Exodus 2:14
He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
What's easy to miss here is the profound irony: Moses intervenes out of righteous anger and a desire to help his oppressed people, but his actions are immediately met with suspicion and rejection by those he sought to save. The Israelite's sharp question, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us?" reveals that Moses' act of justice was perceived as an act of arrogant overreach, exposing the deep chasm between his intentions and his people's readiness to accept his leadership.
Fresh from a dramatic act of violence—killing an Egyptian taskmaster who was beating one of his Israelite kinsmen—Moses tries to intervene in an argument between two Hebrews. Instead of being thanked, he is harshly rebuked by one of them, who questions his authority and points out that his past action has now been discovered, filling Moses with fear for his life and leading to his flight from Egypt.
Moses intervenes, thinking he's doing the right thing, but his actions are immediately questioned. What happens when our good intentions lead to unexpected backlash?
Moses, having just acted with courage to save an Israelite from an Egyptian oppressor, is met not with gratitude, but with a sharp challenge. The Israelite he saved immediately questions his authority: "Who made you a prince and a judge over us?" This moment reveals a crucial aspect of leadership and intervention.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Exodus 2:14 is available in the Sola app.
The immediate aftermath of his deed plunges Moses into fear. What does his fear reveal about his readiness for the enormous task ahead?
In the wake of the Israelite's bitter retort and the potential exposure of his act, Moses is overcome with fear. His thought, “Surely the thing is known,” signals a profound internal shift.
Understand the original words
sar · Hebrew Noun
A title indicating a leader, ruler, or one who exercises authority; often implies someone set apart for governance, administration, or advocacy.
shaphat · Hebrew Noun/Verb
One who discerns truth and renders verdicts; in a biblical context, it implies the authority to arbitrate disputes and enforce justice according to God’s law.
yare · Hebrew Verb
A reaction to perceived danger or the consequences of one's actions; while it can be sinful, it is also a natural human response to looming judgment or life-threatening circumstances.
Moses's impulsive act of violence, though stemming from a desire for justice, reveals his unpreparedness for leadership and triggers his exile, forcing him into a forty-year period of spiritual formation in the wilderness before God's appointed time.
c. 1446 BC
Moses's Birth and Early Life
Moses is born into the Hebrew slave class in Egypt, miraculously preserved from Pharaoh's decree and raised in Pharaoh's own household.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Moses's Flight to Midian
After killing an Egyptian overseer who was beating a Hebrew slave, Moses flees Egypt to escape Pharaoh's wrath, settling in Midian.
c. 1406 BC
Moses Settles in Midian
Moses marries Zipporah and becomes a shepherd, living a life far removed from the Egyptian court and the plight of his people.
c. 1406 BC
Pharaoh's Death
Pharaoh, who had sought to kill Moses, eventually dies. This event, though not directly linked to Moses's immediate actions, marks the end of his pursuit.
Stephen's speech explicitly states that Moses thought his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, highlighting the disconnect between Moses' intentions and the Israelites' perception.
Hebrews 11:24-26This passage explains Moses' motives for identifying with the oppressed Israelites, choosing suffering over the riches of Egypt, which contrasts with the rebuff he received here.
Galatians 3:26-29This passage speaks to a deeper spiritual identity in Christ that transcends earthly distinctions, offering a theological lens on why the Israelites should have recognized Moses as a potential leader, regardless of his upbringing.
1 Corinthians 1:10The disunity and quarreling among the Israelites, as seen in this incident, echo the Apostle Paul's plea for unity in the Corinthian church, showing how divisions hinder God's work.
Proverbs 18:13This verse about answering before hearing perfectly describes the Israelite's rash and angry response to Moses, demonstrating a common human tendency to react defensively to correction.
clarkeExodus 2:14: "And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known."
And Moses feared - He saw that the Israelites were not as yet prepared to leave their bondage; and that though God had called him to be their leader, yet his providence had not yet sufficiently opened the way; and had he stayed in Egypt he must have endangered his life. Prudence therefore dictated an escape for…
calvinExodus 2:11-15: "And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren."
Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
Pharao etiam audito hoc sermone, quaerebat interficere Mosen. Et fugiens Moses a facie Pharaonis mansit in Madian, seditque…
What's easy to miss here is the profound irony: Moses intervenes out of righteous anger and a desire to help his oppressed people, but his actions are immediately met with suspicion and rejection by those he sought to save. The Israelite's sharp question, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us?" reveals that Moses' act of justice was perceived as an act of arrogant overreach, exposing the deep chasm between his intentions and his people's readiness to accept his leadership.
Fresh from a dramatic act of violence—killing an Egyptian taskmaster who was beating one of his Israelite kinsmen—Moses tries to intervene in an argument between two Hebrews. Instead of being thanked, he is harshly rebuked by one of them, who questions his authority and points out that his past action has now been discovered, filling Moses with fear for his life and leading to his flight from Egypt.
Fresh from a dramatic act of violence—killing an Egyptian taskmaster who was beating one of his Israelite kinsmen—Moses tries to intervene in an argument between two Hebrews. Instead of being thanked, he is harshly rebuked by one of them, who questions his authority and points out that his past action has now been discovered, filling Moses with fear for his life and leading to his flight from Egypt.
"He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.”" — What's easy to miss here is the profound irony: Moses intervenes out of righteous anger and a desire to help his oppressed people, but his actions are immediately met with suspicion and rejection by…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
