Exodus 10 2

Exodus 10:2 kjv

And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.

Exodus 10:2 nkjv

and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son's son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD."

Exodus 10:2 niv

that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD."

Exodus 10:2 esv

and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD."

Exodus 10:2 nlt

I've also done it so you can tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them ? and so you will know that I am the LORD."

Exodus 10 verses

Exodus 10 2 Meaning

Exodus 10:2 conveys the divine mandate for the Israelites to transmit the story of God's powerful judgments upon Egypt to their descendants. The purpose is two-fold: for future generations to learn directly about the Lord's mighty acts and for them to comprehend His unique identity and sovereignty as YHWH, thereby nurturing their faith and ensuring covenant loyalty through historical memory. This generational retelling serves as a cornerstone for knowing God and His redemptive character.

Exodus 10 2 Context

Exodus 10:2 occurs during the height of the plagues, specifically immediately before the eighth (locusts) and ninth (darkness) plagues are inflicted upon Egypt. The divine declaration highlights God's ongoing strategic purpose behind these escalating judgments. Pharaoh's heart remains hardened despite seven severe plagues, setting the stage for more powerful demonstrations of God's authority. From a broader Exodus perspective, this verse encapsulates a core theological principle of the entire narrative: God is not only delivering His people from slavery but actively revealing Himself—His character, power, and uniqueness—to Israel, Egypt, and all nations. Historically, ancient Near Eastern cultures often revered their own gods as powerful and attributed success to them; thus, God's systematic dismantling of Egyptian power and economy, specifically targeting aspects associated with Egyptian deities (e.g., the Nile god Hapi for blood, Re for darkness, general animal cults), served as a powerful polemic. Pharaoh himself was considered divine, and these plagues undermined his absolute authority, emphasizing that the God of Israel, YHWH, is supreme. This verse grounds the historical event in a covenantal framework, ensuring that the liberation serves not only as a past event but as an enduring testimony and a foundation for future generations' faith.

Exodus 10 2 Word analysis

• That you may tell (לְמַעַן תְּסַפֵּר - lema'an tĕsapper):
  • לְמַעַן (lema'an): A preposition meaning "in order that," "so that," indicating purpose or result. God explicitly states His reason.
  • תְּסַפֵּר (tĕsapper): From the verb סָפַר (sāphar), meaning "to count, to recount, to declare, to tell." It implies a thorough, detailed narration, a making known. This is not just a casual mention but a deliberate act of passing on history. It highlights the importance of oral tradition in transmitting faith in ancient Israel.
• In the hearing of your son (בְּאָזְנֵי בִנְךָ - bĕ'oznê vinkhā):
  • בְּאָזְנֵי (bĕ'oznê): "In the ears of," emphasizing that this is an audible, direct, and personal transmission. It stresses the active reception by the listener.
  • בִנְךָ (vinkhā): "Your son." Refers to direct descendants, underscoring parental responsibility for spiritual education.
• And of your grandson (וּבֶן בִּנְךָ - ūven binkhā):
  • וּבֶן בִּנְךָ (ūven binkhā): "And your son's son" or "your grandson." This extends the responsibility to multi-generational instruction, emphasizing the enduring nature of the divine command and the need for a continuous chain of tradition across ages. This is crucial for sustaining the covenant relationship with God.
• How I have dealt with Egypt (אֵת אֲשֶׁר הִתְעַלַּלְתִּי בְּמִצְרַיִם - 'ēt 'asher hit'alláltî bĕmitzrayim):
  • אֵת אֲשֶׁר ('ēt 'asher): "That which" or "how."
  • הִתְעַלַּלְתִּי (hit'alláltî): From the verb עָלַל ('alal), specifically the Hitpael stem. It's a powerful and significant word. While often translated as "dealt with," it carries connotations of "mocked," "abused," "dealt severely with," "played havoc with," "treated with contempt," or "made sport of." This strong verb underscores the absolute and devastating defeat God inflicted upon Egypt, revealing His supreme authority over Pharaoh and the Egyptian deities whom the plagues explicitly humiliated. This term implies divine derision and complete subjugation of their gods.
  • בְּמִצְרַיִם (bĕmitzrayim): "With Egypt." Egypt represents not only a nation but a system of pagan idolatry and oppressive power directly opposed to God's people and His sovereignty.
• And My signs (וְאֶת אֹתֹתַי - vĕ'et 'otōtāy):
  • אֹתֹתַי ('otōtāy): "My signs" or "My wonders." These are not merely impressive acts but divinely purposed manifestations intended to communicate truth about God. They served as undeniable proofs of His presence and power. They are evidences of His miraculous intervention in human history.
• Which I have done among them (אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי בָם - 'asher 'āsîtî bām):
  • אֲשֶׁר ('asher): "Which."
  • עָשִׂיתִי ('āsîtî): "I have done" or "I have made." Emphasizes God's direct, active, and personal involvement in the events, reinforcing His sovereignty and agency.
  • בָם (bām): "Among them" or "to them" (referring to the Egyptians).
• That you may know that I am the Lord (וּלְמַעַן תֵּדְעוּ כִּי אֲנִי יהוה - ūlema'an tēde'û kî 'ănî YHVH):
  • וּלְמַעַן תֵּדְעוּ (ūlema'an tēde'û): "And in order that you may know." This is the ultimate purpose clause. The entire exercise of judgment and historical remembrance is for the people to truly comprehend God.
  • תֵּדְעוּ (tēde'û): From the verb יָדַע (yāda'), "to know." This "knowing" implies an intimate, experiential knowledge, not merely intellectual assent. It refers to a full recognition and affirmation of God's character, power, and identity.
  • כִּי אֲנִי יהוה (kî 'ănî YHVH): "That I am the Lord / YHWH." This is God's covenant name, His proper name, revealed to Moses (Ex 3:14, 6:3). The phrase "I am YHWH" is a recurring self-declaration throughout Exodus, serving as a powerful theological statement of God's uniqueness, sovereignty, faithfulness, and incomparable existence. This phrase challenges all other claims to divinity and asserts His sole authority over all creation and nations.

• Words-group Analysis:
  • "That you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson": This phrase underlines the foundational principle of biblical education – passing on faith and God's deeds generationally through direct, intentional, and audible instruction. It highlights the continuity of the covenant and the preservation of identity through memory.
  • "how I have dealt with Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them": This describes the content of the narrative to be transmitted. It focuses on God's overwhelming victory over the formidable empire of Egypt, particularly through signs that reveal His power and mockery of the gods of Egypt. This content serves as concrete evidence of God's unique identity.
  • "that you may know that I am the Lord": This is the supreme theological purpose. The plagues, the deliverance, and the instruction are all geared towards one end: for Israel, and implicitly for others, to acknowledge and truly know YHWH as the one and only sovereign God, faithful to His promises and mighty in action. This "knowing" builds trust, obedience, and a covenant relationship.

Exodus 10 2 Bonus section

The concept of "knowing that I am YHWH" (kî 'ănî YHVH) is a recurring leitmotif throughout the plague narrative, serving as the central interpretive lens for understanding the divine intention behind the Exodus. It appears directly targeted at Pharaoh and Egyptians (Ex 7:5, 7:17, 8:10, 8:22, 9:14, 9:29, 14:4, 14:18), demonstrating God's aim to assert His global sovereignty. However, in Exodus 10:2, the focus shifts distinctly to Israel, ensuring they fully grasp who their deliverer is and to pass on this experiential knowledge. This ensures the event transcends mere history and becomes sacred tradition, informing the very identity and purpose of God's people for all generations. The repetition emphasizes God's self-revelation as the fundamental outcome. The plagues, therefore, are not merely punishments but instruments of divine disclosure, designed to teach both His adversaries and His covenant people His incomparable holiness and power.

Exodus 10 2 Commentary

Exodus 10:2 is a profound statement revealing God's ultimate objective in the plague narrative. Beyond the immediate liberation of Israel and the punishment of Egypt, the primary purpose is pedagogical and theological: to instill a deep, enduring knowledge of His divine identity in His people through historical remembrance. The rare and strong Hebrew verb hit'alláltî ("how I have dealt with" / "mocked") highlights God's utter triumph over Egyptian might and, critically, over their idolatrous system. This was not merely a physical contest but a theological one, systematically discrediting the perceived power of Egyptian gods through devastating signs. By commanding the intergenerational retelling of these specific acts, God ensures that the bedrock of Israelite faith would always be His undeniable power, sovereignty, and faithfulness displayed at the Exodus. This memory would continually reaffirm that "He is YHWH"—the incomparable, living, and true God—providing a perpetual basis for worship, obedience, and identity. The verse implicitly carries an admonition for parents and elders to diligently pass down God's story, forming a chain of faith that defies forgetfulness and secures the spiritual legacy of His chosen people.