Exodus 5:2

Authorized King James Version

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And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

Original Language Analysis

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר said H559
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר said
Strong's: H559
Word #: 1 of 19
to say (used with great latitude)
פַּרְעֹ֔ה And Pharaoh H6547
פַּרְעֹ֔ה And Pharaoh
Strong's: H6547
Word #: 2 of 19
paroh, a general title of egyptian kings
מִ֤י H4310
מִ֤י
Strong's: H4310
Word #: 3 of 19
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
יְהוָ֔ה Who is the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֔ה Who is the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 4 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 5 of 19
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
אֶשְׁמַ֣ע that I should obey H8085
אֶשְׁמַ֣ע that I should obey
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 6 of 19
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
בְּקֹל֔וֹ his voice H6963
בְּקֹל֔וֹ his voice
Strong's: H6963
Word #: 7 of 19
a voice or sound
אֲשַׁלֵּֽחַ׃ go H7971
אֲשַׁלֵּֽחַ׃ go
Strong's: H7971
Word #: 8 of 19
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 9 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל neither will I let Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל neither will I let Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 10 of 19
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
לֹ֤א H3808
לֹ֤א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 11 of 19
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ I know H3045
יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ I know
Strong's: H3045
Word #: 12 of 19
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 13 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יְהוָ֔ה Who is the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֔ה Who is the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 14 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְגַ֥ם H1571
וְגַ֥ם
Strong's: H1571
Word #: 15 of 19
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 16 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל neither will I let Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל neither will I let Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 17 of 19
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
לֹ֥א H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 18 of 19
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אֲשַׁלֵּֽחַ׃ go H7971
אֲשַׁלֵּֽחַ׃ go
Strong's: H7971
Word #: 19 of 19
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

Analysis & Commentary

Pharaoh's response 'Who is the LORD (יְהוָה) that I should obey his voice?' reveals the central conflict: will Egypt's god-king submit to Israel's God? His claim 'I know not the LORD' demonstrates willful ignorance—the plagues will answer this question definitively. This rejection initiates the progressive revelation of God's power.

Historical Context

Egyptian pharaohs claimed divine status as incarnations of Horus and sons of Ra. Pharaoh's question reflects the Egyptian worldview where national gods competed for supremacy. His refusal anticipates the theological confrontation between YHWH and Egypt's pantheon.

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