and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is less about recounting past events and more about God setting up a living testament. He wants the plagues to be so impactful that they become a story passed down through generations, ensuring that Israel—and even their descendants—will know Him as the Lord, not just as a distant deity but as the active, powerful force in their lives.
and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes right after God has reiterated His intention to harden Pharaoh's heart to display His power through further signs, specifically the plague of locusts. God instructs Moses to go to Pharaoh not just to pronounce the coming judgment, but also to ensure the event will become a foundational story, passed down through generations, so all will know the Lord's mighty acts. This instruction emphasizes the importance of remembering and retelling God's deliverance and power, which is the ultimate purpose behind the escalating plagues.
Why does God want you to remember and retell His actions? It’s more than just a history lesson; it's about shaping generations to come.
God instructs Moses to share the story of His powerful actions in Egypt with his children and grandchildren. This wasn't just a one-time event for the Israelites; it was meant to be a continuous teaching for all future generations.
A Legacy of Faith
God's interaction with Egypt wasn't just about punishment; it was a grand display of His sovereign power. What does this reveal about His character?
The plagues on Egypt were not random acts of destruction. God explicitly states in this context that He hardened Pharaoh's heart 'that I might show these my signs before him.' This highlights several key aspects of God's work:
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The Purpose of the Plagues
This shows that God's justice is intertwined with His mercy, even when that justice involves severe judgment. The aim is ultimately that people would know Him.
Understand the original words
alal · Hebrew Verb
To act or work in a specific manner toward someone, often involving judgment, providence, or divine intervention. It encompasses the entirety of God's actions in history in relation to His people and the nations.
This verse comes at the climax of the plagues, just before the final one that will force Egypt to let Israel go. God's intention here is not just to rescue His people but to create a powerful, living testimony that will be passed down through generations, reminding them of His sovereignty and power throughout their history.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Exodus from Egypt
Following the ten devastating plagues, God's people finally depart from Egypt after 430 years of slavery, led by Moses and Aaron.
c. 1446 BC
The Crossing of the Red Sea
Pharaoh's pursuing army is destroyed as God miraculously parts the Red Sea for the Israelites and then closes it upon the Egyptians.
c. 1446 BC
The Giving of the Law at Sinai
God establishes His covenant with Israel, giving them the Ten Commandments and the Law, setting them apart as His people.
c. 1406 BC
The Conquest of Canaan Begins
After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites, led by Joshua, begin to enter and conquer the Promised Land.
c. 1000 BC
The United Monarchy
Israel is united under King David, who establishes Jerusalem as the capital, and his son Solomon builds the First Temple.
c. 931 BC
The Divided Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the kingdom splits into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
586 BC
The Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem, destroys the Temple, and exiles much of the population to Babylon, ending the Davidic monarchy.
This passage echoes the command in Exodus, emphasizing the importance of recounting God's mighty deeds to future generations so they will trust in Him and remember His law. It highlights the educational and devotional purpose behind remembering God's acts of deliverance.
Psalm 105:1-5Similar to Exodus 10:2, this Psalm is a call to remember and make known God's wondrous works and judgments. It shows how the Exodus narrative became a foundational story for Israel's identity and worship, passed down through generations.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7This passage from Deuteronomy reinforces the idea found in Exodus that God's commands and acts should be taught diligently to children. It shows the ongoing importance of passing down spiritual heritage within the family structure.
Joshua 4:21-24After crossing the Jordan, Joshua instructs the Israelites to set up stones as a memorial, explicitly so their children will ask about them and remember God's mighty acts. This demonstrates the practical application of teaching future generations about God's power, just as Moses was commanded in Exodus.
gillExodus 10:2: "And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD."
And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son,.... Not of his sons and grandsons only; for Moses here, as Aben Ezra observes, was in the stead of Israel; and the sense is, that it should be told to their posterity in all succeeding ages: what things I have wrought i…
calvinExodus 10:1-6: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:"
And they shall cover the face of the earth, that. one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field.
Et operiet superficiem terrae, ut non possit videri terra: et comedet…
This verse is less about recounting past events and more about God setting up a living testament. He wants the plagues to be so impactful that they become a story passed down through generations, ensuring that Israel—and even their descendants—will know Him as the Lord, not just as a distant deity but as the active, powerful force in their lives.
This verse comes right after God has reiterated His intention to harden Pharaoh's heart to display His power through further signs, specifically the plague of locusts. God instructs Moses to go to Pharaoh not just to pronounce the coming judgment, but also to ensure the event will become a foundational story, passed down through generations, so all will know the Lord's mighty acts. This instruction emphasizes the importance of remembering and retelling God's deliverance and power, which is the ultimate purpose behind the escalating plagues.
This verse comes right after God has reiterated His intention to harden Pharaoh's heart to display His power through further signs, specifically the plague of locusts. God instructs Moses to go to Pharaoh not just to pronounce the coming judgment, but also to ensure the event will become a foundational story, passed down through generations, so all will know the Lord's mighty acts. This instruction emphasizes the importance of remembering and retelling God's deliverance and power, which is the ultimate purpose behind the escalating plagues.
"and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.”" — This verse is less about recounting past events and more about God setting up a living testament. He wants the plagues to be so impactful that they become a story passed down through generations, ens…
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Last reviewed October 2026