Exodus 12:40 kjv
Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
Exodus 12:40 nkjv
Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.
Exodus 12:40 niv
Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years.
Exodus 12:40 esv
The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years.
Exodus 12:40 nlt
The people of Israel had lived in Egypt for 430 years.
Exodus 12 40 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 15:13 | Then He said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs... afflicted four hundred years." | Prophecy of affliction for 400 years. |
| Gen 15:16 | "And in the fourth generation they shall come hither again..." | Foretells the return after a specific period. |
| Gen 46:6 | "They took their livestock and their goods, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and came to Egypt..." | Jacob's family enters Egypt. |
| Exod 1:7 | "But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty..." | Fulfillment of fertility promise in Egypt. |
| Exod 12:41 | "And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, on the very same day, that all the armies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt." | Confirms precise end-date of 430 years. |
| Deut 6:21 | "Then you shall say to your son: 'We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.'" | Remembers the deliverance from Egypt. |
| Pss 105:23 | "Israel also came into Egypt, And Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham." | Acknowledges the descent into Egypt. |
| Pss 105:27 | "They performed His signs among them, And wonders in the land of Ham." | God's power displayed in Egypt. |
| Acts 7:6 | "But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years." | Stephen confirms the 400-year oppression. |
| Gal 3:17 | "And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ..." | New Testament interpretation, 430 years from Abrahamic covenant to Sinai Law. |
| Num 33:3 | "They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the children of Israel went out..." | Date of departure from Egypt. |
| Neh 9:9 | "You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, And heard their cry by the Red Sea." | God heard and delivered His people. |
| Pss 106:44 | "Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, When He heard their cry;" | God's compassionate response to suffering. |
| Isa 43:3 | "For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom..." | God's specific act of salvation for Israel. |
| Hos 11:1 | "When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son." | God's parental care for Israel, referencing the Exodus. |
| Mic 6:4 | "For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, And redeemed you from the house of bondage..." | Recounts God's redemptive act. |
| Gen 12:1-3 | "Now the LORD had said to Abram: 'Get out of your country... And I will make you a great nation...'" | The beginning of God's covenant promises to Abraham. |
| Exod 2:23-25 | "Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died... So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob." | God's remembrance of His covenant leads to action. |
| Lev 25:10 | "...it shall be a jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family." | Reminds of land ownership tied to freedom, antithesis of Egyptian bondage. |
| Deut 26:5-9 | "My father was a striving Aramean, and he went down into Egypt and dwelt there as sojourner..." | Acknowledges the past servitude in Egypt before deliverance. |
Exodus 12 verses
Exodus 12 40 Meaning
Exodus 12:40 states that "the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years." This verse marks the precise duration of a significant period in Israel's history, from the time of their ancestor Abraham's sojourn in the land of Canaan (or the establishment of the Abrahamic covenant) through their descendants' eventual entry and dwelling in Egypt, until the day of their miraculous Exodus from Egyptian bondage. This exact timing underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and His meticulous control over history, leading to the birth of Israel as a free nation.
Exodus 12 40 Context
Exodus 12:40 immediately follows the instructions for the first Passover, a pivotal moment marking the culmination of Israel's time in Egypt and the commencement of their national identity. The verses leading up to it describe the final plague (the death of the firstborn) and God's detailed commands for the Passover sacrifice and meal. This chronological statement provides the exact historical duration of Israel's existence as a people connected to God's promise before their departure. It serves as an affirmation of God's faithfulness in bringing to pass His word after a specific period, a period prophesied to Abraham centuries earlier (Gen 15:13-16). This verse positions the Exodus as not a random event, but the precise fulfillment of a divine timetable, marking the transition from an enslaved people to a liberated nation on their journey to the promised land.
Exodus 12 40 Word analysis
- Now (וּמוֹשַׁב - u-mosháv): This conjunctive phrase, linking the verse to the preceding narrative, introduces a significant historical summary.
- the sojourning (מוֹשַׁב - mosháv): From the root יָשַׁב (yashav), meaning "to sit, dwell." Mosháv refers to a dwelling or habitation, often with the nuance of temporary settlement or residence in a place that is not one's homeland. It emphasizes their status as aliens, even while residing there for generations.
- of the children of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - b'nei Yisra'el): "Sons of Israel" or "descendants of Israel." This phrase collectively refers to the entire nation descending from Jacob, indicating their distinct identity and lineage as a unified people under God.
- who dwelt (אֲשֶׁר יָשְׁבוּ - asher yash'vu): The verb yashav ("to dwell, live, settle") indicates their residence.
- in Egypt (בְּמִצְרָיִם - b'mitzráyim): The specific location of their lengthy sojourn. This phrase in the Masoretic Text (MT) traditionally confines the 430 years to their time within Egypt. However, other ancient versions (Septuagint and Samaritan Pentateuch) add "and in the land of Canaan," making the 430 years span from Abraham's first arrival in Canaan until the Exodus. This broader understanding is affirmed in the New Testament (Gal 3:17), which counts 430 years from the Abrahamic covenant to the giving of the Law at Sinai, effectively beginning with Abraham's initial sojourning. This reconciliation suggests that the time in Egypt itself was closer to 215 years (half of 430), or approximately 400 years for the period of affliction as prophesied.
- was (הָיָה - hayah): "It was," simply denoting existence or duration.
- four hundred and thirty years (שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה - shloshim shanah v'arba me'ot shanah): This specific numerical value is significant. It signifies a precise divine timing for the fulfillment of prophecy and promise. The exactitude of this period, later reaffirmed as "to the very day" (Exod 12:41), highlights God's sovereignty over history and His detailed adherence to His pre-ordained plans, showing that Israel's release was not by chance but by design. This numeric precision further emphasizes the accuracy of biblical chronologies in revealing God's working.
Exodus 12 40 Bonus section
The mention of "four hundred and thirty years" is significant because it explicitly aligns the historical account with previous prophetic utterances. Genesis 15:13 speaks of a "four hundred years" period of affliction for Abram's descendants. While seeming to be a slight discrepancy, the "400 years" is often understood as the period of active oppression or the general round figure for the period, while the "430 years" is the precise chronological span from the sealing of the Abrahamic covenant until the Exodus, encompassing both periods of non-affliction and affliction within Canaan and Egypt. The fact that the release happened "on the very same day" (Exod 12:41) further reinforces the notion of divine precision and purposeful intervention in history, serving as a powerful demonstration that God orchestrates all events according to His pre-determined will. This exactness bolsters the trustworthiness of God's promises and His ultimate power to deliver His people.
Exodus 12 40 Commentary
Exodus 12:40 is a chronographic anchor, testifying to the meticulous timing of God's redemptive plan. The specified duration of "four hundred and thirty years" for the sojourning of the children of Israel signifies the end of a long period of exile and a transition from a familial group to a defined nation. This is not merely a historical statistic but a profound statement about divine faithfulness. The precision of the "four hundred and thirty years," specifically confirmed in the New Testament to begin with God's covenant with Abraham (Gal 3:17), underscores that God's promises are not vague, but are brought to pass in perfect timing. The Exodus, therefore, is portrayed as the climactic and precise fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 15:13-16). This detailed timeframe highlights God's control, reminding His people then and now that His word stands sure and He always fulfills His promises.