Exodus 5:2 - Forerunner Commentary

Exodus 5:2

First Encounter with Pharaoh

1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may¹ hold ^aa feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ”

2 And Pharaoh said, ^a“Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, ^bnor will I let Israel go.”

3 So they said, ^a“The God of the Hebrews has ^bmet with us. Please, let us go three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest He fall upon us with ^cpestilence or with the sword.”

4 Then the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? Get back to your ^alabor.”

5 And Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are ^amany now, and you make them rest from their labor!”

Verse Comparison: Exodus 5:2

<< Exodus 5:1

Exodus 5:3 >>

American Standard Version
And Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah, that I should hearken unto his voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, and moreover I will not let Israel go.

Amplified® Bible
But Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

Contemporary English Version
"Who is this LORD and why should I obey him?" the king replied. "I refuse to let you and your people go!"

Darby English Version
And Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah, to whose voice I am to hearken to let Israel go? I do not know Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go.

Good News Bible
"Who is the LORD?" the king demanded. "Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD; and I will not let Israel go."

King James Version
And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

New American Standard Bible
But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go."

New International Version
Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go."

New King James Version
And Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.”

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
But Pharaoh said, "Who does this LORD consider Himself that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go."

Revised Standard Version
But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should heed his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover I will not let Israel go."

Young's Literal Translation
and Pharaoh saith, `Who `is' Jehovah, that I hearken to His voice, to send Israel away? I have not known Jehovah, and Israel also I do not send away.'

New English Translation
But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord¹ that² I should obey him³ by releasing⁴ Israel? I do not know the Lord,⁵ and I will not release Israel!”

<< Exodus 5:1

Exodus 5:3 >>