Exodus 14:12

Translations

Modern

Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Traditional

Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

Literal

Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone, and we will serve Egypt.’? For it is better for us to serve Egypt than to die in the wilderness.”

Latin

…nonne iste est sermo, quem loquebamur ad te in Ægypto, dicentes: Recede a nobis, ut serviamus Ægyptiis? multo enim melius erat servire eis, quam mori in solitudine.

Original

Hebrew

English

Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Notes

Exodus 14:10–12

This complaint is the first of many that would follow during the next 40 years. Instead of trusting the God who had shown his great power, the Israelites turned against the one who had rescued them.

Their response shows a deeper problem. An unsurrendered heart (a person’s inner attitude, will, or decision-making center) prefers safety over trust.

In simple terms, their attitude was this: “It is better to return to the security of slavery than to face the risk of trusting God.”

Exodus 14:5–14

Pharaoh and his officials did not truly repent. Once the immediate fear faded, they focused on their own interests and they determined to recapture their slave labor.

Theme notes and profiles

Egypt Moses Pharaoh Fearing People The Cross and Passover

Events

Wilderness Wanderings

Related verses

Jonah 4:3
And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
Jonah 4:8
As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint and wished to die, saying, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
Exodus 6:9
Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but on account of their broken spirit and cruel bondage, they did not listen to him.
Exodus 3:9
And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them.
Exodus 5:21
“May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!”
Mark 5:17–18
And the people began to beg Jesus to leave their region.
Mark 1:24
“What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
Hosea 4:17
Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!
Mark 5:7
And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!”

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Book of Exodus Chronology of the Bible (New Testament) Deuteronomy, Book of Hardness of Heart Miracle Red Sea

Topics

Doubting: Exemplified Egypt: Israel in Pharaoh Pursues Israel and is Miraculously Destroyed Egypt: The Country of: Army of Destroyed in the Red Sea Egyptians: Pursue Israelites, and the Army of, Destroyed Infidelity: General Scriptures Concerning Israel: Pursued by the Egyptians Murmuring: Israelites Prayer: Answered: from Pharaoh's Army Presumption: General Scriptures Concerning Select Readings: The Deliverance of the Israelites from Pharaoh Servant: Bond: Degrading Influences of Bondage Exemplified by Cowardice Trouble: Israelites at the Red Sea Uncharitableness: Charging Him with Bringing Them out of Egypt to Die

Exodus 14:12

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