Exodus 11:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh 's servants and in the sight of the people.

NIV: (The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.)

NASB: And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Furthermore, the man Moses himself was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt, both in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.

CSB: The Lord gave the people favor with the Egyptians. In addition, Moses himself was very highly regarded in the land of Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and the people.

NLT: (Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel. And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptian people alike.)

KJV: And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.

NKJV: And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.

Egypt has been battered by nine intense catastrophes (Exodus 7:21; 8:6, 17, 24; 9:6, 10, 24; 10:14, 23). These were brought on because their king, Pharaoh, refused repeated commands to release Hebrew slaves (Exodus 5:1; 7:16; 8:1, 21; 9:1, 13; 10:3). The disasters made a strong impression on the Egyptian people. The plagues have directly defied the powers of Egypt's false gods. They have called the Pharaoh's judgment into question (Exodus 8:19; 10:7). By now, the Hebrew people, their spokesman, and their God would have inspired a sense of fear and awe.

This dread will add great success to an upcoming command from God. Moses will leave the presence of Pharaoh (Exodus 10:28–29; 11:8) to give Israel a task. They are to ask Egyptians for jewelry (Exodus 11:1–2). When the people leave Egypt, this will give them easily-carried wealth to take on the journey (Exodus 12:35–36).

After explaining this instruction, the text will record Moses' final warning as spoken to Pharaoh (Exodus 10:28–29; 11:8).

Exodus 11:1–3 describes what Moses is to do once he leaves Pharaoh to speak with the Israelite people. There will be one final supernatural disaster against Egypt. This will do more than convince Pharaoh to release the people: the Egyptians will demand that the Hebrews leave. The Israelites are also to ask Egyptians for jewelry. They will do so with great success (Exodus 12:35–36). Moses' growing reputation partly explains the Egyptian response.

Immediately after being threatened by Pharaoh (Exodus 10:28–29), Moses is given more instructions from the Lord. He is to instruct the Israelites to ask Egyptians for jewelry. Recent events will have intimidated them enough to be generous. God also tells Moses to predict the last and worst plague: the death off all Egyptian firstborn. This will be the most terrible disaster of Egypt's entire history. It will also lead directly to Israelite freedom. Moses expresses this grim promise in furious anger but is reassured by God that this is all part of an expected plan.

Since the Lord sent Moses back into Egypt (Exodus 3—4), Pharoah has refused multiple commands to release the Hebrew slaves. This has brought nine epic disasters to his nation (Exodus 5—10). Most recently, Pharaoh has threatened to kill Moses if these discussions continue (Exodus 10:28–29). Moses hears instructions from the Lord which include a prediction about the last, and worst, of the plagues of Egypt. In the following chapter, God will establish the Passover and free the Israelites as Egypt mourns catastrophic losses (Exodus 12).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.