Exodus 2 23

Exodus 2:23 kjv

And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

Exodus 2:23 nkjv

Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage.

Exodus 2:23 niv

During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God.

Exodus 2:23 esv

During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.

Exodus 2:23 nlt

Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God.

Exodus 2 verses

Exodus 2 23 Meaning

Exodus 2:23 describes a pivotal moment when, after a significant period of intense servitude under a new Egyptian king, the children of Israel cried out to God because of their harsh labor and suffering. In response, God heard their lament and, importantly, "remembered His covenant" with their patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—signaling His impending divine intervention and fulfillment of His promises to deliver them.

Exodus 2 23 Context

Exodus chapter 2, specifically verse 23, marks a crucial turning point following the birth and early life of Moses and his forty years of exile in Midian. The preceding verses detail Moses' upbringing, his failed attempt to deliver his people through violent means, and his flight from Pharaoh. During this lengthy period, the oppressive regime in Egypt continues, escalating its brutal servitude of the Israelites, pushing them to their breaking point. This verse signifies the climax of their suffering, a moment where the accumulation of generations of bondage and hardship culminates in a unified cry for deliverance. It sets the stage for God's active intervention, reintroducing Him not as a distant observer, but as a covenant-keeping God who hears the suffering of His people and is poised to act. This shifts the narrative focus from Moses' individual story to God's divine initiative for national redemption.

Exodus 2 23 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (וַיְהִי vayehi): A common Hebrew transition. It emphasizes a significant event unfolding after a prior period. Not just a chronological sequence, but an unfolding of divine purpose.

• long time (מִיָּמִים רַבִּים miyyamim rabbim): Literally "from many days/years." Denotes an extensive, prolonged period, indicating the enduring nature of Israel's affliction. It conveys sustained, relentless oppression rather than a fleeting difficulty.

• king of Egypt died (מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם מֵת melekh Mitsrayim met): This change of monarchy offered no relief; new leadership often continued or even intensified previous policies. The name of the specific king is withheld, suggesting divine focus is not on human rulers but God's plan.

• children of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל benei Yisra'el): Emphasizes their identity as the chosen lineage, Abraham's descendants, heirs to the covenant promises. They are collectively the nation God covenanted with.

• sighed (וַיֵּאָנְחוּ vaye'anḥu): Implies a deep, involuntary sound of pain, exhaustion, and despair. A groan, a sigh, a manifestation of inner torment from physical and emotional suffering. This points to overwhelming, desperate distress.

• by reason of the bondage (מִן־הָעֲבֹדָה min-ha'avodah): Literally "from the service/labor." The "bondage" (עֲבֹדָה avodah) itself was their very existence, consuming them, forcing this deep sighing. Ironic, as avodah also means worship, indicating their labor was perverse servitude.

• cried out (וַיִּזְעֲקוּ vayyiz'aku): A louder, more deliberate, and desperate appeal for help, an urgent call. Unlike a mere sigh, this indicates a turning to a higher power, seeking deliverance. It signifies a transition from silent suffering to vocal supplication.

• and their cry (וַתַּעַל שַׁוְעָתָם vatta'al shavatám): Literally "their cry went up." Implies their cries ascending heavenward, reaching God's throne, signifying divine attention. It's not just a sound; it's a message received in the divine realm.

• came up to God (אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים el-ha'Elohim): The general, universal term for God (Elohim). Emphasizes His ultimate authority and transcendent power over all nations and circumstances.

• by reason of the bondage (מִן־הָעֲבֹדָה min-ha'avodah): A repetition emphasizing the root cause of their desperate cry: the overwhelming, oppressive labor system.

• And God heard (וַיִּשְׁמַע אֱלֹהִים vayyishma Elohim): Not merely physical perception, but active listening, comprehension, and preparation to respond. It indicates divine acknowledgment and impending action. God Elohim (the powerful Creator) hears.

• their groaning (אֶת־נַאֲקָתָם et-na'akatam): na'akah refers to deep sighs/groans of physical distress. This is the second mention of "sighing/groaning" (vaye'anḥu was their action, na'akatam is the object of God's hearing). It underlines the depth of their suffering and God's attentiveness.

• and God remembered (וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים vayyizkor Elohim): This is an anthropomorphic expression. It does not mean God forgot and then suddenly recalled. Rather, it signifies God turning His attention and purpose toward active fulfillment of a promise. It marks the precise timing of His chosen moment for intervention, triggering the redemptive plan.

• His covenant (אֶת־בְּרִיתוֹ et-berito): A binding agreement established through a sworn oath, creating mutual obligations. Here, it refers to the Abrahamic Covenant, the foundation of Israel's election and destiny, promising land, numerous descendants, and blessings.

• with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob (אֶת־אַבְרָהָם אֶת־יִצְחָק וְאֶת־יַעֲקֹב et-Avraham et-Yitzḥak v'et-Ya'akov): Reinforces the continuity and certainty of God's foundational promises made to the patriarchs, extending through generations to the current suffering people. Their cries activate an ancient divine commitment.

Exodus 2 23 Bonus section

The structure of "sighing" (internal despair) followed by "crying out" (external plea) in this verse illustrates a progression of human suffering leading to active supplication. It implies that a prolonged, deep-seated distress eventually broke through silence, culminating in a collective appeal that ascended to God. The divine title "Elohim" (God as creator and supreme judge) is used here, emphasizing His universal authority and ability to act on behalf of His creation, particularly His covenant people. Later, as God specifically calls Moses, the more personal covenant name "Yahweh" (LORD) will be revealed, establishing a deeper relationship based on redemptive action. The timing of the Egyptian king's death is significant, not because it brought relief (it didn't), but because it closed a chapter, potentially marking a shift in the political landscape which then perfectly coincided with God's preordained moment to begin His mighty work of deliverance through Moses.

Exodus 2 23 Commentary

Exodus 2:23 functions as the dramatic hinge for the entire book of Exodus. After a lengthy silence from God, where His people endured intensified oppression and seemed abandoned, this verse pivots the narrative to divine action. The passage highlights Israel's dire condition through their "sighing" and "crying out," showing a collective appeal born of absolute desperation and the crushing weight of their "bondage." Critically, God's response is presented in two crucial ways: He "heard their groaning" and He "remembered His covenant." God's hearing is not passive; it signifies attentive awareness and compassionate acknowledgment of suffering. His remembering of the covenant is likewise not a lapse in memory, but a moment of sovereign determination to act upon His faithful promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This marks the precise divine timing for the initiation of their deliverance. It underlines a profound theological truth: while human suffering can seem interminable and God's plans hidden, His timing is perfect, and His covenant promises are immutable. The very "bondage" that caused their cries also became the catalyst for God's redemptive work, fulfilling His long-foretold plan. This verse demonstrates that genuine human distress can unlock divine intervention according to God's eternal purposes.