Exodus 5:3 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Exodus 5:3 kjv
And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.
Exodus 5:3 nkjv
So they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go three days' journey into the desert and sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword."
Exodus 5:3 niv
Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword."
Exodus 5:3 esv
Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword."
Exodus 5:3 nlt
But Aaron and Moses persisted. "The God of the Hebrews has met with us," they declared. "So let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can offer sacrifices to the LORD our God. If we don't, he will kill us with a plague or with the sword."
Exodus 5 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 14:13 | Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew... | God of Hebrews |
| Ex 3:18 | And they will listen to your voice, and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now let us go, we pray, a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ | Moses' initial divine instruction to Pharaoh. |
| Ex 7:16 | And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness,”... | Repeated command to Pharaoh for release. |
| Ex 8:26 | But Moses said, “It would not be right; for we would be sacrificing to the Lord our God offerings that are an abomination to the Egyptians... | Israelites must leave Egypt to sacrifice. |
| Num 10:33 | So they set out from the mount of the Lord on a three days’ journey... | A three-day journey for divine direction. |
| Deut 28:21 | The Lord will make the pestilence cling to you until He has consumed you from the land... | Pestilence as divine judgment for disobedience. |
| Deut 28:22 | The Lord will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with scorching heat, with drought, with blight, and with mildew... | Plague as divine judgment for disobedience. |
| Lev 26:25 | And I will bring a sword upon you that will execute vengeance for the covenant... | Sword as divine judgment for covenant breaking. |
| 1 Sam 4:8 | Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every kind of plague in the wilderness. | God's power demonstrated through plagues on Egypt. |
| Ps 78:43 | how He performed His signs in Egypt and His wonders in the field of Zoan... | God's wonders and judgments in Egypt. |
| Ps 105:27-36 | They performed His signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham... | Narrative of God's judgments in Egypt. |
| Acts 7:36 | This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt... | Moses leading Israel out of Egypt. |
| 1 Cor 10:7 | And do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” | Warnings from Israel's wilderness history. |
| 1 Cor 10:9 | Nor let us put the Lord to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents... | Warnings from Israel's wilderness history. |
| 1 Cor 10:10 | Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the Destroyer. | Warnings from Israel's wilderness history. |
| Heb 3:17-18 | And with whom was He provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? | Consequences of disobedience in the wilderness. |
| Heb 9:14 | how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God! | Christ's perfect sacrifice replaces animal sacrifices. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. | The calling of God's people to serve Him. |
| Jas 2:19 | You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder. | Knowing God requires action and obedience. |
| Rev 15:3 | And they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!” | Recalling God's righteous judgments and Exodus. |
Exodus 5 verses
Exodus 5 3 meaning
Moses and Aaron conveyed to Pharaoh God's divine summons for the Israelites, identified as "Hebrews," to depart into the wilderness for a three-day journey to offer sacrifices to the Lord their God. This demand was presented as an urgent necessity to avert severe divine judgment—specifically pestilence or the sword—that God would otherwise inflict upon them for disobedience. It represented God's sovereign command, emphasizing His authority over His people and challenging Pharaoh's dominion.
Exodus 5 3 Context
Exodus 5:3 is part of the initial confrontation between Moses and Aaron and Pharaoh following God's commission to Moses in Exodus 3. Having first addressed the elders of Israel (Ex 4:29-31), Moses and Aaron now stand before Pharaoh as God's representatives. This verse outlines their very first demand to Pharaoh. Pharaoh's immediate, defiant response in the preceding verse (Ex 5:2) – "Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and besides, I will not let Israel go" – sets the stage for this divine warning and the subsequent escalation of divine judgment against Egypt. Historically, the Pharaoh of Egypt was seen as a divine figure or deity's son, and his word was law. The idea of a foreign "God of the Hebrews" challenging his authority and demanding release for his slaves was not just an economic or political threat but a direct theological affront to Egyptian power and polytheism. The demand for a three-day journey implied a significant departure and ritual, highlighting God's requirement for exclusive worship and separation.
Exodus 5 3 Word analysis
So they said: This refers to Moses and Aaron, speaking on behalf of God, conveying His direct instruction to Pharaoh.
The God of the Hebrews: אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִים (Elohei ha'Ivrim). This specific designation distinguishes the Israelite deity from the pantheon of Egyptian gods. It emphasizes God's unique covenantal relationship with Israel and His claim over them. It also highlights a distinct identity for Israel as "Hebrews" (potentially referencing their nomadic, "passing over" or crossing origins, or connected to Eber, an ancestor of Abraham).
has met with us: נִקְרָא עָלֵינוּ (niqra aleinu). More accurately, "has revealed Himself to us" or "has summoned us." It signifies a divine initiative, an authoritative encounter where God has issued a direct command, not a mere suggestion.
Please let us go: This is a direct appeal, presented as a request but conveying a divine command that cannot be refused without severe consequences.
a three days' journey: שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים דֶּרֶךְ (shloshet yamim derech). This specifies the duration and distance of the intended journey. In the ancient world, three days was often a common duration for significant journeys, pilgrimages, or sacred rites requiring a period of separation. It might also represent a complete separation from the confines and defilements of Egypt necessary for proper worship.
into the wilderness: הַמִּדְבָּר (hammidbar). This indicates a location separate from the inhabited and cultivated land of Egypt, away from its pagan influences and practices. The wilderness would later become the setting for God's covenant with Israel and the giving of the Law, a place of divine revelation and provision.
and sacrifice: וְנִזְבְּחָה (v'nizbecha). This refers to the core act of Israelite worship, central to their relationship with God. Sacrifices involved an offering, typically of animals, to acknowledge God's sovereignty, atone for sin, express gratitude, and establish fellowship. It could not be properly performed within Egypt due to its abominable nature to Egyptians.
to the Lord our God: לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ (laYHWH Eloheinu). "The Lord" (YHWH, the personal covenant name of God) distinguishes Israel's God from all other gods. "Our God" signifies Israel's unique, possessive relationship with Him, asserting their exclusive devotion.
lest He fall upon us: פֶּן יִפְגָּעֵנוּ (pen yifga'enu). This expresses a serious warning of divine retribution for failing to obey God's command. It conveys a genuine fear of God's impending judgment upon His people if they did not fulfill their sacred obligation.
with pestilence or with the sword: בַּדֶּבֶר אוֹ בַחֶרֶב (baddever o bakherev). These are common biblical forms of divine judgment or punishment, often invoked when people defy God's will. Pestilence refers to disease or plague, while the sword indicates warfare or direct destructive force. These terms specify the exact nature of the threatened calamities.
"The God of the Hebrews has met with us.": This phrase carries immense theological weight. It emphasizes God's personal revelation and initiative. He is not a distant, passive deity but one who actively engages with His chosen people, issuing commands and establishing covenant. This claim inherently challenges Pharaoh's perceived divine authority and highlights YHWH's active involvement in human affairs.
"let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God": This specific request, seemingly modest, underscores the essence of God's desire for His people: worship untainted by the idolatry of Egypt and conducted in separation. The "three days" is a significant period for ancient pilgrimages, marking a set, divinely appointed time and distance, hinting at a separation from Pharaoh's dominion for the purpose of religious obligation. The demand to sacrifice to "the Lord our God" solidifies the distinct identity of Israel and its unique relationship with YHWH, rejecting any syncretism with Egyptian practices.
"lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.": This part conveys the urgency and severe consequences of disobedience. It is a genuine theological warning, indicating that God's covenant with His people requires their worship, and His failure to obey Him could result in His direct punitive actions upon His own people for neglecting His command, in addition to whatever judgment awaited Pharaoh.
Exodus 5 3 Bonus section
- The seemingly humble request of "three days' journey" has been interpreted by some as a tactical initial demand, but its true significance lay in demanding God's full and uncompromised right to their worship, which would ultimately lead to full liberation. It implies a demand for theological, not just physical, freedom.
- The phrasing "the God of the Hebrews" contrasts starkly with Pharaoh's dismissive "I do not know the Lord" (Ex 5:2), setting up the epic conflict where YHWH would undeniably reveal Himself through mighty acts, proving His identity and supremacy.
- The "three days' journey" might also allude to the prophetic understanding of sacred journeys or periods, echoing in other biblical narratives and pointing to God's precise timing.
Exodus 5 3 Commentary
Exodus 5:3 encapsulates Moses and Aaron's initial divine mandate to Pharaoh, highlighting several crucial themes. Firstly, it establishes YHWH's distinct identity as "the God of the Hebrews," separating Him from the pantheon of Egyptian deities and asserting His unique relationship with Israel. This declaration is inherently polemical, challenging the foundational theological and political claims of Egypt where Pharaoh himself was seen as divine. Secondly, the request to travel three days into the wilderness for sacrifice underscores the necessity of a sacred space and separation for proper worship. True devotion to YHWH could not coexist with the idolatrous practices of Egypt, making physical removal essential for genuine spiritual allegiance. The specific journey also suggests a complete commitment to an act of worship dictated solely by God, outside Pharaoh's control. Finally, the warning of divine judgment ("pestilence or with the sword") upon the Israelites themselves for their own failure to obey God's command reveals the seriousness of the divine injunction. It's not a mere negotiation tactic, but a stark truth about the covenant consequences of spiritual disobedience, even before the wilderness journey begins. Pharaoh's subsequent defiance in this chapter directly sets the stage for the demonstration of YHWH's sovereignty over Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt through the plagues.