Exodus 4:22
20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and headed back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.
21 The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.
Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,
23 and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’”
24 Now at a lodging place along the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,
- KJV
- And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
- WEB
- You shall tell Pharaoh, ‘The LORD says, Israel is my son, my firstborn,
- ASV
- And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith Jehovah, Israel is my son, my first-born:
- DARBY
- And thou shalt say to Pharaoh, Thus saith Jehovah: Israel is my son, my firstborn.
- BLB
- And you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says YHWH: My son, My firstborn [is] Israel.
- ÅB
- Da skal du si til Farao: Så sier Herren: Min sønn, min førstefødte, er Israel,
- OTB
- Da skal du si til farao: ‘Dette sier Herren: Israel er min førstefødte sønn,
- B1930
- Da skal du si til Farao: Så sier Herren: Min sønn, min førstefødte, er Israel,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Hosea 11:1
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.
Read in contextRomans 9:4
the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.
Read in contextJeremiah 31:9
They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.”
Read in contextHebrews 12:23
in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
Read in contextDeuteronomy 14:1
You are sons of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead,
Read in contextExodus 19:5–6
Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.
Read in contextIsaiah 64:8
But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.
Read in contextIsaiah 63:16
Yet You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.
Read in context