
the
LORD,יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
that
I
should
obeyשָׁמַעshâmaʻ/shaw-mah'/H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
his
voiceקוֹלqôwl/kole/H6963a voice or sound
to
let
IsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלYisrâʼêl/yis-raw-ale'/H3478Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
go?שָׁלַחshâlach/shaw-lakh'/H7971to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
I
knowיָדַעyâdaʻ/yaw-dah'/H3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)
not
the
LORD,יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
neither
will
I
let
IsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלYisrâʼêl/yis-raw-ale'/H3478Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
go.שָׁלַחshâlach/shaw-lakh'/H7971to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

Commentary on Exodus 5:2

HENRY_FULL · Exodus 5:2
Moses and Aaron are here dealing with Pharaoh, to get leave of him to go and worship in the wilderness. I. They demand leave in the name of God ( ver. 1 ), and he answers their demand with a defiance of God, ver. 2 . II. They beg leave in the name of Israel ( ver. 3 ), and he answers their request with further orders to oppress Israel, ver. 4-9 . These cruel orders were, 1. Executed by the task-masters, ver. 10-14 . 2. Complained of to Pharaoh, but in vain, ver. 15-19 . 3. Complained of by the people to Moses ver. 20, 21 ), and by him to God, ver. 22, 23 .

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 3:19

And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. no: or, but by strong hand

1 Samuel 2:12

Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.

2 Kings 18:35

Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?

2 Chronicles 32:15

Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?

2 Chronicles 32:19

And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.

Job 21:15

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

Psalms 10:4

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. God is: or, all his thoughts are, There is no God

Psalms 12:4

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? are: Heb. are with us

Psalms 14:1

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Jeremiah 44:16

As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.

Jeremiah 44:17

But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. queen: or, frame of heaven victuals: Heb. bread

John 16:3

And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Romans 1:28

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; to retain: or, to acknowledge a reprobate: or, a mind void of judgment or, an unapproving mind

2 Thessalonians 1:8

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: taking: or, yielding

Topics

EgyptObedience to GodPresumptionRebellion Against GodSkepticism

Frequently asked questions

What does Exodus 5:2 say?

Exodus 5:2 (King James Version) reads: "And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go."

Is Exodus 5:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Exodus 5:2 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Exodus.

Reflect

As you read Exodus 5:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Exodus 5:2
5:1Read all of Exodus 55:3