King James Version

What Does Exodus 32:13 Mean?

Exodus 32:13 in the King James Version says “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will ... — study this verse from Exodus chapter 32 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.

Exodus 32:13 · KJV


Context

11

And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? the LORD: Heb. the face of the LORD

12

Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

13

Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.

14

And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

15

And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Moses' second appeal is to זְכֹר (zechor, remember)—covenant faithfulness to the patriarchs אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיִשְׂרָאֵל (Avraham Yitzchak v'Yisra'el, Abraham, Isaac, and Israel). He specifically mentions they were עֲבָדֶיךָ (avadecha, Your servants), emphasizing their faithful relationship. Moses quotes God's own promise regarding seed multiplication (like stars) and land inheritance לְעוֹלָם (le'olam, forever). By appealing to covenant oath נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לָהֶם (nishba'ta lahem, You swore to them) בָּךְ (bach, by Yourself), Moses invokes God's unbreakable commitment—God cannot deny Himself (2 Tim 2:13).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Abrahamic covenant (Gen 12, 15, 17) was unconditional, depending solely on God's faithfulness. Moses wisely grounds his plea not in Israel's merit but in God's immutable promises.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does understanding covenant faithfulness strengthen your assurance of salvation?
  2. What promises of God can you 'remember' to Him in prayer during crisis?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
זְכֹ֡ר1 of 25

Remember

H2142

properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male

לְאַבְרָהָם֩2 of 25

Abraham

H85

abraham, the later name of abram

לְיִצְחָ֨ק3 of 25

Isaac

H3327

jitschak (or isaac), son of abraham

וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל4 of 25

and Israel

H3478

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

עֲבָדֶ֗יךָ5 of 25

thy servants

H5650

a servant

אֲשֶׁ֨ר6 of 25
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתָּ7 of 25

to whom thou swarest

H7650

to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)

לָהֶם֮8 of 25
H0
בָּךְ֒9 of 25
H0
וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר10 of 25

by thine own self and saidst

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

אֲלֵהֶ֔ם11 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אַרְבֶּה֙12 of 25

unto them I will multiply

H7235

to increase (in whatever respect)

אֶֽת13 of 25
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

לְזַרְעֲכֶ֔ם14 of 25

unto your seed

H2233

seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

כְּכֽוֹכְבֵ֖י15 of 25

as the stars

H3556

a star (as round or as shining); figuratively, a prince

הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם16 of 25

of heaven

H8064

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

וְכָל17 of 25
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הָאָ֨רֶץ18 of 25

and all this land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

הַזֹּ֜את19 of 25
H2063

this (often used adverb)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר20 of 25
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

אָמַ֗רְתִּי21 of 25

that I have spoken

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶתֵּן֙22 of 25

of will I give

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לְזַרְעֲכֶ֔ם23 of 25

unto your seed

H2233

seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

וְנָֽחֲל֖וּ24 of 25

and they shall inherit

H5157

to inherit (as a (figurative) mode of descent), or (generally) to occupy; causatively, to bequeath, or (generally) distribute, instate

לְעֹלָֽם׃25 of 25

it for ever

H5769

properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial


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 32:13 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 32:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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