They said, “An Egyptian saved us from the shepherds, and what is more, he even drew water for us and watered the flock.”
Parallel translations
- WEB They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock.”
- KJV And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
- BSB “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,” they replied. “He even drew water for us and watered the flock.”
- NKJV And they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.”
- NLT “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,” they answered. “And then he drew water for us and watered our flocks.”
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 daughters explain that an Egyptian rescued them and watered the flock. Moses, dressed and appearing as an Egyptian, is recognized for his kindness.
Overview
That they call Moses an Egyptian shows how fully his upbringing marked him, even as he has chosen his people's God. Their account of his help leads to his welcome into the family. The detail underscores Moses' in-between identity, prepared in Egypt yet destined to lead Israel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Gen 50:11When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.
- Gen 29:10When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
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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 2:19 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
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