New English Translation
Exodus 3:7
7The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt. I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
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, “Do not approach any closer! Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6He added, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt. I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a land that is both good and spacious, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the region of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 9And now indeed the cry of the Israelites has come to me, and I have also seen how severely 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 that long period of time the king of Egypt died, and the Israelites groaned because of the slave labor. They cried out, and their desperate cry because of their slave labor went up to God.
- Exodus 22:23If you afflict them in any way and they cry to me, I will surely hear their cry,
- Genesis 29:32So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has looked with pity on my oppressed condition. Surely my husband will love me now.”
- 1 Samuel 9:16“At this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin. You must consecrate him as a leader over my people Israel. He will save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked with favor on my people. Their cry has reached me!”
- Psalms 22:24For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed; he did not ignore him; when he cried out to him, he responded.
- Psalms 34:4I sought the Lord’s help and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
- Psalms 106:44Yet he took notice of their distress, when he heard their cry for help.
- Psalms 145:19He satisfies the desire of his loyal followers; he hears their cry for help and delivers them.
- Isaiah 63:9Through all that they suffered, he suffered too. The messenger sent from his very presence delivered them. In his love and mercy he protected them; he lifted them up and carried them throughout ancient times.
- Hebrews 4:15For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.
- Exodus 1:11So they put foremen over the Israelites to oppress them with hard labor. As a result they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.
- Genesis 18:21that I must go down and see if they are as wicked as the outcry suggests. If not, I want to know.”
- Psalms 142:3Even when my strength leaves me, you watch my footsteps. 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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