English Standard Version
Exodus 3:7
7Then the Lord said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings,
Exodus 3:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
- New International Version (NIV)The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.
Context of Exodus 3:7
5Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." 6And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the Lord said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
Read all of Exodus 3Exodus 3:7 word by word
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה רָאֹ֥ה רָאִ֛יתִי אֶת־עֳנִ֥י עַמִּ֖י אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וְאֶת־צַעֲקָתָ֤ם שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י נֹֽגְשָׂ֔יו כִּ֥י יָדַ֖עְתִּי אֶת־מַכְאֹבָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- I have surelyרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- the afflictionעֳנִי‛ŏnîy · afflictionH6040
- of my peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- in Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
- and have heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- their cryצְעָקָהtsa‛ăqâh · cryH6818
- by reasonפָּנֶהpânîym · face: becauseH6440
- of their taskmastersנָגַשׂnâgaώ · to oppressH5065
- for I knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- their sorrowsמַכְאוֹבmak'ôb mak'ôb mak'ôbâh · painH4341
Cross-references for Exodus 3:7
- Exodus 2:23During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.
- Exodus 22:23If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry,
- Genesis 29:32And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, "Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me."
- 1 Samuel 9:16"Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me."
- Psalms 22:24For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.
- Psalms 34:4I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
- Psalms 106:44Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry.
- Psalms 145:19He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.
- Isaiah 63:9In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
- Hebrews 4:15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
- Exodus 1:11Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.
- Genesis 18:21I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know."
- Psalms 142:3When my spirit faints within me, you know my way! In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.
Commentaries on Exodus 3:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7I have surely seen - ראיתי ראה raoh raithi, seeing, I have seen - I have not only seen the afflictions of this people because I am omniscient, but I have considered their sorrows, and my eye affects my heart.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Taskmasters - Oppressors. A different word from that in Exodus 1:11. I know - The expression implies personal feeling, tenderness, and compassion (compare Exodus 2:25 margin).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 God notices the afflictions of Israel. Their sorrows; even the secret sorrows of God's people are known to him. Their cry; God hears the cries of his afflicted people. The oppression they endured; the highest and greatest of their oppressors are not above him. God promises speedy deliverance by methods out of the common ways of providence. Those whom God, by his grace, delivers out of a spiritual Egypt, he will bring to a heavenly Canaan. (Ex…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7God felt compassion for the ongoing slavery and suffering of Israel.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-86-8. I am the God ... come down to deliver--The reverential awe of Moses must have been relieved by the divine Speaker (see Mt 22:32), announcing Himself in His covenant character, and by the welcome intelligence communicated. Moreover, the time, as well as all the circumstances of this miraculous appearance, were such as to give him an illustrious display of God's faithfulness to His promises. The period of Israel's journey and affliction in Egypt had…Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 3:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 3
- 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
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