Exodus 3:19

But I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless a mighty hand compels him.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — God addresses Moses at the burning bush, responding to the proposed message the elders will deliver to Pharaoh. God states He knows the Egyptian king will refuse to release the Israelites without divine coercion.

The words — The Hebrew verb יָדַ֔עְתִּי (yaDa'ti) translates literally as "I know," establishing God's foreknowledge of Pharaoh's resistance. The phrase לֹֽא־יִתֵּ֥ן (lo-yitten) means "he will not permit," highlighting the king's initial refusal to let the people go.

The thread — This prediction of compelled release connects to Exodus 6:1, where God promises His mighty hand will force Pharaoh to let the people go, and Exodus 5:2, which records Pharaoh's initial defiance and refusal to acknowledge the LORD.

Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that human persuasion cannot overcome entrenched opposition without sovereign intervention. It requires the reader to trust that God's planned actions, not human arguments, will secure the release of His people.

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

וַאֲנִ֣יva./'a.Niand/ I יָדַ֔עְתִּיya.Da'.tiI know כִּ֠יkithat לֹֽא־lo'-not יִתֵּ֥ןyi.Tenhe will permit אֶתְכֶ֛ם'et./Khem<obj.>/ you מֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekh[the] king of מִצְרַ֖יִםmitz.Ra.yimEgypt לַהֲלֹ֑ךְla./ha.Lokhto/ go וְלֹ֖אve./Lo'and/ not בְּיָ֥דbe./Yadby/ a hand חֲזָקָֽה׃cha.za.Kahstrong

King James Version

And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

Cross-references

Exodus 5:2 But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”
Exodus 6:1 But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, for because of My mighty hand he will let the people go; because of My strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”
Exodus 7:1 The LORD answered Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.
Psalms 136:11 and brought Israel out from among them His loving devotion endures forever.
Isaiah 63:12 who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown,