God’s Word Translation
Exodus 3:7
7The Lord said, “I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt, and I have heard them crying out because of the slave drivers. I know how much they’re suffering.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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,
- 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.
Context of Exodus 3:7
5God said, “Don’t come any closer! Take off your sandals because this place where you are standing is holy ground. 6I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. The Lord said, “I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt, and I have heard them crying out because of the slave drivers. I know how much they’re suffering. 8I have come to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good land with plenty of room ⌞for everyone⌟. It is a land flowing with milk and honey where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites live. 9I have heard the cry of the people of Israel. I have seen how the Egyptians are oppressing 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 2:23After a long time passed, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites still groaned because they were slaves. So they cried out, and their cries for help went up to God.
- Exodus 22:23If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure that I will hear their cry.
- Genesis 29:32Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben [Here’s My Son], because she said, “Certainly, the Lord has seen my misery; now my husband will love me!”
- 1 Samuel 9:16“About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the territory of Benjamin. Anoint him to be ruler of my people Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines because I’ve seen my people’s ⌞suffering⌟ and their cry has come to me.”
- Psalms 22:24The Lord has not despised or been disgusted with the plight of the oppressed one. He has not hidden his face from that person. The Lord heard when that oppressed person cried out to him for help.
- Psalms 34:4I went to the Lord for help. He answered me and rescued me from all my fears.
- Psalms 106:44He saw that they were suffering when he heard their cry for help.
- Psalms 145:19He fills the needs of those who fear him. He hears their cries for help and saves them.
- Isaiah 63:9In all their troubles he was troubled, and he was the Messenger who saved them. In his love and compassion he reclaimed them. He always held them and carried them in the past.
- Hebrews 4:15We have a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn’t sin.
- Exodus 1:11So the Egyptians put slave drivers in charge of them in order to oppress them through forced labor. They built Pithom and Rameses as supply cities for Pharaoh.
- Genesis 18:21I must go down and see whether these complaints are true. If not, I will know it.”
- Psalms 142:3When I begin to lose hope, you ⌞already⌟ know what I am experiencing. ⌞My enemies⌟ have hidden a trap for me on the path where I walk.
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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