Exodus 7 1

Exodus 7:1 kjv

And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

Exodus 7:1 nkjv

So the LORD said to Moses: "See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.

Exodus 7:1 niv

Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.

Exodus 7:1 esv

And the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.

Exodus 7:1 nlt

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pay close attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh, and your brother, Aaron, will be your prophet.

Exodus 7 verses

Exodus 7 1 Meaning

Exodus 7:1 declares God's decisive appointment of Moses to a unique position of authority before Pharaoh. God informs Moses that He has consecrated him to act as God to Pharaoh, possessing divine authority, power, and judgment to confront the Egyptian ruler. Aaron, Moses' brother, is simultaneously designated as Moses' prophet, serving as the spokesman who will articulate Moses' (and thereby God's) commands to Pharaoh. This sets the stage for a confrontation between the one true God and the perceived deities and power of Egypt.

Exodus 7 1 Context

Exodus 7:1 arrives at a pivotal moment after a series of divine communications to Moses in chapters 3 through 6. Moses has received his call at the burning bush (Ex 3), been assured of God's presence and power, and overcome his initial reluctance and perceived inadequacies, including his struggle with speaking (Ex 4:10-16). He and Aaron have already approached Pharaoh (Ex 5:1-3) but were met with scorn and increased burdens on the Israelites, leading to doubt and despair among the people and Moses himself (Ex 5:20-23; Ex 6:9). God then reaffirms His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and promises definitive action (Ex 6:2-8). Pharaoh, being a divine king in Egyptian thought, perceived as a god and mediator between humanity and the gods, presents a formidable opposition. This verse re-establishes the divine chain of command and emboldens Moses, setting the stage for the dramatic confrontation that will unfold through the plagues, directly challenging Pharaoh's authority and the power of Egypt's gods.

Exodus 7 1 Word analysis

• And the Lord said:

  • And: Connects directly to the preceding narrative, showing a continuation of God's interaction with Moses following the setbacks.
  • The Lord (יְהוָה - Yahweh): The covenantal, personal, and supreme name of God, emphasizing His self-existent and immutable nature. This highlights that it is the ultimate, true God who is empowering Moses.
  • said: Implies direct divine communication, establishing the word as authoritative and divinely inspired.

• to Moses,

  • Moses (מֹשֶׁה - Mosheh): The specific individual chosen by God. His name often associated with being "drawn out" (from water), symbolically linking him to the deliverance of Israel. God is commissioning a human agent.

• "See,

  • See (רְאֵה - ra'ah): An imperative verb, a command to pay close attention. It calls for Moses to understand the profound reality of what is about to be revealed regarding his new status.

• I have made you

  • I (אָנֹכִי - anokhi): Emphatic first-person singular pronoun, stressing God's singular authorship and power in this appointment.
  • have made (נָתַתִּי - natati): Perfect tense verb, meaning "I have given" or "I have placed/appointed." It signifies a completed action with lasting effect. This is a divine declaration, not a human aspiration.

• as God

  • as (כְּ - k'rah): The Hebrew preposition kə (pronounced "k'rah"), meaning "like" or "as." This is crucial; Moses does not become God in essence but acts as God's authoritative representative.
  • God (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): The generic term for "God" or "gods." In this context, it signifies Moses being endowed with God's authority, power, and judicial capacity over Pharaoh. Moses will act with God's sovereignty, manifesting divine judgment and decree before a ruler who considers himself divine and controls a pantheon of gods. This is a direct challenge (polemic) to Pharaoh's self-deification and the efficacy of Egypt's gods. Moses becomes God's regent or plenipotentiary.

• to Pharaoh,

  • Pharaoh (פַּרְעֹה - Par'oh): The Egyptian king, seen by his people as a divine figure, often a living manifestation of Horus. He represents the highest human authority and the culmination of pagan power. Moses' confrontation is directly against this perceived divine and worldly power.

• and Aaron your brother

  • and: Connects Aaron's role as subordinate to Moses' primary one.
  • Aaron (אַהֲרֹן - Aharon): Moses' older brother, previously appointed as Moses' spokesman.
  • your brother: Highlights their familial relationship and previously established partnership (Ex 4:14-16).

• shall be your prophet."

  • shall be: Indicates a definitive future role, a divine assignment.
  • your prophet (נְבִיאֲךָ - nəvi’akha): Naviy meaning "prophet," "spokesman," or "proclaimer." In the biblical context, a prophet is one who speaks for God (or for someone imbued with divine authority). Here, Aaron receives messages from Moses and communicates them to Pharaoh. This establishes a clear chain of communication and authority: God to Moses, Moses to Aaron, Aaron to Pharaoh. This sets a paradigm for prophetic mediation, distinguishing true divine revelation from pagan practices.

Exodus 7 1 Bonus section

• The elevation of Moses to function "as God" to Pharaoh is a direct theological counter-argument (polemic) against the prevailing Egyptian worldview, where Pharaoh himself was considered divine. It effectively declares Yahweh's complete superiority over the false gods and the deified king of Egypt.
• This verse provides a crucial understanding of "prophet" (naviy) as one who speaks with the authority and words of another—in this case, Aaron speaking for Moses, who is speaking for God. This pattern of representation is vital to understanding the entire prophetic tradition in the Bible.
• The phrase "I have made you as God" is not unique in scripture for humans exercising authority. Psalm 82:6 describes judges as "gods," meaning they represent God's divine justice on earth. Moses' role here extends beyond judicial; it includes executive power to enforce divine will through miraculous signs and judgments.
• This commissioning marks God empowering a previously reluctant and doubting servant to confront the most powerful empire of his time, emphasizing that God qualifies those He calls, equipping them beyond their natural abilities.

Exodus 7 1 Commentary

Exodus 7:1 is a profoundly significant verse, marking a shift in the narrative as God escalates His engagement with Pharaoh and Israel's deliverance. It underscores God's unwavering sovereignty and commitment to His covenant promises. By declaring Moses "as God to Pharaoh," God invests Moses with absolute divine authority, not essence. Moses becomes the supreme agent through whom God will demonstrate His power and execute judgment upon Pharaoh and Egypt. This endowment equips Moses to face the arrogant and "divine" Pharaoh, acting as God's representative with full backing to pronounce plagues and execute decrees that reveal Yahweh's unparalleled might over all lesser "gods" and earthly rulers. Aaron's role as prophet clarifies the immediate mechanism: he will vocalize Moses' divine declarations, just as a true prophet speaks for God, leaving no ambiguity about the origin and power of the pronouncements made. This divine chain of command prepares for the ultimate showdown, affirming God's unfettered control even over the hardened heart of Pharaoh, fulfilling His predetermined plan for Israel's liberation and His own glorification.