Exodus 7:2 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

Exodus 7:2 kjv

Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

Exodus 7:2 nkjv

You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land.

Exodus 7:2 niv

You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country.

Exodus 7:2 esv

You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land.

Exodus 7:2 nlt

Tell Aaron everything I command you, and Aaron must command Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country.

Exodus 7 2 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
Ex 3:7-10	I have surely seen the affliction of My people... I have come down to deliver them... I will send you to Pharaoh.	God's intent to deliver Israel through Moses.
Ex 4:10-16	O my Lord, I am not eloquent... So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man's mouth?... I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” ... And also, look, Aaron your brother... shall be your spokesman.	God empowers Moses and appoints Aaron due to Moses's perceived lack of eloquence.
Ex 4:28	Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him...	Moses communicated all divine instructions to Aaron.
Ex 7:1	See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.	Moses functions as God's representative; Aaron as Moses's voice/prophet.
Deut 18:18	I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put My words in His mouth...	Foreshadows Christ, a greater prophet like Moses, delivering God's words.
Isa 55:11	So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please...	God's word, spoken through His chosen vessels, is effective and achieves His purpose.
Jer 1:7, 9	You shall go to all to whom I send you... Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth."	God commands and empowers His prophets to speak His exact words.
Ez 2:7	You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse...	Prophets are commanded to deliver God's message faithfully regardless of audience response.
Matt 10:20	For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.	Divine inspiration ensures faithful proclamation of God's message.
Jn 12:49-50	For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command... Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.	Christ perfectly exemplified speaking "all that I command you."
Acts 3:22-23	For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet... Him you shall hear in all things...'	A direct NT reference affirming Moses's prophetic role and prefiguring Christ.
Acts 7:35-36	This Moses whom they rejected... God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer...	Moses's divine appointment for leadership and deliverance.
Rom 9:17	For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you...”	God uses Pharaoh's resistance to display His ultimate power and glory.
Rom 10:17	So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.	Importance of God's spoken word for salvation.
2 Cor 5:20	Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us...	Believers act as Christ's spokespersons, relaying His message.
Eph 6:19-20	Pray for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel...	Paul's desire for bold proclamation of God's truth.
1 Pet 4:11	If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God...	Speaking faithfully what God has revealed.
Heb 1:1-2	God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son...	God's continuous revelation through various channels, culminating in Christ.
Ps 33:10-11	The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the LORD stands forever...	God's sovereign will (His command) triumphs over all human opposition.
2 Tim 3:16	All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable...	The Bible itself is the written form of "all that I command you."
Lev 8:36	So Aaron and his sons did all the things that the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses.	Aaron's later obedience to Moses, who relayed God's commands.
Josh 1:7-8	Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you...	Command to obey God's full word given through Moses.

Exodus 7 verses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Exodus 7 2 Meaning

Exodus 7:2 outlines the specific roles of Moses and Aaron in communicating God's will to Pharaoh. It is a direct divine instruction, emphasizing that Moses is to speak "all" that God commands him, without alteration or omission. Aaron, as Moses's appointed spokesperson, is then to convey this entire divine message to Pharaoh, demanding the immediate release of the Israelites from his land. This establishes God's absolute authority and the non-negotiable nature of His demand for the deliverance of His people.

Exodus 7 2 Context

Exodus 7:2 falls within the critical preparations for the showdown between God and Pharaoh. Chapter 6 recounts God reiterating His covenant promises to Moses, yet also Moses's renewed lack of faith in the people hearing him, leading God to emphatically remind Moses of his mission. Moses again expresses inadequacy, questioning his "uncircumcised lips." In response, Exodus 7:1 directly establishes Moses's authoritative position before Pharaoh ("as God") and Aaron's role as his prophet. Verse 2 elaborates on the precise communication chain: God speaks to Moses, Moses speaks all those words to Aaron, and Aaron then articulates them to Pharaoh. This verse marks the immediate prelude to the confrontation with Pharaoh and the onset of the plagues, firmly placing the subsequent events as direct fulfillments of God's commanded word, mediated through His chosen servants. Historically, this scene unfolds within the context of ancient Egypt, where Pharaoh was considered a divine ruler and resistance to his decrees was unthinkable.

Exodus 7 2 Word analysis

You (אַתָּה - attah): Emphatic masculine singular pronoun, referring specifically to Moses. This highlights Moses's unique and direct relationship with God as the primary recipient of divine instruction, distinct from Aaron's role.
shall speak (תְדַבֵּר - t'dabber): Verb, Piel imperfect of דָּבַר (davar), meaning "to speak, utter, declare." The Piel stem often implies an intensive or causative action, suggesting a deliberate, full, and articulate declaration. The imperfect tense indicates continuous or repeated action, emphasizing Moses's ongoing responsibility.
all (כָּל־ - kol): A comprehensive term meaning "all," "every," "whole." This is crucial as it signifies the completeness and non-negotiable nature of God's commands. Nothing is to be added or subtracted.
that I command you (אֲשֶׁר אֲצַוֶּךָּ - asher atzavveka): asher means "which, that"; atzavveka is Qal imperfect, 1st person singular with 2nd person singular suffix from צָוָה (tzavah), "to command, appoint." This clearly states the source of the message (God) and its authoritative nature as a divine decree or instruction.
and Aaron your brother (אַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ - Aharon achikha): Aaron (אַהֲרֹן) is the specific name of Moses's older brother; achikha is "your brother." This reiterates the established relationship and validates Aaron's role as divinely designated.
shall tell Pharaoh (יְדַבֵּר אֶל־פַּרְעֹה - y'dabber el-Par'oh): y'dabber (same verb as "shall speak," Piel imperfect) here indicates Aaron's specific action. el (unto, to) indicates the direction of speech, clearly targeting Pharaoh. Par'oh is the generic title for the Egyptian king.
to let the children of Israel go out (לְשַׁלַּח אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - l'shallach et-b'nei Yisrael): l'shallach (infinitive construct of שָׁלַח - shalach, "to send, stretch out, release") denotes the purpose or outcome of Aaron's declaration. b'nei Yisrael is "sons of Israel," or the "people of Israel."
out of his land (מֵאַרְצוֹ - me'artzo): me (from, out of) + artzo (his land). This specifies the precise location from which Israel must depart, emphasizing a full and definitive separation from Egypt's dominion.

Words-Group Analysis

"You shall speak all that I command you": This phrase emphasizes the complete divine inspiration and authority behind the message Moses is to deliver. It highlights his role as a faithful recipient and transmitter of God's entire word, with no allowance for alteration or selective revelation. This sets a precedent for prophetic faithfulness throughout Scripture.
"Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh": This clarifies the designated chain of command and communication. Moses receives directly from God; Aaron is the immediate mouthpiece to the hostile power. This arrangement accommodates Moses's reluctance and serves as a model for delegated authority within God's plan.
"to let the children of Israel go out of his land": This states the ultimate divine command and immediate objective. It's a definitive, non-negotiable demand for complete liberation, a spiritual and physical Exodus. This is the core message and God's primary purpose at this juncture. The emphasis on "his land" underscores God's direct challenge to Pharaoh's sovereign territorial control.

Exodus 7 2 Bonus section

The specific language "You shall speak all that I command you" (Moses) and "Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh" implies not just a relay of information but a full, forceful, and authorized proclamation. This structure ensures that Pharaoh, though powerful, hears God's uncompromising decree directly, even if through human intermediaries. The consistency of the message across the divine-human chain is crucial for establishing God's unwavering resolve and exposing the obstinacy of Pharaoh. This pattern of God speaking through a prophet (Moses) and that prophet having an advocate/spokesperson (Aaron) foreshadows principles of communication within God's kingdom, where diverse roles contribute to the unified promulgation of truth.

Exodus 7 2 Commentary

Exodus 7:2 succinctly delineates the divine communication structure for the confrontation with Pharaoh. God speaks His complete will ("all that I command you") directly to Moses, signifying Moses's unique position as God's chief prophet and messenger. Moses's responsibility is absolute obedience in reception and transmission. Aaron, in turn, acts as Moses's divinely appointed mouthpiece to Pharaoh, effectively bridging the divine message with the earthly ruler. This passage underscores God's active involvement in the process of redemption, asserting His sovereignty through clearly communicated demands. It sets the stage for a dramatic conflict where divine power will demonstrably overcome human resistance and idolatrous authority, as God's exact word, once declared, will assuredly come to pass, securing Israel's freedom. The verse serves as a foundational declaration of God's unchanging will and the faithfulness of His appointed agents in relaying that will for the purposes of redemption and the glorification of His name.