Exodus 3:8
What does Exodus 3:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Exodus 3:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Exodus 3:8 means
God stated His clear intention to intervene and deliver His people from Egyptian bondage. He declared His plan to bring them out of Egypt into a promised land, a "good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey." This description of the land emphasizes its abundance and fertility. God meticulously listed the current inhabitants—Canaanite, Hittite, Amorite, Perizzite, Hivite, and Jebusite—underscoring the magnitude of the task and the certainty of God's power to overcome obstacles and fulfill His promise.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I have come down to take them out of the hands of the Egyptians, guiding them out of that land into a good land and wide, into a land flowing with milk and honey; into the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and I go down to deliver it out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to cause it to go up out of the land, unto a land good and broad, unto a land flowing with milk and honey--unto the place of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And knowing their sorrow, I am come down to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land into a good and spacious land, into a land that floweth with milk and honey, to the places of the Chanaanite, and Hethite, and Amorrhite, and Pherezite, and Hevite, and Jebusite.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good and spacious land, unto a land flowing with milk and honey, unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Context
This verse follows God's declaration of concern for His people's suffering, outlining His concrete plan for their deliverance. It describes not only the liberation from Egypt but also the destination, the Promised Land, providing both immediate and long-term hope. This forms the foundational promise upon which Moses's mission will be built.
v.7And Jehovah said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people that are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
v.8This passage
v.9And now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: moreover I have seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 8:7
For Jehovah thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills;
- Deuteronomy 1:7
turn you, and take your journey, and go to the hill-country of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the Arabah, in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and in the South, and by the sea-shore, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.
- Genesis 11:5
And Jehovah came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
- Nehemiah 9:22
Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and peoples, which thou didst allot after their portions: so they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
- Deuteronomy 26:9
and he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
- Psalms 91:15
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him, and honor him.
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