Exodus 2:12

Exodus 2:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
• New Living Translation (NLT)After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand.

Context of Exodus 2:12

10When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.” 11One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?” 14The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.”

Exodus 2:12 word by word

וַיִּ֤פֶן כֹּה֙ וָכֹ֔ה וַיַּ֖רְא כִּ֣י אֵ֣ין אִ֑ישׁ וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־הַמִּצְרִ֔י וַֽיִּטְמְנֵ֖הוּ בַּחֽוֹל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he lookedפָּנָהpânâh · to turnH6437
• this wayכֹּהkôh · thusH3541
• and when he sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• no manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• he slewנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• the Egyptianמִצְרִיmitsrîy · EgyptianH4713
• and hidטָמַןţâman · to hideH2934
• him in the sandחוֹלchôl · sandH2344

Cross-references for Exodus 2:12

• Acts 7:24He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian.

Commentaries on Exodus 2:12

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12The slaying of the Egyptian is not to be justified, or attributed to a divine inspiration, but it is to be judged with reference to the provocation, the impetuosity of Moses‘ natural character, perhaps also to the habits developed by his training at the court of Pharaoh. The act involved a complete severance from the Egyptians, but, far from expediting, it delayed for many years the deliverance of the Israelites. Forty years of a very different training…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-15Verses 11-15 Moses boldly owned the cause of God's people. It is plain from He 11. that this was done in faith, with the full purpose of leaving the honours, wealth, and pleasures of his rank among the Egyptians. By the grace of God he was a partaker of faith in Christ, which overcomes the world. He was willing, not only to risk all, but to suffer for his sake; being assured that Israel were the people of God. By special warrant from Heaven, which makes…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-12Moses grew up with many advantages. He lived in comfort, unlike his own people, the Hebrews, who suffered hard labor and pain. Even so, Moses chose to identify with them. He decided to stand with his people. He was willing to risk his position and comfort in order to help them.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand--This act of Moses may seem and indeed by some has been condemned as rash and unjustifiable--in plain terms, a deed of assassination. But we must not judge of his action in such a country and age by the standard of law and the notions of right which prevail in our Christian land; and, besides, not only is it not spoken of as a crime in Scripture or as distressing the perpetrator with remorse, but according…Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 2:12

• Homicide
• Moses
• Rashness
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Egyptian
• Egypt, Egyptian
• Herself
• Son
• Soon
• Exodus, the Book of
• Genesis
• Leviticus
• Moses

Commentaries on Exodus 2

• 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