EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Exodus 14:12
12We said to you in Egypt, “Leave us alone. Let us work for the Egyptians.” It would have been better for us to be their slaves than to die here in the desert!’
Exodus 14:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”
Context of Exodus 14:12
10When Pharaoh came nearer, the Israelites looked up. They saw that the Egyptian army had followed them. The Israelites became very afraid. They called loudly to the Lord to help them. 11They said to Moses, ‘Why have you brought us here, to die in the desert? Surely there were enough places in Egypt to bury dead people! You should never have brought us out of Egypt! We said to you in Egypt, “Leave us alone. Let us work for the Egyptians.” It would have been better for us to be their slaves than to die here in the desert!’ 13Then Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid! Be brave! You will see how the Lord will save you today. Look at the Egyptians over there. You will never see them again! 14The Lord will fight for you. You will only have to watch.’
Read all of Exodus 14Exodus 14:12 word by word
הֲלֹא־זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁר֩ דִּבַּ֨רְנוּ אֵלֶ֤יךָ בְמִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר חֲדַ֥ל מִמֶּ֖נּוּ וְנַֽעַבְדָ֣ה אֶת־מִצְרָ֑יִם כִּ֣י ט֥וֹב לָ֙נוּ֙ עֲבֹ֣ד אֶת־מִצְרַ֔יִם מִמֻּתֵ֖נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- not this the wordדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
- that we did tellדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- thee in Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Let us aloneחָדַלchâdal · to ceaseH2308
- that we may serveעָבַד‛âbad · to serveH5647
- the Egyptiansמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
- betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- than that we should dieמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- in the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
Cross-references for Exodus 14:12
- Exodus 5:21The work leaders said to Moses and Aaron, ‘We hope that the Lord will punish you! You have made us like a bad smell to Pharaoh and to his officers. You have given them a reason to kill us.’
- Exodus 3:9Yes, I have heard that my Israelite people are crying for help. I have seen that the Egyptians do bad things to hurt them.
- Hosea 4:17The people of Israel enjoy their idols. Do not go near them!
- Mark 1:24He said, ‘Jesus from Nazareth, leave us alone! Do not kill us! I know who you are. You are the Holy One and God has sent you.’
- Mark 5:7He screamed loudly, ‘Jesus, you are the Son of the Most High God! What are you doing here? Please, promise God that you will not hurt me.’
- Jonah 4:3Lord, please kill me now! I would rather die than continue to live.’
Commentaries on Exodus 14:12
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Let us alone - This is a gross exaggeration, yet not without a semblance of truth: for although the Israelites welcomed the message of Moses at first, they gave way completely at the first serious trial. See the reference in the margin. The whole passage foreshadows the conduct of the people in the wilderness.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-14Verses 10-14 There was no way open to Israel but upward, and thence their deliverance came. We may be in the way of duty, following God, and hastening toward heaven, yet may be troubled on every side. Some cried out unto the Lord; their fear led them to pray, and that was well. God brings us into straits, that he may bring us to our knees. Others cried out against Moses; fear set them murmuring as if God were not still able to work miracles. They quarrel…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-12This 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…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-312. Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp--The Israelites had now completed their three days' journey, and at Etham the decisive step would have to be taken whether they would celebrate their intended feast and return, or march onwards by the head of the Red Sea into the desert, with a view to a final departure. They were already on the borders of the desert, and a short march would have placed them beyond the reach of pursuit, as…Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 14:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 14
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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