and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’
English Standard Version (ESV)
God's promise isn't just a vague assurance; by saying "I have said," He grounds this future deliverance in His past declarations and resolves. This emphasizes that His plan for Israel is not impulsive but part of a long-standing, intentional covenant that He is now bringing to fulfillment.
and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is speaking to Moses at the burning bush, reassuring him of His plan to rescue the Israelites from their brutal enslavement. After revealing His personal name and reminding Moses of His covenant with their ancestors, God declares His intention to lead them out of Egypt and into the promised land, currently occupied by various nations. This promise of a rich and fertile land flowing with milk and honey is the culmination of God's response to their cries and His remembrance of His covenant.
Ever feel like God's promises are vague or just wishful thinking? This verse shows us a God who is incredibly specific and deeply committed.
In Exodus 3:17, God uses the phrase 'I have said' to reveal the settled resolve behind His promise to deliver Israel. This isn't a hesitant 'I might' or a hopeful 'I wish,' but a determined 'I have resolved.' This echoes His earlier promises to Abraham (Genesis 15:13), showing His faithfulness across generations.
A Covenantal Commitment
God grounds His actions in His covenant. He is not acting impulsively but fulfilling a long-standing commitment. This means His promises are not dependent on our performance but on His character. The 'saying' here is about God's internal decision and declaration, a firm plan in His own mind, ready to be executed.
More Than Just Escape
The promise isn't merely to escape hardship; it's to enter a land specifically described as 'flowing with milk and honey.' This imagery speaks of abundance, provision, and a place where life can flourish. God's deliverance is always about moving His people from a place of suffering to a place of blessing and fullness.
Why list out all those names? What's the big deal about the Canaanites, Hittites, and the rest?
The specific enumeration of the Canaanite nations (Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites) in Exodus 3:17 serves multiple crucial purposes.
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Establishing God's Sovereignty
By naming these peoples, God is declaring His ultimate authority over the land. These nations might be powerful and deeply entrenched, but they are not beyond His control. He is sovereign over their lands and their destinies. This assures Israel that their future victory is not dependent on their own might, but on God's power over these inhabitants.
A Clear Vision of Inheritance
This detailed list provides a concrete picture of the inheritance God is giving. It wasn't a vague promise of 'a good land,' but a specific territory with defined occupants. This clarity would have served to focus Israel's hope and prepare them for the task ahead—displacing these specific peoples to claim their promised home.
Foreshadowing Future Battles and Blessings
While this verse promises deliverance, it also implicitly points to the challenges and triumphs to come. The land is 'flowing with milk and honey,' but it is currently occupied. The process of entering this land would involve conflict and conquest, a testament to God's power to give victory to His people.
Understand the original words
oniy · Hebrew Noun
A state of severe suffering, oppression, or distress. In a biblical context, it often refers to the trials and subjugation experienced by God's people before deliverance.
chalab debash · Hebrew Noun phrase
A poetic description of a land of abundance, fertility, and prosperity. It symbolizes the goodness of the inheritance God provides for His people.
This verse is deeply rooted in God's ancient covenant promises to Abraham. The mention of specific nations reflects the geopolitical reality of Canaan at the time of the Exodus, a land promised to Abraham's descendants centuries earlier.
c. 1845 BC
Abraham Receives Covenant Promise
God establishes a covenant with Abraham, promising him land and descendants who will be oppressed and then delivered. This sets the stage for the future enslavement and liberation of Israel.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Israel's Enslavement in Egypt
Centuries after the covenant, the descendants of Abraham have become a vast population enslaved in Egypt. Their suffering and cries reach God, initiating His plan for their deliverance.
c. 1446 BC
God Appears to Moses at the Burning Bush
God reveals Himself to Moses, commissioning him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This event is the direct context for the promise in Exodus 3:17.
c. 1446 BC
The Ten Plagues
Following Moses' confrontation with Pharaoh, God unleashes a series of devastating plagues upon Egypt to demonstrate His power and compel Pharaoh to let Israel go.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites depart from Egypt, marking the fulfillment of God's promise of deliverance after 400 years of oppression.
c. 1445 BC - 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites, under Joshua, begin the conquest of Canaan, driving out the nations previously inhabiting the land promised by God.
This passage directly echoes the promise of land to Abraham, showing that God's intention to give this land to His people was a covenant promise established long before the Exodus.
Deuteronomy 7:1This verse reiterates the promise of the land and explicitly names some of the same nations, highlighting the ongoing faithfulness of God in fulfilling His word to dispossess these inhabitants for Israel.
Joshua 3:10This passage refers back to the promised land, described as 'flowing with milk and honey,' and connects its inheritance to God's promise and His power to give victory.
Jeremiah 32:44This later prophetic passage speaks of God restoring His people and their land, referencing the land flowing with milk and honey, demonstrating the enduring nature of God's promises even after periods of exile.
calvinExodus 3:15-17: "And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."
- And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my na…
pooleExodus 3:17: "And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey."
No text from Poole on this verse.
God's promise isn't just a vague assurance; by saying "I have said," He grounds this future deliverance in His past declarations and resolves. This emphasizes that His plan for Israel is not impulsive but part of a long-standing, intentional covenant that He is now bringing to fulfillment.
God is speaking to Moses at the burning bush, reassuring him of His plan to rescue the Israelites from their brutal enslavement. After revealing His personal name and reminding Moses of His covenant with their ancestors, God declares His intention to lead them out of Egypt and into the promised land, currently occupied by various nations. This promise of a rich and fertile land flowing with milk and honey is the culmination of God's response to their cries and His remembrance of His covenant.
God is speaking to Moses at the burning bush, reassuring him of His plan to rescue the Israelites from their brutal enslavement. After revealing His personal name and reminding Moses of His covenant with their ancestors, God declares His intention to lead them out of Egypt and into the promised land, currently occupied by various nations. This promise of a rich and fertile land flowing with milk and honey is the culmination of God's response to their cries and His remembrance of His covenant.
"and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’" — God's promise isn't just a vague assurance; by saying "I have said," He grounds this future deliverance in His past declarations and resolves. This emphasizes that His plan for Israel is not impuls…
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Last reviewed October 2026