Exodus 5:2

Translations

Modern

But 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.”

Traditional

And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

Literal

And Pharaoh said, “Who is YHWH, that I should listen to His voice to send out Israel? I do not know YHWH, and moreover Israel I will not send out.”

Latin

At ille respondit: Quis est Dominus, ut audiam vocem ejus, et dimittam Israël? nescio Dominum, et Israël non dimittam.

Original

Hebrew

English

But 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.”

Notes

Exodus 5:2

Pharaoh quickly addressed the main issue. What god could be greater than Pharaoh? What god could make him do something against his will? This is a key question for all people. Is there anyone or anything more important than my own interests?

Exodus 5:1–14

Pharaoh not only rejected the request of Moses to release the Hebrew slaves, he also retaliated by making their work harder. The arrival of the rescuer had actually made the situation worse.

Exodus 4:29–7:7

In this section, the Lord promised to rescue the Israelites. He said that he would bring them out of slavery.

At first, the people responded in a positive way. They believed what God said. However, later they faced a crisis of faith. They began to doubt God’s promise and struggled to trust him.

Theme notes and profiles

Aaron Egypt Moses Pharaoh Suffering in Following God

Related verses

Exodus 3:19
But I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless a mighty hand compels him.
Job 21:15
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’
2 Kings 18:35
Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”
2 Thessalonians 1:8
…in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
Romans 1:28
Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
John 16:3
They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me.
Psalm 10:4
In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.
2 Chronicles 32:15
So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive you, and do not let him mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand!”
1 Samuel 2:12
Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD
2 Chronicles 32:19
They spoke against the God of Jerusalem as they had spoken against the gods of the peoples of the earth—the work of human hands.
Psalm 14:1
For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.
Psalm 12:4
They say, “With our tongues we will prevail. We own our lips—who can be our master?”

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Pharaoh: Egyptian Pharaoh during the Exodus

Glossary

Aaron Book of Exodus Deuteronomy, Book of God, Being and Attributes of

Topics

Blindness: Spiritual Disobedience to God of Pharaoh, in Refusing to Let the People of Israel Go Disobedience to God: Pharaoh Egypt: Israel in Pharaoh Increases Their Affliction Ignorance of God: Pharaoh Infidelity: General Scriptures Concerning Obedience to God: The Wicked Refuse Presumption: General Scriptures Concerning Rebellion Against God: Pharaoh Skepticism of Pharaoh

Exodus 5:2

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

People

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Related verses

Glossary

Topics