Exodus 4:23

Exodus 4:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
• New International Version (NIV)and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’ ”
• New King James Version (NKJV)So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ”
• New Living Translation (NLT)I commanded you, “Let my son go, so he can worship me.” But since you have refused, I will now kill your firstborn son!’”

Context of Exodus 4:23

21And the Lord said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, "Let my son go that he may serve me." If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.'" 24At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. 25Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!"

Exodus 4:23 word by word

וָאֹמַ֣ר אֵלֶ֗יךָ שַׁלַּ֤ח אֶת־בְּנִי֙ וְיַֽעַבְדֵ֔נִי וַתְּמָאֵ֖ן לְשַׁלְּח֑וֹ הִנֵּה֙ אָנֹכִ֣י הֹרֵ֔ג אֶת־בִּנְךָ֖ בְּכֹרֶֽךָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And I sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto thee, Let my sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• goשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: let goH7971
• that he may serveעָבַד‛âbad · to serve: ministerH5647
• me: and if thou refuseמָאֵןmâ'ên · to refuseH3985
• behold, I will slayהָרַגhârag · to killH2026
• thy firstbornבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060

Cross-references for Exodus 4:23

• Exodus 11:5and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle.
• Exodus 12:29At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock.
• Psalms 78:51He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
• Psalms 105:36He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.
• Psalms 135:8He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast;

Commentaries on Exodus 4:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Let my son go, that he may serve me - Which they could not do in Goshen, consistently with the policy and religious worship of the Egyptians; because the most essential part of an Israelite's worship consisted in sacrifice, and the animals which they offered to God were sacred among the Egyptians. Moses gives Pharaoh this reason Exodus 8:26. I will slay thy son, even thy first-born - Which, on Pharaoh's utter refusal to let the people go, was accordingly…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 4:23

• Adoption
• Moses

In the dictionaries

• Bosom
• Dead
• Leprous
• Slow
• Spokesman
• Egypt
• Exodus, the
• Exodus, the Book of
• Genesis
• Leviticus

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