Exodus 4:22

22 Then say to the king, '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 his sons, put them on a donkey, and started back to Egypt. He took with him the walking stick of God.

21 The Lord said to Moses, "When you get back to Egypt, do all the miraclesd I have given you the power to do. Show them to the king of Egypt. But I will make the king very stubborn, and he will not let the people go.

22 Then say to the king, 'This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son.

23 I told you to let my son go so he may worship me. But you refused to let Israel go, so I will kill your firstborn son.'"

24 As Moses was on his way to Egypt, he stopped at a resting place for the night. The Lord met him there and tried to kill him.