Exodus 14:4
What does Exodus 14:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Exodus 14:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Exodus 14:4 means
This verse declares God's explicit intention to harden Pharaoh's heart once more, compelling him to pursue Israel. This act serves a dual purpose: to acquire glory for God over Pharaoh and his army, and to make the Egyptians acknowledge the Lord's supreme power. The phrase "And they did so" confirms Israel's obedience to God's initial command to encamp, setting the stage for the fulfillment of God's declared plan to demonstrate His sovereignty and justice, not only for Israel but for Egypt.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he shall follow after them; and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host: and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah. And they did so.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord. And they did so.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he shall follow after them; and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host: and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah. And they did so.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I will make Pharaoh's heart hard, and he will come after them and I will be honoured over Pharaoh and all his army, so that the Egyptians may see that I am the Lord. And they did so.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and I have strengthened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hath pursued after them, and I am honoured on Pharaoh, and on all his force, and the Egyptians have known that I <FI>am<Fi> Jehovah;' and they do so.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I shall harden his heart and he will pursue you: and I shall be glorified in Pharao, and in all his army: and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord. And they did so.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he may pursue after them; and I will glorify myself in Pharaoh, and in all his host; and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah. And they did so.
Context
Building on God's foreknowledge in verse 3, this verse outlines the precise outcome of Israel's positioning. It establishes the divine purpose behind the impending confrontation: God's honor and the Egyptians' recognition of Him. This powerful declaration ensures the reader understands that the pursuing army is not an unexpected disaster but a divinely orchestrated event, leading directly to God's promised glory.
v.3And Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.
v.4This passage
v.5And it was told the king of Egypt that the people were fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people, and they said, What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 11:8
according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day.
- Exodus 4:21
And Jehovah said unto Moses, When thou goest back into Egypt, see that thou do before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in thy hand: but I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go.
- Romans 9:22
What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction:
- Exodus 14:17
And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them: and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
- Exodus 15:14
The peoples have heard, they tremble: Pangs have taken hold on the inhabitants of Philistia.
- Isaiah 2:11
The lofty looks of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.
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