Exodus 2 11

Exodus 2:11 kjv

And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

Exodus 2:11 nkjv

Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren.

Exodus 2:11 niv

One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people.

Exodus 2:11 esv

One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people.

Exodus 2:11 nlt

Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews.

Exodus 2 verses

Exodus 2 11 Meaning

Exodus chapter 2 verse 11 marks a pivotal moment in Moses' life, portraying his conscious turning from his Egyptian identity and privileges to align with his Hebrew brethren in their suffering. It signifies his profound identification with God's oppressed people, demonstrating an awakening compassion and a desire to intervene in the midst of their harsh forced labor under Egyptian rule. This action foreshadows his destined role as their deliverer, driven by empathy and a budding sense of justice for his own kin.

Exodus 2 11 Context

Exodus chapter 2 begins with Moses' miraculous birth, his hiding from Pharaoh's decree to kill all Hebrew male infants, and his adoption into Pharaoh's household. Growing up as an Egyptian prince, Moses would have been educated in all the wisdom of Egypt (Acts 7:22), enjoying immense privilege and power. Verse 11 marks a significant shift. For nearly forty years (Acts 7:23), Moses had lived within the comfort of Pharaoh's palace. Now, having come of age, he deliberately steps out of that life and engages directly with the brutal reality of his Hebrew kin. This moment signifies the beginning of his true identification with his people and foreshadows his divinely appointed, albeit initially flawed, attempt to intervene on their behalf against Egyptian oppression. Historically, the Hebrews were a distinct foreign group forced into brutal slavery to construct monumental buildings for the Pharaoh, setting a scene of widespread suffering under a despotic regime.

Exodus 2 11 Word analysis

• "Now it came to pass": A common transitional Hebrew phrase, va-yehi (וַיְהִי), often introduces a significant event in biblical narrative, drawing the reader's attention to the impending crucial development.
• "when Moses was grown": The Hebrew verb ga·dol (גָּדַל) implies not just physical maturity, but full stature and capability, suitable for independent action. Acts 7:23 specifies this was at "forty years old," indicating a deliberate choice made by a mature adult, fully aware of his surroundings and choices.
• "that he went out": The Hebrew va-ye·tze (וַיֵּצֵא), "and he went out," implies a purposeful and deliberate exit from his accustomed sphere (the palace) into a new, confronting environment. It signifies an intentional departure from privilege to encounter reality.
• "to his brethren": The Hebrew ’el echayv (אֶל-אֶחָיו) emphasizes deep kinship. Though raised Egyptian, Moses clearly identified these enslaved people as his own "brothers," revealing a conscious embrace of his true identity. This recognition is foundational for his future role.
• "and looked on their burdens": The Hebrew bi-siv·lo·tam (בְּסִבְלֹתָם), derived from sibel (to carry a burden), refers to heavy, laborious, and grievous tasks—the crushing work of forced labor under slavery. Moses didn't just see them, but "looked on" (va-yar), a deep observation of their suffering and the crushing weight of their oppression.
• "And he saw": Another va-yar (וַיַּרְא), highlighting an immediate, specific visual encounter, distinct from his general observation of their burdens.
• "an Egyptian": Representative of the oppressing power structure, a direct symbol of their servitude.
• "beating a Hebrew": The Hebrew makkeh (מַכֶּה), "beating," describes an ongoing, violent act. This particular "Hebrew" (’Ivri) being beaten underscores the brutality of the oppression directed at Moses' ethnic kin. This immediate sight provoked Moses to act.

Exodus 2 11 Bonus section

The action described in this verse is highlighted in Acts 7:23 as coming "into his heart," suggesting a divine prompting or an awakened inner conviction. This implies more than mere curiosity; it was a deeply personal and possibly Spirit-inspired recognition of his heritage and purpose, though the subsequent act of killing the Egyptian was not the intended method for deliverance. Moses' privileged upbringing in Egyptian wisdom (Acts 7:22) provided him with unique skills for leadership, yet it was his deep compassion and willingness to leave that privilege that qualified him for God's ultimate plan. The phrase "looked this way and that way" in the subsequent verse (Exo 2:12), though not in this verse, immediately follows, implying an action done without explicit divine instruction for how to deliver, but rather out of personal, strong conviction for justice, resulting in him attempting to cover his actions. This also illustrates a common pattern in great biblical figures: initial attempts to fulfill God's purposes in human strength before fully surrendering to His timing and methods.

Exodus 2 11 Commentary

Exodus 2:11 serves as the divine catalyst for Moses' true calling, revealing a crucial turning point from his royal identity to a deep, empathic identification with his suffering people. This verse signifies not just a casual observation, but Moses' deliberate commitment to understanding the brutal reality faced by his "brethren." His act of "going out" from the palace to witness their "burdens" demonstrates a heart stirred by compassion, prompting him to forsake his luxurious, safe life for the plight of the downtrodden. Although the subsequent actions (in Exo 2:12) reflect a premature, self-initiated attempt at justice rather than a divinely commanded one, this moment nevertheless encapsulates his foundational character of self-sacrificial love and a nascent desire for justice that would later be perfectly channeled through God's anointing. This single event sets him on the path from isolated prince to the shepherd of God's flock, a deliverer called to rescue His chosen people.