God’s Word Translation
Exodus 13:17
17When Pharaoh let the people go, God didn’t lead them on the road through Philistine territory, although that was the shortest route. God said, “If they see that they have to fight a war, they may change their minds and go back to Egypt.”
Exodus 13:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
- New International Version (NIV)When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, "Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”
Context of Exodus 13:17
15When Pharaoh was too stubborn to let us go, the Lord killed every firstborn male in Egypt—human and animal. This is why we sacrifice every firstborn male to the Lord and buy every firstborn son back from the Lord.’ 16So this ⌞festival⌟ will be ⌞like⌟ a mark on your hand and ⌞like⌟ a band on your forehead, because the Lord used his mighty hand to bring us out of Egypt.” When Pharaoh let the people go, God didn’t lead them on the road through Philistine territory, although that was the shortest route. God said, “If they see that they have to fight a war, they may change their minds and go back to Egypt.” 18So God led the people around the other way, on the road through the desert toward the Red Sea. The Israelites were ready for battle when they left Egypt. 19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because Joseph had made the Israelites solemnly swear to do this. Joseph had said, “God will definitely come to help you. When he does, take my bones with you.”
Read all of Exodus 13Exodus 13:17 word by word
וַיְהִ֗י בְּשַׁלַּ֣ח פַּרְעֹה֮ אֶת־הָעָם֒ וְלֹא־נָחָ֣ם אֱלֹהִ֗ים דֶּ֚רֶךְ אֶ֣רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים כִּ֥י קָר֖וֹב ה֑וּא כִּ֣י׀ אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֗ים פֶּֽן־יִנָּחֵ֥ם הָעָ֛ם בִּרְאֹתָ֥ם מִלְחָמָ֖ה וְשָׁ֥בוּ מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it came to pass, when Pharaohפַּרְעֹהpar‛ôh · PharaohH6547
- had let the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- goשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: let goH7971
- that Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- ledנָחָהnâchâh · to leadH5148
- the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: roadH1870
- of the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
- althoughכִּיkîy · forH3588
- nearקָרֹבqârôb qârôb · nearH7138
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- repentנָחַםnâcham · to be sorry: relentH5162
- when they seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- warמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
- and they returnשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- to Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
Cross-references for Exodus 13:17
- Exodus 14:11They said to Moses, “Did you bring us out into the desert to die because there were no graves in Egypt? Look what you’ve done by bringing us out of Egypt!
- Numbers 14:1Then all the people in the Israelite community raised their voices and cried out loud all that night.
- Deuteronomy 20:8The officers should also tell the troops, “If you are afraid or have lost your courage, you may go home. Then you won’t ruin the morale of the other Israelites.”
- Judges 7:3Announce to the troops, ‘Whoever is scared or frightened should leave Mount Gilead and go back home.’ ” So 22,000 men went back home, and 10,000 were left.
- 1 Kings 8:47If they come to their senses, are sorry for what they’ve done, and plead with you in the land where they are captives, saying, ‘We have sinned. We have done wrong. We have been wicked,’
- Luke 14:27So those who do not carry their crosses and follow me cannot be my disciples.
- Acts 15:38However, Paul didn’t think it was right to take a person like him along. John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to work.
- Exodus 16:2In the desert the whole community complained about Moses and Aaron.
- Deuteronomy 17:16The king must never own a large number of horses or make the people return to Egypt to get more horses. The Lord has told you, “You will never go back there again.”
- Nehemiah 9:17They refused to listen. They forgot the miracles you performed for them. They became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to slavery ⌞in Egypt⌟. But you are a forgiving God, one who is compassionate, merciful, patient, and always ready to forgive. You never abandoned them,
- Acts 7:39but our ancestors were not willing to obey him. Instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt.
Commentaries on Exodus 13:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, etc. - Had the Israelites been obliged to commence their journey to the promised land by a military campaign, there is little room to doubt that they would have been discouraged, have rebelled against Moses and Aaron, and have returned back to Egypt. Their long slavery had so degraded their minds that they were incapable of any great or noble exertions; and it is only on the ground of this…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-20Verses 17-20 There were two ways from Egypt to Canaan. One was only a few days' journey; the other was much further about, through the wilderness, and that was the way in which God chose to lead his people Israel. The Egyptians were to be drowned in the Red sea; the Israelites were to be humbled and proved in the wilderness. God's way is the right way, though it seems about. If we think he leads not his people the nearest way, yet we may be sure he leads…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-18If the people face war: The Israelites had not yet seen God fight on their behalf. Even though they left Egypt like an army ready for battle (13:18; see also 12:51), it was only an appearance. Until they experienced the Lord as fighting for them (14:14) in the crossing of the sea, they were not ready to face enemies in the promised land.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-2117. God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near, &c.--The shortest and most direct route from Egypt to Palestine was the usual caravan road that leads by Belbeis, El-Arish, to Ascalon and Gaza. The Philistines, who then possessed the latter, would have been sure to dispute their passage, for between them and the Israelites there was a hereditary feud (1Ch 7:21, 22); and so early a commencement of hostilities…Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 13:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 13
- 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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