Exodus 3 8

Exodus 3:8 kjv

And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Exodus 3:8 nkjv

So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.

Exodus 3:8 niv

So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey?the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

Exodus 3:8 esv

and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Exodus 3:8 nlt

So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey ? the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.

Exodus 3 verses

Exodus 3 8 Meaning

Exodus 3:8 declares God's active, personal commitment to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. He announces His intention to bring them from the oppressive land of Egypt into a vastly different reality: a fertile, spacious, and prosperous land promised to their ancestors. This land is vividly described as "flowing with milk and honey" and is identified by its current inhabitants, signifying God's sovereign plan for conquest and Israel's inheritance. It encapsulates God's compassionate response to suffering and His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises.

Exodus 3 8 Context

Exodus 3:8 is a pivotal statement within the divine revelation to Moses at the burning bush. The preceding verse (Exod 3:7) establishes God's profound awareness and compassionate empathy towards the suffering Israelites, stating, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings." Building directly on this awareness, verse 8 transitions from divine perception to divine action. God reveals His concrete plan for salvation, identifying Himself as the one who has "come down" to intervene directly in human history. This declaration forms the bedrock of Moses' mission and the entire Exodus narrative, detailing God's specific intentions regarding both the rescue from Egypt and the destination of the deliverance, aligning with the ancient Abrahamic covenant of land and descendants.

Exodus 3 8 Word analysis

• So: Connects God's announced action directly to His observed suffering and heard cry of His people in the preceding verse (Exod 3:7). It signifies a logical consequence of His knowledge and compassion.

• I: Refers to YHWH, the divine speaker. It emphasizes His personal initiative, commitment, and agency in the forthcoming deliverance, distinguishing Him from human efforts or lesser powers.

• have come down: The Hebrew word yarad (ירד) literally means "descended." It depicts God's intentional movement from His heavenly realm into the earthly sphere of human affairs, specifically into the suffering and oppression of His people, signaling direct, powerful intervention.

• to deliver: The Hebrew word natsal (נצל) means "to snatch away," "to rescue," "to set free," or "to snatch out of danger." It conveys God's strong, decisive act of salvation, emphasizing His mighty hand in bringing about liberation from a dominating power.

• them: Refers to the "people of Israel" mentioned in Exod 3:7.

• out of the hand of the Egyptians: An idiom signifying "out of the power," "control," or "grasp" of the Egyptians. It emphasizes complete release from their tyrannical rule and bondage, highlighting the overwhelming nature of the oppressor from which only divine power can deliver.

• and to bring them up: The Hebrew word alah (עלה) means "to go up" or "to ascend." This contrasts with God's "coming down." It marks the transition from the lowland of Egypt, the place of subjugation, to the elevated, promised land of Canaan, signifying elevation, liberation, and exaltation.

• out of that land: Explicitly refers to Egypt, the land of their suffering and slavery, which they are to completely depart from.

• to a good: The Hebrew word tov (טוב) means pleasant, beautiful, beneficial, excellent. It describes the land as desirable, productive, and perfectly suited for a thriving nation, highlighting God's generous provision.

• and broad land: The Hebrew word rachav (רחב) means spacious, expansive, wide. It implies ample room for a large population to settle and grow, contrasting sharply with the cramped, controlled, and forced labor conditions in Egypt. It speaks of freedom and opportunity.

• a land flowing with milk and honey: A rich and powerful idiomatic expression in the ancient Near East (zavath chalav u'devash, זבת חלב ודבש). It denotes extraordinary fertility, agricultural abundance, and prosperous livestock. It implies a land capable of naturally sustaining a large population with richness, without oppressive toil, symbolizing blessing and prosperity. It is a symbol of God's blessing.

• to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: A specific listing of several tribal or ethnic groups inhabiting the promised land. This indicates God's precise knowledge of the land and its existing inhabitants, foreshadowing the future conquest. It also demonstrates God's sovereign authority over all lands and peoples, assuring Israel that these existing powerful inhabitants would not hinder His plan.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians": This phrase succinctly captures the essence of divine initiative and redemptive power. God is not distant; He personally engages with human suffering to achieve salvation from an overwhelming, oppressive force.
  • "and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land": This signifies a complete and transformative change of status and location. It's a movement from subjugation in one land to flourishing in another, emphasizing liberation and relocation to a blessed environment.
  • "a land flowing with milk and honey": This vivid metaphor paints a picture of Eden-like fertility and unparalleled abundance. It signifies a divine provision of comfort, sustenance, and richness, surpassing ordinary human experience and fulfilling ancestral promises.
  • "to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites": This details the challenging but assured aspect of God's plan. It clarifies the present occupants, asserting God's sovereign right to dispossess them and establish His chosen people. It implies future conflict but certain divine victory.

Exodus 3 8 Bonus section

• The structure of the verse presents a clear trajectory: from down (God's descent) to up (Israel's ascent to the land), highlighting a complete divine reversal of fortunes for the oppressed.
• The precise identification of the indigenous peoples underscores the land's actual state, not a vacant space, and confirms God's foreknowledge and His sovereign claim over territories and their inhabitants, preparing Israel for the future task of conquest.
• This verse is not just a historical announcement but sets the stage for God's pattern of salvation throughout Scripture: divine initiative in deliverance, movement from a state of bondage to one of blessing, and fulfillment of covenant promises against all odds.

Exodus 3 8 Commentary

Exodus 3:8 is the blueprint of the entire Exodus narrative and a foundational declaration of God's nature and covenant faithfulness. It underscores divine compassion (seeing suffering, knowing cries) leading to divine action. God's "coming down" highlights His direct, active involvement, breaking the conventional boundaries between heaven and earth to intervene personally for His people. This intervention is not just rescue but a purposeful relocation to a specific, supernaturally fertile, and abundant land — a direct fulfillment of the ancient covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The description of the land as "good," "broad," and "flowing with milk and honey" emphasizes God's generous and rich provision, designed for the holistic well-being and prosperity of His people, in stark contrast to the oppressive conditions of Egypt. The explicit mention of the current inhabitants foreshadows the necessity of conflict but simultaneously asserts God's sovereignty over the land and His ability to accomplish His purposes despite formidable human opposition. This verse encapsulates God's redemptive power, His covenant reliability, and His plan to lead His people from bondage to a blessed inheritance.