Exodus 3:20

20 And I will stretch out my hand, and I will strike Egypt with all of my wonders that I will do in its midst, and {afterward} he will release you.

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.


FOOTNOTES:

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

Exodus 3:20 In-Context

18 And they will listen to your voice, and you will go, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and you will say to him, 'Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews has met with us, and now let us please go [on] a journey of three days into the desert, and let us sacrifice to Yahweh our God.'
19 But I myself know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go {unless compelled by a strong hand}.
20 And I will stretch out my hand, and I will strike Egypt with all of my wonders that I will do in its midst, and {afterward} he will release you.
21 And I will give this people favor in the eyes of [the] Egyptians, {and then} when you go, you will not go empty-handed.
22 And a woman will ask from her neighbor and from the woman dwelling as an alien in her house [for] objects of silver and objects of gold and garments, and you will put [them] on your sons and on your daughters; and you will plunder Egypt."

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Literally "after so" or "after [I do] so"
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