Exodus 12:33

And in order to send them out of the land quickly, the Egyptians urged the people on. “For otherwise,” they said, “we are all going to die!”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Egyptians urge the Israelites to depart immediately from the land following the final plague. This occurs in the moment after Pharaoh grants permission for the people to leave with their flocks and herds.

The words — The Hebrew verb וַתֶּחֱזַק (vatteḥezaq) literally means "it urged" or "it strengthened," describing the Egyptians pressing the Israelites to hurry. The infinitive לְמַהֵר (lemahēr) translates to "to hurry," underscoring the compelled speed of their exodus.

The thread — This compelled departure aligns with Psalm 105:38, which records Egypt's gladness at their leaving because the dread of Israel had fallen on them. The sudden exit fulfills the judgment pattern introduced in Exodus 11:1, where one final plague precedes release.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that fear, not generosity, drives the Egyptians to force the Israelites out. It requires the reader to observe how divine judgment operates through human panic to accomplish its stated purpose.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַתֶּחֱזַ֤קva./te.che.Zakand/ it urged מִצְרַ֙יִם֙mitz.Ra.yimEgypt עַל־'al-on הָעָ֔םha./'Amthe/ people לְמַהֵ֖רle./ma.Herto/ hurry לְשַׁלְּחָ֣םle./sha.le.Cha/mto/ send away/ them מִן־min-from הָאָ֑רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ land כִּ֥יkifor אָמְר֖וּ'a.me.Ruthey said כֻּלָּ֥נוּku.La./nuall of/ us מֵתִֽים׃me.Tim[are] about to die

King James Version

And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.

Cross-references

Psalms 105:38 Egypt was glad when they departed, for the dread of Israel had fallen on them.
Exodus 11:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring upon Pharaoh and Egypt one more plague. After that, he will allow you to leave this place. And when he lets you go, he will drive you out completely.
Genesis 20:3 One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
Numbers 17:12 Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost!