Bible Strands
Exodus 2:14
But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done has surely become known.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The unnamed Hebrew man confronts Moses after Moses killed an Egyptian and intervened in a Hebrew dispute. Moses is speaking to the Israelite he tried to defend, who rejects his authority and exposes his hidden crime.
The words — The man asks מִי (mi) שָׂמְךָ לְאִישׁ שַׂר וְשֹׁפֵט עָלֵינוּ, literally "Who appointed you a chief and judge over us?" He also uses הַלְהָרְגֵנִי, "will you kill me," to link Moses' current threat to the Egyptian's death.
The thread — The challenge to unauthorized judgment echoes in Luke 12:14 and Matthew 21:23, where religious figures question Jesus' authority. The rejection of Moses' foreign intervention parallels the hostility in Genesis 19:9.
Why it lands — The verse forces recognition that human intervention without divine commission breeds fear and exposure. It demands readers examine whether their actions stem from appointed authority or personal ambition.
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
King James Version
And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.
Cross-references
- Luke 12:14 But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”
- Matthew 21:23 When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”
- Genesis 19:9 “Get out of the way!” they replied. And they declared, “This one came here as a foreigner, and he is already acting like a judge! Now we will treat you worse than them.” And they pressed in on Lot and moved in to break down the door.
- Genesis 37:19 “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to one another.
- Psalms 2:2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:
- Luke 19:14 But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’
- Genesis 13:8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are kinsmen.
- Numbers 16:3 They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have taken too much upon yourselves! For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”
- Numbers 16:13 Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also appoint yourself as ruler over us?
- Proverbs 19:12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.