Exodus 3:18
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.
Original Language Analysis
וְשָֽׁמְע֖וּ
And they shall hearken
H8085
וְשָֽׁמְע֖וּ
And they shall hearken
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
1 of 26
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
וּבָאתָ֡
and thou shalt come
H935
וּבָאתָ֡
and thou shalt come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
3 of 26
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
6 of 26
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
לַֽיהוָ֥ה
to the LORD
H3068
לַֽיהוָ֥ה
to the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
12 of 26
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
God
H430
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
13 of 26
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
הָֽעִבְרִיִּים֙
of the Hebrews
H5680
הָֽעִבְרִיִּים֙
of the Hebrews
Strong's:
H5680
Word #:
14 of 26
an eberite (i.e., hebrew) or descendant of eber
נִקְרָ֣ה
hath met
H7136
נִקְרָ֣ה
hath met
Strong's:
H7136
Word #:
15 of 26
to light upon (chiefly by accident); specifically, to impose timbers (for roof or floor)
עָלֵ֔ינוּ
H5921
עָלֵ֔ינוּ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
16 of 26
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְעַתָּ֗ה
H6258
נֵֽלֲכָה
H1980
נֵֽלֲכָה
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
18 of 26
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
נָּ֞א
H4994
נָּ֞א
Strong's:
H4994
Word #:
19 of 26
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
דֶּ֣רֶךְ
journey
H1870
דֶּ֣רֶךְ
journey
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
20 of 26
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת
we beseech thee three
H7969
שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת
we beseech thee three
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
21 of 26
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
יָמִים֙
days
H3117
יָמִים֙
days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
22 of 26
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
בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר
into the wilderness
H4057
בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר
into the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
23 of 26
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
וְנִזְבְּחָ֖ה
that we may sacrifice
H2076
וְנִזְבְּחָ֖ה
that we may sacrifice
Strong's:
H2076
Word #:
24 of 26
to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)
Cross References
Exodus 9:1Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.Exodus 7:16And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.Exodus 9:13And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.Exodus 10:3And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.Psalms 110:3Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.Joshua 1:17According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.2 Chronicles 30:12Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.Numbers 17:4And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.
Historical 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.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the phased approach—starting with a three-day journey request—illustrate wisdom in confronting opposition gradually?
- What does the emphasis on sacrifice/worship as the purpose for leaving teach about prioritizing relationship with God over mere circumstantial improvement?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & 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.