Exodus 4:22

22 Then you will say to Pharaoh: This is what the Lord says: Israel is My firstborn son.

Exodus 4:22 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 4:22

And thou shall say unto Pharaoh
When arrived in Egypt, and in his presence: thus saith the Lord;
he was to declare to him that he came in his name, and by his orders, and, as an ambassador of his, required the dismission of the children of Israel out of Egypt: Israel [is] my son, [even] my firstborn;
as dear to him as a man's firstborn is, or as his only son: adoption is one of the privileges peculiar to Israel after the flesh, even national adoption, with all the external privileges appertaining to it, ( Romans 9:4 Romans 9:5 ) .

Exodus 4:22 In-Context

20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and set out for the land of Egypt. And Moses took God's staff in his hand.

21 The Lord instructed Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, make sure you do in front of Pharaoh all the wonders I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he won't let the people go.

22 Then you will say to Pharaoh: This is what the Lord says: Israel is My firstborn son.

23 I told you: Let My son go so that he may worship Me, but you refused to let him go. Now I will kill your firstborn son!"

24 On the trip, at an overnight campsite, it happened that the Lord confronted him and sought to put him to death.