Exodus 5:2

Authorized King James Version

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.

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

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Exodus Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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