Exodus 2 15

Exodus 2:15 kjv

Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

Exodus 2:15 nkjv

When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.

Exodus 2:15 niv

When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well.

Exodus 2:15 esv

When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

Exodus 2:15 nlt

And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well.

Exodus 2 verses

Exodus 2 15 Meaning

Exodus 2:15 details the immediate consequences of Pharaoh learning that Moses, a privileged figure in his court, had killed an Egyptian who was oppressing a Hebrew. Hearing this, Pharaoh resolved to kill Moses. In response to this threat, Moses promptly fled Egypt, seeking refuge and subsequently settling in the land of Midian, thereby beginning a new, formative chapter of his life in exile.

Exodus 2 15 Context

Exodus 2:15 immediately follows Moses's attempts to intervene in the suffering of his Hebrew brethren, an act that culminates in him striking dead an oppressive Egyptian (Exod 2:11-12). Moses initially believed his deed was hidden, but he soon discovered it was widely known, even among the very Hebrews he sought to protect (Exod 2:13-14). Pharaoh's pursuit is a direct reaction to Moses's vigilantism and implicit defiance against Egyptian authority and its brutal system. This verse marks a pivotal shift in Moses's life from being a prince of Egypt to a fugitive, setting the stage for his wilderness training before his divine calling at the burning bush. Historically, this event portrays the absolute power of Pharaoh, where challenges to his rule, even from within his household, met with lethal force. Moses's flight demonstrates his survival instinct but also a dependence on divine providence that would unfold during his time in Midian.

Exodus 2 15 Word analysis

• Now when Pharaoh heard this thing (וַיִּשְׁמַע פַּרְעֹה אֶת־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה, wayyišma‘ par‘ōh ’eṯ-haddāḇār hazzeh):
  • וַיִּשְׁמַע (wayyišma‘, "And he heard"): Uses the "vav-consecutive" (ו), indicating sequential action. The verb šama‘ (שמע) means not merely to hear sounds, but to apprehend, understand, take notice, and often implies action in response. Pharaoh heard the "report" or "matter" (הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה) of Moses's killing the Egyptian. His "hearing" immediately translates into "seeking."
  • הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה (haddāḇār hazzeh, "this thing/matter/word"): The word dāḇār (דבר) is rich in meaning, covering anything spoken, done, or thought. Here, it refers specifically to the highly scandalous report of Moses killing an Egyptian overseer and burying him, a direct challenge to the Egyptian state's authority and control over its slave population.
• he sought to kill Moses (וַיְבַקֵּשׁ לַהֲרֹג אֶת־מֹשֶׁה, wayəḇaqqēš lahărōḡ ’eṯ-mōšeh):
  • וַיְבַקֵּשׁ (wayəḇaqqēš, "And he sought"): From the root bāqaš (בקש), meaning to seek, search for, require. In this context, it implies a deliberate, active, and immediate intention by Pharaoh to capture and execute Moses. Pharaoh views Moses's act not merely as a crime, but as treason by one of his own elite, demanding the severest punishment.
  • לַהֲרֹג (lahărōḡ, "to kill"): This infinitival construct shows the direct purpose of Pharaoh's seeking. This intention stands in stark contrast to God's purpose for Moses, which is preservation and ultimate leadership.
• But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh (וַיִּבְרַח מֹשֶׁה מִפְּנֵי פַרְעֹה, wayyiḇraḥ mōšeh mippəny p̠ar‘ōh):
  • וַיִּבְרַח (wayyiḇraḥ, "And he fled"): From the verb bāraḥ (ברח), denoting a hasty escape from danger. It indicates an immediate, life-preserving reaction to Pharaoh's lethal intent. This flight is a literal running away, symbolizing his stripping of Egyptian privilege and beginning a period of humility.
  • מִפְּנֵי פַּרְעֹה (mippəny p̠ar‘ōh, "from the face of Pharaoh"): More than just geographical distance, "from the face of" (mippəny) implies escaping the direct presence, power, and jurisdiction of Pharaoh. It signifies a complete removal from Pharaoh's authority and his sphere of lethal control.
• and dwelt in the land of Midian (וַיֵּשֶׁב בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְיָן, wayyēšeḇ bə’ereṣ miḏyān):
  • וַיֵּשֶׁב (wayyēšeḇ, "And he dwelt/sat"): From yāšaḇ (ישב), implying to sit, dwell, settle, or remain. This indicates that Moses did not merely pass through Midian but made it his home, finding refuge and establishing a new life there, even if temporary from God's perspective.
  • בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְיָן (bə’ereṣ miḏyān, "in the land of Midian"): Midian was a region east of the Gulf of Aqaba, inhabited by descendants of Abraham and Keturah (Gen 25:1-2). It was beyond the direct reach of Egyptian law and offered a stark contrast to the sophisticated life Moses knew in Pharaoh's court. This new geographical location marks a crucial transition for Moses into anonymity and the nomadic life, which God uses for his profound training.

Exodus 2 15 Bonus section

• The "Vav-Consecutive": The repetitive use of the Hebrew "vav-consecutive" (prefixed to verbs, turning imperfect into past tense actions) throughout this verse—"וַיִּשְׁמַע" (he heard), "וַיְבַקֵּשׁ" (he sought), "וַיִּבְרַח" (he fled), "וַיֵּשֶׁב" (he dwelt)—emphasizes a rapid sequence of events: knowledge leading to intent, leading to action, leading to refuge. This conveys urgency and divine orchestration.
• Contrasting Responses: The verse starkly contrasts Pharaoh's murderous response to news with Moses's flight response. Both are decisive actions born from the revelation of the truth about the Egyptian's death, highlighting their opposing wills.
• Type and Shadow: Moses's flight into exile and subsequent return with a divine commission is a theme that echoes in the life of other biblical figures, notably the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt (Matt 2:13-15) to escape Herod's wrath, before Jesus's public ministry begins. Both highlight God's protective hand over His chosen servants in times of persecution.
• The Land of Midian's Significance: Midian's historical and geographical connection to Mount Horeb (Sinai) makes Moses's destination critical. It is in this land that Moses will encounter God at the burning bush and receive his call to deliver Israel, making his place of refuge the place of divine encounter and commission.
• Pharaoh's Arrogance: Pharaoh, viewed as a god or semi-divine king in ancient Egypt, could not tolerate any challenge to his authority, especially from within his elite. His seeking to kill Moses highlights his inherent insecurity and brutal nature, which will be further demonstrated in the future conflict with God.

Exodus 2 15 Commentary

Exodus 2:15 captures a pivotal moment in Moses's journey, shifting him from a princely life in Egypt to that of a fugitive in the wilderness. Pharaoh's decision to kill Moses underscores the absolute power of the monarch and the gravity of Moses's action; it was an act of defiance, not just murder. Moses's flight, though seemingly a desperate escape, becomes a divinely orchestrated removal from his worldly power and self-reliance. The land of Midian is not a random destination but a divinely appointed "wilderness school." Here, God prepares Moses for his ultimate call, refining his impulsive nature, instilling humility, and transforming him from a rescuer who relies on his own strength to one who must depend wholly on God. This 40-year period of obscurity in Midian as a shepherd mirrors his future role leading God's flock through the wilderness, making this flight an essential step in his spiritual and leadership formation.