Exodus 3:20

20 for I shall hold forth mine hand, and I shall smite Egypt in all my marvels which I shall do in the midst of them; after these things he shall deliver you. (and so I shall stretch forth my hand, and I shall strike Egypt with all the miracles which I shall do in their midst; and then after these things he shall let you go.)

Exodus 3:20 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 3:20

And I will stretch out my hand
Or "therefore" ^F5 he would stretch out his mighty hand, exert his almighty power; and for this purpose was Pharaoh raised up, and his heart hardened, that God might show his power in him, and on him: and smite Egypt with all my wonders, which I will do in the midst
thereof:
with those wondrous plagues, the amazing effects of his almighty power, which were wrought by him in the midst of Egypt, by which their land, their rivers, their persons, and their cattle, were smitten: and after that he will let you go;
this is said for their encouragement, that their faith and patience might hold out, who otherwise seeing him so obstinate and inflexible, might be ready to despair of ever succeeding.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 (w) "ideo", "propterea", Noldius, p. 279.

Exodus 3:20 In-Context

18 And they shall hear thy voice; and thou shalt enter, and the elder men of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and thou shalt say to him, The Lord God of Hebrews hath called us; we shall go the way of three days into wilderness, that we offer to our Lord God. (And they shall hear thy voice; and then thou, and the elders of Israel, shall go to the king of Egypt, and thou shalt say to him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath called us; let us make journey for three days into the wilderness, so that we can offer our sacrifices to the Lord our God.)

19 But I know, that the king of Egypt shall not deliver you that ye go, but by strong hand; (But I know, that the king of Egypt shall not let you go, unless compelled by a strong hand;)

20 for I shall hold forth mine hand, and I shall smite Egypt in all my marvels which I shall do in the midst of them; after these things he shall deliver you. (and so I shall stretch forth my hand, and I shall strike Egypt with all the miracles which I shall do in their midst; and then after these things he shall let you go.)

21 And I shall give grace to this people before [the] Egyptians, and when ye shall go out, ye shall not go out void;

22 but a woman shall ask of her neighbouress, and of her that she is harboured with, silveren vessels, and golden, and clothes, and ye shall put those upon your sons and daughters, and ye shall make naked Egypt. (but a woman shall go to her neighbour, and to her whom she is harboured with, and shall ask for gold and silver jewelry, and for clothes, and ye shall put those things on your sons and your daughters, and so ye shall plunder Egypt.)