Exodus 2 8

Exodus 2:8 kjv

And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.

Exodus 2:8 nkjv

And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." So the maiden went and called the child's mother.

Exodus 2:8 niv

"Yes, go," she answered. So the girl went and got the baby's mother.

Exodus 2:8 esv

And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." So the girl went and called the child's mother.

Exodus 2:8 nlt

"Yes, do!" the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby's mother.

Exodus 2 verses

Exodus 2 8 Meaning

Exodus chapter 2 verse 8 details a pivotal moment in the life of the infant Moses, orchestrating his preservation by the hand of God through seemingly ordinary human actions. Pharaoh's daughter instructs Moses's older sister to find a wet nurse, leading to the sister bringing none other than the child's own mother, Yocheved, for this critical role. This verse reveals the meticulous and ironic divine providence at work, ensuring Moses's safety and his connection to his Hebrew heritage, all while being fostered by the very power attempting to suppress his people.

Exodus 2 8 Context

This verse is nestled within the introductory narrative of Moses’s life, a crucial section for understanding God’s preparatory work for the deliverance of Israel. Earlier, Pharaoh had decreed the death of all male Hebrew infants, attempting to curb the burgeoning Israelite population and their perceived threat. Moses’s mother hid him for three months, but unable to do so any longer, she placed him in a basket among the reeds of the Nile. Pharaoh’s daughter discovered the baby while bathing. Exodus 2:7 describes Moses's older sister observing from a distance and bravely offering to find a Hebrew wet nurse for the royal child. Verse 8 marks the affirmative response to this courageous suggestion, leading to the divinely orchestrated reunion of mother and child. This seemingly simple exchange is a dramatic reversal of Pharaoh's decree, showing God's sovereign hand at play, using unlikely agents and circumstances to rescue His chosen deliverer from certain death.

Exodus 2 8 Word analysis

• And Pharaoh’s daughter: In Hebrew, וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לָ֗הּ בַּת־פַּרְעֹה (wattō’mer lāh bat-Parʿōh). Pharaoh’s daughter (בַּת־פַּרְעֹה, bat-Parʿōh) represents the peak of worldly power and hostility against Israel. Yet, she becomes an unwitting instrument of God's redemptive plan. Her humanity, perhaps stirred by compassion for the crying infant, overrides the cruel decree of her father, demonstrating God's ability to soften hearts and redirect human will, even that of His enemies. This stands as an ironic testament to God's ultimate sovereignty over kings and nations.
• said to her: The simple directness conveys authority and an immediate decision. The instruction is given to Moses’s sister.
• “Go.”: In Hebrew, לֵכִ֑י (lēkhi). This is an imperative command, meaning "you go!" While seemingly just an instruction, it echoes the many divine commands of "go" throughout Scripture, signifying a sending forth on a crucial mission (e.g., God telling Abraham to "Go," Gen 12:1; Jesus telling disciples to "Go," Matt 28:19). Here, it’s a command from an Egyptian princess, but it triggers a critical step in God’s redemptive historical plan. This singular word, originating from an unholy source, perfectly aligns with God’s ultimate will.
• So the girl: The girl is Moses’s older sister, Miriam (though not named until Ex 15:20), whose foresight and bravery initiated the conversation in Ex 2:7. Her immediate and obedient action here (וַתֵּ֤לֶךְ הָֽעַלְמָה֙, wattēlēkh hāʿalmāh, "and went the young woman") underscores her role as a faithful, albeit unsung, participant in God’s rescue plan. Her courageous step marks a significant pivot point in the narrative.
• went and called: This action shows quick execution of the command. The sister acted immediately and decisively, finding her mother without delay, implying a strong intuition or divine guidance in this desperate situation. The Hebrew uses consecutive verbs, emphasizing the swift sequence of action: "she went, and she called."
• the child’s mother: In Hebrew, אֶת־אֵ֥ם הַיָּלֶֽד (’et-’ēm hayyāled). This is the absolute climax of divine irony and meticulous orchestration. The most forbidden person, Moses's own biological mother, is now formally summoned by Pharaoh's daughter to nurse the very baby whose life Pharaoh ordered destroyed. This act completely subverts Pharaoh’s edict, as he is unknowingly contributing to the care and growth of his people's future deliverer, paying her to raise her own child. It highlights the divine ingenuity that reverses the natural order of human decree.

• “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. This phrase embodies the essence of divine providence and ironic reversal. The authority of Pharaoh's daughter, meant to destroy Hebrew children, becomes the means by which a Hebrew child is saved and nourished by his own mother, funded by the oppressor. It reveals God’s sovereignty in redirecting human actions for His ultimate purposes.

Exodus 2 8 Bonus section

• The incident highlights the ultimate powerlessness of human decrees against divine will. Pharaoh's edict aimed to eliminate the very instrument of Israel's liberation, yet God ensured the exact opposite outcome through astonishing circumstances.
• This verse contains profound divine humor. The oppressive empire is tricked into providing care and funding for the future leader who will bring about its downfall and the freedom of God's people. This act of divine subterfuge against an evil regime is a recurring theme in biblical narratives, where God uses surprising methods to humble the proud and elevate the humble.
• The 'calling' of Moses's mother for this task signifies God's direct involvement in securing not just Moses's physical life, but also his formative years. Being nursed by his biological mother likely allowed for the impartation of Hebrew faith and heritage before he transitioned into the Egyptian royal court, preparing him spiritually for his future role. This hidden period of early upbringing was crucial for maintaining his Israelite identity despite his adoption by royalty.

Exodus 2 8 Commentary

Exodus 2:8 beautifully illustrates the intricate and often paradoxical nature of God's providence. In a context of extreme oppression, where a mighty empire seeks to eradicate a people, God intervenes through a series of humble yet profound events. Pharaoh's daughter, a symbol of the oppressive power, becomes an agent of deliverance, driven by compassion and perhaps unwittingly guided by divine influence. The seemingly casual "Go" she utters initiates a miraculous turn of events. Moses’s sister, a young and otherwise insignificant girl in the eyes of the world, exhibits remarkable courage and quick thinking, leveraging a small opening to execute a crucial part of God's plan. The greatest irony unfolds as the very mother whose child was doomed to death is now contracted by the oppressor’s own family to nurture him, under the oppressors’ protection and at their expense. This verse is a testament to God's absolute sovereignty over all rulers and circumstances, demonstrating His ability to turn the counsel of His adversaries into instruments of His own redemptive purposes. It teaches us that God works not just through grand miracles, but often through the wise and bold actions of ordinary individuals and the unexpected turns of events, bringing about His will in ways that defy human logic.