King James Version

What Does Exodus 3:18 Mean?

Exodus 3:18 in the King James Version says “And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye ... — study this verse from Exodus chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

Exodus 3:18 · KJV


Context

16

Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:

17

And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

18

And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

19

And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. no: or, but by strong hand

20

And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God (וְשָׁמְעוּ לְקֹלֶךָ... יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִים נִקְרָה עָלֵינוּ וְעַתָּה נֵלְכָה־נָּא דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים בַּמִּדְבָּר)—God assures Moses: they shall hearken to thy voice (וְשָׁמְעוּ לְקֹלֶךָ)—Israel will believe. The delegation: thou and the elders—corporate leadership confronting Pharaoh. The message: The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִים, YHWH Elohei ha'Ivrim)—first use of "Hebrews" identifying Israel ethnically to Egyptians. The request: three days' journey... to sacrifice—initially seems like a temporary religious observance. Was this deception or a test? God knew Pharaoh would refuse even this modest request (v. 19), exposing his hardness.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The three-day journey request appears repeatedly (5:3, 8:27). Some interpret it as initial, tactical request that would be expanded; others as testing Pharaoh's willingness to permit any worship. Ancient Near Eastern protocol required respectful initial requests before escalating. The phrase 'sacrifice to the LORD' (זָבַח ליהוה) emphasizes worship as Israel's purpose—they're not just escaping slavery but pursuing covenant relationship with YHWH.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the phased approach—starting with a three-day journey request—illustrate wisdom in confronting opposition gradually?
  2. What does the emphasis on sacrifice/worship as the purpose for leaving teach about prioritizing relationship with God over mere circumstantial improvement?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 26 words
וְשָֽׁמְע֖וּ1 of 26

And they shall hearken

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

לְקֹלֶ֑ךָ2 of 26

to thy voice

H6963

a voice or sound

וּבָאתָ֡3 of 26

and thou shalt come

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

אַתָּה֩4 of 26
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

וְזִקְנֵ֨י5 of 26

thou and the elders

H2205

old

יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל6 of 26

of Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

אֶל7 of 26
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מֶ֣לֶךְ8 of 26

unto the king

H4428

a king

מִצְרַ֗יִם9 of 26

of Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

וַֽאֲמַרְתֶּ֤ם10 of 26

and ye shall say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֵלָיו֙11 of 26
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

לַֽיהוָ֥ה12 of 26

to the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃13 of 26

God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

הָֽעִבְרִיִּים֙14 of 26

of the Hebrews

H5680

an eberite (i.e., hebrew) or descendant of eber

נִקְרָ֣ה15 of 26

hath met

H7136

to light upon (chiefly by accident); specifically, to impose timbers (for roof or floor)

עָלֵ֔ינוּ16 of 26
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

וְעַתָּ֗ה17 of 26
H6258

at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive

נֵֽלֲכָה18 of 26
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

נָּ֞א19 of 26
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

דֶּ֣רֶךְ20 of 26

journey

H1870

a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb

שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת21 of 26

we beseech thee three

H7969

three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice

יָמִים֙22 of 26

days

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר23 of 26

into the wilderness

H4057

a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert

וְנִזְבְּחָ֖ה24 of 26

that we may sacrifice

H2076

to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)

לַֽיהוָ֥ה25 of 26

to the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃26 of 26

God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Exodus. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Exodus 3:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Exodus 3:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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