Exodus 4:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son,

NIV: Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son,

NASB: Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: 'Israel is My son, My firstborn.

CSB: And you will say to Pharaoh: This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son.

NLT: Then you will tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son.

KJV: And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

NKJV: Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.

The Lord plans to send a message to the ruler of Egypt (Exodus 3:10; 4:21). God sees the nation of Israel as a first-born son. In that era, this was the most precious and important child (Psalm 89:27; Colossians 1:15). When Pharaoh holds on to the Israeli slaves, it will be an attempt to take that son away from the Lord. In response, Egypt will be punished with the death of their firstborn (Exodus 4:23).

Pharaoh will resist God's commands many times (Exodus 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7) before the Lord begins to amplify the stubbornness as a means of judgment (Exodus 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10). That plague of death on the firstborn will be the last of ten major catastrophes brought on Egypt (Exodus 3:20).

Exodus 4:18–26 includes a bizarre incident in the life of Moses. He plans to return to Egypt , to perform the signs given by God, and to challenge Egypt's Pharaoh to release Israel. On the way, Moses seems to fall deathly ill, at God's hand. Moses' wife circumcises one of their sons and transfers some meaning of the ceremony to Moses by touching his feet. This removes the danger, and Moses continues on towards Egypt.

While speaking with God in the form of a supernaturally burning bush, Moses expresses a lack of confidence. God gives Moses several miraculous signs so he can prove the source of his message. Moses is still unsure because of his poor speech. Though irritated, God appoints Moses' brother, Aaron, to be the spokesman while Moses relays the words of God. Moses returns to Egypt. Along the way, he nearly dies due to God's anger over some issue related to circumci-sion. After meeting his brother, Moses convinces the elders of Israel that his mission is genuine.

Moses, born an Israelite (Exodus 2:1) but raised by an Egyptian princess (Exodus 2:10) fled into exile after killing an abu-sive Egyptian taskmaster (Exodus 2:14–15). Later, Moses meets God (Exodus 3:6) and receives the initial command to challenge Pharaoh for the freedom of the Israelites (Exodus 3:18–20). In this chapter, Moses makes excuses about his public speaking and nearly dies because of an uncircumcised son. Israel's elders believe Moses' story. But in the next chapter, Moses' early confrontation with Pharaoh goes poorly; the people are worked even hard-er (Exodus 5:5–9) and they begin to turn against Moses (Exodus 5:20–21).

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.

Accessed 4/18/2025 12:28:18 PM