Exodus 19:4 kjv
Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
Exodus 19:4 nkjv
'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself.
Exodus 19:4 niv
'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
Exodus 19:4 esv
'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
Exodus 19:4 nlt
'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
Exodus 19 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 1:31 | And in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you... | God's continual fatherly care and leading |
| Deut 32:10-12 | He found him in a desert land... kept him as the apple of His eye... | Divine protection and unique love for Israel |
| Ps 91:4 | He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge | Imagery of God's protective covering and safety |
| Isa 40:31 | But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on eagles' wings | Spiritual strength and upliftment through trust in God |
| Jer 31:3 | The LORD appeared to him from afar: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with steadfast love I have drawn you.” | God's initiating and steadfast love |
| Hos 11:1 | "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son." | God's paternal love and calling Israel |
| Mal 4:2 | But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. | Healing and salvation under God's righteous rule |
| Matt 23:37 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings..." | Jesus' desire to gather and protect His people |
| Rev 12:14 | But the woman was given two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place... | God's protection and provision for His people in tribulation |
| Ex 24:7-8 | Then he took the Book of the Covenant... "Behold the blood of the covenant..." | Establishes the covenant made with God's people |
| Eph 2:4-5 | But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us... | God's love and grace as the basis for salvation |
| Isa 63:9 | In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them... | God's compassionate redemption from suffering |
| Col 1:13-14 | He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption... | Deliverance from sin and transfer to God's kingdom |
| Heb 12:18-24 | For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched... but you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God... | Contrast of Old Covenant (fear) and New Covenant (grace) at Sinai |
| 1 Pet 2:9-10 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession... | Israel as God's treasured possession (echoes Ex 19:5) |
| Jer 31:33 | "For this is the covenant that I will make... I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts..." | New Covenant builds on the principle of divine relationship |
| Ezek 20:5-6 | ...the day I chose Israel—the day I swore to them and lifted My hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob... | God's sovereign choice of Israel and faithful leading |
| Num 11:12 | Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child'... | Moses' plea acknowledging God as the ultimate provider and carrier |
| Deut 4:9 | "Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen..." | Reminder to remember God's mighty acts |
| Ps 105:2-6 | Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works!... Remember the wondrous works He has done... | Command to remember and recount God's powerful acts |
Exodus 19 verses
Exodus 19 4 Meaning
Exodus 19:4 states that the Israelites have personally witnessed God's powerful actions against the Egyptians, specifically how He bore them out of bondage with tender and strong care, likened to carrying them on eagles' wings, and then brought them safely to His very presence at Mount Sinai. This verse serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and ability, setting the stage for the covenant He is about to propose.
Exodus 19 4 Context
Exodus 19 marks the arrival of the Israelites at the desert of Sinai, three months after their exodus from Egypt. Following their miraculous liberation and journey, including the provision of Manna and water, and the defeat of the Amalekites, they encamp before Mount Sinai. This setting is pivotal: it is where God will formally establish His covenant with Israel. The preceding chapters illustrate God's mighty acts of deliverance, His sustenance, and His guidance through challenging environments. Verse 4, delivered by God through Moses, directly reminds Israel of these past acts of salvation, not merely as historical events, but as a demonstration of God's character and their personal experience of His power. It serves as a preamble to the proposal of a covenant in the following verses (19:5-6), linking God's redemptive work to His expectation of Israel's obedience and distinctive status as His treasured possession.
Exodus 19 4 Word analysis
- 'You yourselves have seen': Hebrew ’attem re’item (אַתֶּם רְאִיתֶם). This emphasizes direct, personal experience, not hearsay. God addresses Israel as a witness to His actions, highlighting the undeniable nature of what they experienced. It establishes a basis for accountability and expectation. Their direct observation means they cannot deny God's power or grace.
- 'what I did to the Egyptians': Refers to the Ten Plagues and the ultimate judgment at the Red Sea. This highlights God's judicial power over a dominant empire and His ability to defeat all opposition to His people's liberation. It's a display of divine sovereignty over all false gods and human might.
- 'and how I bore you': Hebrew nasa’ (נָשָׂא) - to lift, carry, bear. Conveys the action of uplifting, carrying with strength, and enduring care. It implies a burden willingly taken by God, signifying His paternal, protective responsibility for Israel.
- 'on eagles’ wings': Hebrew kanfei nesharim (כַּנְפֵי נְשָׁרִים). The nesher (eagle or griffon vulture) is known for its majestic flight, swiftness, power, high soaring, and care for its young.
- Swiftness & Power: The image conveys rapid and powerful rescue, lifting Israel above imminent danger (Egypt).
- Protection: An eagle carries its young on its wings, protecting them from dangers below, like arrows or predators. This speaks of a very tender and specific kind of protective care. It's not dragging them but elevating them.
- Divine Elevation: Symbolizes lifting them to a higher spiritual and relational plane, not merely physical transport.
- Contrast to Pharaoh's chariots: The very power that threatened them (chariots, land pursuit) is overcome by a vastly superior, supernatural "airlift" (eagle's wings), showcasing God's unique mode of warfare and salvation. This serves as an indirect polemic against Egyptian might and their bird-headed deities, indicating God's true supreme power and care.
- 'and brought you to Myself': Hebrew ’abi’ etkhem ’elay (וָאָבִא אֶתְכֶם אֵלָי). This reveals the ultimate purpose of their redemption: relationship. God did not rescue them merely for freedom's sake, but to bring them into a covenantal relationship, to be His special possession, a holy nation. It emphasizes intimacy, presence, and personal communion. This journey's destination is not merely a place, but God Himself.
Exodus 19 4 Bonus section
- The nesher (eagle/vulture) metaphor emphasizes a protective lift out of reach rather than a journey by dragging. This symbolizes the complete severance from their previous life in Egypt, and their elevation to a unique spiritual standing.
- The phrase "brought you to Myself" highlights the ultimate goal of redemption in God's plan. It is not just about freedom from something, but freedom for a divine purpose and relationship. This foreshadows the tabernacle and temple where God's presence would dwell among His people, and ultimately the New Covenant where God dwells in His people.
- This verse can be seen as a direct challenge to the self-sufficiency of man, contrasting Israel's powerlessness with God's omnipotence and tenderness. They did nothing to earn their salvation; it was entirely God's doing, by His mighty hand and outstretched arm.
Exodus 19 4 Commentary
Exodus 19:4 encapsulates the profound grace and power of God displayed in the deliverance of Israel. It serves as a foundational declaration establishing the context for the giving of the Law and the formation of the covenant community at Sinai. God appeals to their recent history, urging them to remember His actions, not only for their liberation from oppression but for His desire to bring them into a personal, intimate relationship with Him. The vivid imagery of bearing them "on eagles' wings" signifies not only the speed, strength, and decisiveness of His rescue but also the gentle, protective, and elevating nature of His care. He lifts them above their vulnerable state and potential adversaries, transporting them safely to the place of covenant, signifying their unique position as a people chosen for His direct presence. This divine initiative and loving preservation are the prerequisites and the very reason for His subsequent call to obedience. It’s a divine reminder that relationship precedes rules and power empowers purpose.