Bible Strands
Exodus 9:20
Those among Pharaoh’s officials who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their servants and livestock to shelter,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Moses delivers a divine warning to Pharaoh regarding the impending hailstorm, instructing him to secure all livestock and servants. Pharaoh’s officials respond to this warning by taking immediate action.
The words — The text highlights יָרֵא (yare), meaning "to fear," and הֵנִיס (henis), meaning "he made to flee" or "hurried." These terms describe officials who feared Yahweh's word and rushed to move their servants and livestock.
The thread — This pattern of fearing divine warning and acting accordingly appears in Proverbs 13:13 and Proverbs 22:3, which link respect for a command to reward and prudence to taking cover. Hebrews 11:7 connects this response to Noah’s godly fear in building the ark.
Why it lands — The verse demands a practical response to divine warning, contrasting immediate obedience with the fatal consequences of disregard. Readers are asked to recognize that fearing God’s word requires tangible action, not merely acknowledgment.
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
He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
Cross-references
- Proverbs 13:13 He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.
- Proverbs 22:3 The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
- Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
- Jonah 3:5 And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least.
- Mark 13:14 So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
- Proverbs 16:16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
- Proverbs 22:23 for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.