Exodus 4:22

Exodus 4:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
• New International Version (NIV)Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.

Context of Exodus 4:22

20So 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. 21The 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, 23and 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!’” 24Now at a lodging place along the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him.

Exodus 4:22 word by word

וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה בְּנִ֥י בְכֹרִ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Read the interlinear

• Then tellאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Then tellאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• Pharaohפַּרְעֹהpar‛ôh · PharaohH6547
• this is whatכֹּהkôh · thusH3541
• the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• is My firstbornבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060
• sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121

Cross-references for Exodus 4:22

• Exodus 19:5Now 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.
• Deuteronomy 14:1You are sons of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead,
• Jeremiah 31:9They 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.”
• Hosea 11:1When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.
• Romans 9:4the 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.
• 2 Corinthians 6:18And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
• Hebrews 12:23in 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,
• James 1:18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.

Commentaries on Exodus 4:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22Israel is my son, even my firstborn - That is, The Hebrew people are unutterably dear to me.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22My firstborn - The expression would be perfectly intelligible to Pharaoh, whose official designation was “son of Ra.” In numberless inscriptions the Pharaohs are styled “own sons” or “beloved sons” of the deity. It is here applied for the first time to Israel; and as we learn from Exodus 4:23, emphatically in antithesis to Pharaoh‘s own firstborn.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-23Verses 18-23 After God had appeared in the bush, he often spake to Moses. Pharaoh had hardened his own heart against the groans and cries of the oppressed Israelites; and now God, in the way of righteous judgment, hardens his heart against the teaching of the miracles, and the terror of the plagues. But whether Pharaoh will hear, or whether he will forbear, Moses must tell him, Thus saith the Lord. He must demand a discharge for Israel, Let my son go; not…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-23These verses summarize the upcoming chapters. They start with the request to let the people go to worship God and end with the final plague, the death of the firstborn (5:3; 11:4–6). God was preparing the rescuer for the challenging task ahead (see 11:9).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-311. But, behold--Hebrew, "If," "perhaps," "they will not believe me."--What evidence can I produce of my divine mission? There was still a want of full confidence, not in the character and divine power of his employer, but in His presence and power always accompanying him. He insinuated that his communication might be rejected and he himself treated as an impostor.Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 4:22

• Adoption
• Birthright
• Firstborn
• God
• Moses
• Son

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Pharaoh
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Pharaoh, king of Egypt
• Adoption
• Bosom
• Dead
• Father
• Leprous

Commentaries on Exodus 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings