Exodus 3:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go.

NIV: So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.

NASB: So I will reach out with My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go.

CSB: But when I stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my miracles that I will perform in it, after that, he will let you go.

NLT: So I will raise my hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at last he will let you go.

KJV: And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.

NKJV: So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go.

God has just delivered a message to Moses, which is to be given to the elders of Israel. Part of the message is a command to confront Egypt's king—the Pharaoh—and request a three-day leave for the Hebrews to worship God. This request, says God, will be refused, since Egypt will never relax its grip on their slaves without coercion.

In response, and to free Israel, God says He will "stretch out [His] hand" against the nation of Egypt. This was a common way for Moses to describe God's judgment (Exodus 7:5). This phrase is used often in the Old Testament, even outside of the books of Moses (Jeremiah 6:12; 51:25; Ezekiel 6:14; 14:9, 13; 25:13, 16; 35:3; Zephaniah 1:4). The idea of "striking" in judgment also recurs in Exodus. God "strikes" the Nile to turn it to blood (Exodus 7:17). He instructs Aaron to "strike the dust" to send gnats into the land of Egypt (Exodus 8:16). God also "strikes" the firstborn sons and animals in the tenth plague (Exodus 12:12, 13, 23 twice).

God refers to His upcoming plagues as "wonders." He later mentions "signs and wonders" in Exodus 7:3. God talks about His "wonders" being multiplied in Exodus 11:9, and Exodus 11:10 talks about Moses and Aaron performing "wonders" before Pharaoh. In Exodus 15:11 Moses and the people praise God for His "wonders.". Moses again returns to the theme of "wonders" in Deuteronomy, mentioning God's many wonders on six occasions (Deuteronomy 4:34; 6:22; 7:19; 26:8; 29:3; 34:11). These wonders would continue in the life of Israel in Joshua's time (Joshua 3:5), and God's many wonders would be praised throughout Scripture (Psalm 77:11, 14; 78:4, 11, 12).

As in the Gospel of John, the purpose of these miracles is to prove God's message, and His messenger, are true (John 20:30–31).

Exodus 3:20–22 summarizes the plan God has for liberating Israel. In response to Pharaoh's hardness of heart, God will ''strike'' Egypt using miracles that will leave no doubt that He is the One True God. This will not only convince Pharaoh to release the Hebrews, it will encourage the Egyptians to hand over much of their wealth to Israel, in order to speed their departure. The details of these wonders, and the fulfillment of these promises, will be given in the following chapters.

Moses is tending sheep for his father-in-law when he sees a miraculous sight: a bush which is on fire, but not burnt up. From this fire, God speaks to Moses, appointing him as the leader of the nation of Israel, whom God intends to free from Egyptian slavery. God identifies Himself in this passage using the famous terminology ''I AM.'' Despite Moses' fears and doubts, God gives him a message to take to the elders of Israel, and eventually to Pharaoh himself.

Prior chapters in Exodus explained how the descendants of Abraham became a nation which was populous, but enslaved, in the land of Egypt. Exodus 3 describes the moment when God calls Moses to lead Israel out of slavery. This is accomplished through the miracle of the burning bush. The beginning of this dialogue between God and Moses includes messages for both Israel and Pharaoh, and will continue into chapter 4.

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.