Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now the time that the children of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred thirty years.
- BSB Now the duration of the Israelites’ stay in Egypt was 430 years.
- NKJV Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.
- NASB Now the time that the sons of Israel had lived in Egypt was 430 years.
- NLT The people of Israel had lived in Egypt for 430 years.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Israelites had lived in Egypt four hundred thirty years.
Overview
This verse marks the length of Israel's sojourn, fulfilling God's word to Abraham about a long affliction followed by deliverance (Genesis 15:13). The precise figure shows that God's timetable, though long, is exact and faithful. Faithful interpreters differ on whether the 430 years cover the whole sojourn from Abraham or specifically the Egyptian residence; either way, the verse testifies to God's reliability across the generations.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Gen 15:13And 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;
- Acts 7:6And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
- Acts 13:17The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.
- Gal 3:16–17Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
- Heb 11:9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
- Gen 12:1–3Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 12:40 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.