Exodus 5 1

Exodus 5:1 kjv

And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

Exodus 5:1 nkjv

Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.' "

Exodus 5:1 niv

Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.'?"

Exodus 5:1 esv

Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'"

Exodus 5:1 nlt

After this presentation to Israel's leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness."

Exodus 5 verses

Exodus 5 1 Meaning

This verse initiates the direct and decisive confrontation between God, represented by Moses and Aaron, and Pharaoh, the formidable ruler of Egypt. It reveals God's divine authority asserting His unequivocal claim over the enslaved Israelites, whom He declares "My people," and demands their immediate release from bondage. The purpose of this freedom is specific and profound: for His people to worship Him through a solemn feast in the wilderness, thereby signifying their complete separation and consecration unto Him. This encounter establishes the foundational conflict of the Exodus narrative – the clash between divine sovereignty and human defiance.

Exodus 5 1 Context

Exodus 5:1 initiates the direct conflict between the Lord God and Pharaoh, moving the narrative from preparation to open confrontation. Immediately preceding this verse, Moses has just met with the elders of Israel (Ex 4:29-31), proving his divine commission through signs and inspiring their faith. Now, he and Aaron are sent forth, fully commissioned, to stand before the mightiest ruler of their time. Historically, Egypt was the dominant superpower, with Pharaoh regarded as a divine or semi-divine king whose word was law and who owned his subjects. The Israelites had been enslaved for centuries, contributing vast labor to Pharaoh's ambitious building projects. This verse thus plunges Moses and Aaron, representatives of an enslaved people, into the very seat of absolute earthly power, carrying a direct command from a God Pharaoh does not know.

Exodus 5 1 Word analysis

• "And afterward" (וְאַחַר֙, v'achar): This phrase provides a crucial temporal link, signifying the direct continuation and immediate consequence of the events in Exodus chapter 4, where Moses was commissioned and successfully convinced the Israelite elders. It denotes the moment God's plan truly begins to unfold on the world stage.
• "Moses and Aaron": Moses is God's primary prophet and leader, while Aaron is his divinely appointed spokesman, as outlined in Ex 4:14-16. Their united front embodies God's combined authority and vocal command to Pharaoh.
• "went in" (בָּא֙וּ, ba'u): This action implies a deliberate, authorized entry into Pharaoh's inner court, a place typically restricted. It highlights the divine mandate empowering them to directly confront such an esteemed figure without fear.
• "and told" (וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ, vayyom'ru): Signifies a clear, unyielding declaration. This was not a request for negotiation or a plea, but a direct command.
• "Pharaoh": The absolute monarch of Egypt, revered as a deity or the son of a deity. His presence here represents the ultimate symbol of human authority, pride, and polytheistic power being directly challenged by the singular, sovereign God.
• "Thus saith" (כֹּֽה־אָמַר֙, koh amar): This is a powerful, formal prophetic formula. It clearly establishes that the message is not Moses or Aaron's own words or desires, but a direct, authoritative utterance from the supreme God Himself, carrying inviolable weight.
• "the LORD" (יְהוָ֣ה, YHWH): God's unique covenant name, signifying His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithfulness. This name immediately differentiates Him from the numerous, finite Egyptian deities and lays claim to absolute universal sovereignty, setting the stage for a spiritual contest.
• "God of Israel" (אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל, Elohei Yisra'el): This specific designation emphasizes God's unique relationship with, proprietary claim over, and deep covenantal commitment to the nation of Israel. It declares that Israel belongs to Him, not to Pharaoh.
• "Let my people go" (שַׁלַּ֤ח אֶת־עַמִּי֙, shallach et-'ammi): This is the foundational and persistent divine demand. "My people" directly refutes Pharaoh's ownership of the Israelites, asserting YHWH's prior and greater claim. "Let go" (an imperative verb) demands their complete release, not a temporary reprieve.
• "that they may hold a feast" (וְיַחַגּוּ֙ לִ֔י, v'yachaggu li): The verb chagag refers to a solemn, pilgrimage-type festival often involving sacrifice and celebration (Ex 23:14-17). The purpose of their freedom is not mere political emancipation, but a sacred duty: exclusive worship "unto me" (לִ֔י), affirming their spiritual allegiance is solely to YHWH.
• "in the wilderness" (בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר, bamidbar): This designated location serves as a setting for consecrated worship, separated from the idolatrous influences and cultural entanglements of Egypt. It provides the space for God and His people to establish their unique relationship, free from the world's defilement.

Words-Group analysis

• "Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh": This signifies the moment of initial, direct divine confrontation with the ruling earthly power. It is an act of courageous obedience and faith on the part of God's appointed messengers, marking the definitive transition from private commission to public declaration.
• "Thus saith the LORD God of Israel": This powerful declaratory phrase immediately establishes the absolute divine authority behind the message. It signifies that the demand is not from a humble group of slaves or their mere representatives, but from the Almighty Creator of the universe, who directly commands Pharaoh, asserting His supremacy over all human rulers and every perceived Egyptian deity. This formulation immediately highlights the ultimate source of authority.
• "Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness": This sentence encapsulates God's clear purpose for the Israelites' liberation. Their freedom is fundamentally intertwined with worship and exclusive service to Him. It frames the Exodus not merely as a socio-political liberation but as a spiritual rescue for the purpose of a consecrated relationship with YHWH, set apart from worldly influences.

Exodus 5 1 Bonus section

• Pharaoh's Obstinate Ignorance: This initial demand directly sets the stage for Pharaoh's arrogant response in Ex 5:2: "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go." This statement is pivotal, as all the ensuing plagues and miraculous demonstrations are God's profound answer to Pharaoh's defiant question, revealing YHWH's unique identity and incomparable power.
• The Nature of True Freedom: The passage explicitly links freedom not with idleness or self-will, but with dedicated service and worship of God. The "feast" symbolizes consecrated devotion, indicating that Israel's true freedom lies in their restored relationship and obedience to YHWH. This sets a timeless biblical precedent for understanding the purpose of liberation in God's plan.
• Progressive Demands: While later demands for release will escalate in scope (e.g., women and children, livestock), this initial demand for only men to go "a three days' journey" for a feast is seen by some as a test of Pharaoh's willingness and as a subtle foreshadowing of a more comprehensive release. His immediate refusal even of this limited request signals his entrenched defiance and hardened heart from the very beginning.

Exodus 5 1 Commentary

Exodus 5:1 marks the dramatic beginning of God's direct intervention in Israel's bondage. Moses and Aaron, commissioned by YHWH, bravely stand before Pharaoh, delivering a divine ultimatum rather than a mere request. The phrase "Thus saith the LORD God of Israel" establishes God's ultimate authority, immediately challenging Pharaoh's presumed divinity and absolute rule. The core demand, "Let my people go," underscores God's proprietary claim over Israel, declaring them His, not Pharaoh's. Crucially, their freedom's purpose is not simply escape, but a sacred, exclusive worship "unto me" through a feast in the wilderness. This initial interaction highlights that the Exodus is primarily a theological war for allegiance and sovereignty, a contest to reveal YHWH's incomparable power over the gods of Egypt and the world's most formidable ruler. Pharaoh's subsequent refusal will only escalate this divine demonstration.

• Example 1: This verse shows that God always asserts His claim over His chosen people, no matter who claims ownership over them.
• Example 2: It highlights that God grants freedom ultimately for the purpose of true worship and dedicated service to Him.