But I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless a mighty hand compels him.
Parallel translations
- WEB I know that the king of Egypt won’t give you permission to go, no, not by a mighty hand.
- KJV And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
- NKJV But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand.
- NASB But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion.
- NLT “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him.
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
God foretells that Pharaoh will refuse to let Israel go, even under a mighty hand. The hardness of Pharaoh is anticipated from the start.
Overview
God knows in advance Pharaoh's resistance, so the coming struggle is no surprise to Him. The reference to a mighty hand points to the powerful acts God will use to overcome that resistance. This shows God's sovereign foreknowledge and sets the stage for displaying His power against the proudest of kings.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Exod 5:2But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”
- Exod 6:1But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, for because of My mighty hand he will let the people go; because of My strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”
- Ps 136:11–12and brought Israel out from among them His loving devotion endures forever.
- Isa 63:12–13who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown,
- Exod 7:1–14The LORD answered Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.
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 3:19 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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