Exodus 3:17
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)
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God's promise to bring them out of Egypt isn't just about escape; it’s about ascendancy. By saying "bring you up," God emphasizes a transition from a low, oppressed state to a higher, dominant position in a land already claimed by others. This highlights that their deliverance is not just rescue, but a divinely ordained takeover.
God is revealing Himself to Moses and commissioning him to lead the Israelites out of their brutal enslavement in Egypt. This promise of deliverance is rooted in God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, assuring them that He has heard their cries and remembers His promises. He declares He will bring them to a rich and abundant land, but this land is currently inhabited by several nations that will need to be displaced.
God's promises aren't just casual words; they are rooted in His eternal character and His covenant faithfulness.
In Exodus 3:17, God says, 'And I have said, I will bring you up...' This phrase, 'I have said,' signifies not just a spoken word, but a deep, settled resolve within God's own heart. It echoes His earlier promises made to Abraham (Genesis 15:13). God isn't making a new, tentative plan; He is enacting a long-standing decree. This highlights His faithfulness – He remembers His covenant and acts upon it, even after generations of suffering.
God’s rescue isn't just an escape; it's a purposeful movement from one state of being to another, with specific destinations.
The verse paints a vivid contrast between the Israelites' current reality and their future hope. They are 'out of the affliction of Egypt,' a place of harsh bondage and suffering, and are being brought 'unto a land flowing with milk and honey.' This isn't a vague or aimless deliverance.
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 promise wasn't just a vague hope; it was a divine assurance tied to God's enduring covenant and a direct response to centuries of brutal slavery and the displacement of the indigenous peoples of Canaan.
c. 1800 BC
Israelites Settle in Egypt
Following Joseph's rise to power, the Israelite people are invited to settle in the fertile land of Goshen in Egypt, enjoying prosperity for a time.
c. 1550 BC
New Dynasty in Egypt
A new Egyptian dynasty, possibly the Hyksos or a native dynasty following their expulsion, comes to power. This marks a shift in Egyptian policy and attitude towards foreigners, leading to increased oppression of the Israelites.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Moses Called by God
God appears to Moses in the burning bush at Mount Horeb, commissioning him to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. This is the direct context for God's promise in Exodus 3:17.
c. 1446 BC
The Ten Plagues
God unleashes a series of ten devastating plagues upon Egypt to demonstrate His power and compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites.
This passage describes God's covenant with Abraham, revealing to him that his descendants would be enslaved in Egypt for 400 years before being brought out to possess the land of the Canaanites, mirroring the promise made in Exodus 3:17.
Deuteronomy 6:10-12This text echoes the promise of entering a fertile land, warning the Israelites not to forget the Lord when they arrive in the 'great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, and houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not... wells digged, which thou diggedst not... vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not,' directly relating to the 'land flowing with milk and honey' promised.
Jeremiah 29:10-14This prophecy speaks of God's promise to bring the exiles back from Babylon to their own land, emphasizing that God 'will be found by you, saith the LORD: and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations,' similar to God gathering and restoring Israel from Egypt.
Nehemiah 9:7-8This prayer recounts God's faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham and His action in bringing Israel out of Egypt, acknowledging His love and commitment to bringing them to 'a land flowing with milk and honey,' reinforcing the historical fulfillment of the Exodus promise.
Matthew 11:28-30calvinExodus 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 to bring them out of Egypt isn't just about escape; it’s about ascendancy. By saying "bring you up," God emphasizes a transition from a low, oppressed state to a higher, dominant position in a land already claimed by others. This highlights that their deliverance is not just rescue, but a divinely ordained takeover.
God is revealing Himself to Moses and commissioning him to lead the Israelites out of their brutal enslavement in Egypt. This promise of deliverance is rooted in God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, assuring them that He has heard their cries and remembers His promises. He declares He will bring them to a rich and abundant land, but this land is currently inhabited by several nations that will need to be displaced.
God is revealing Himself to Moses and commissioning him to lead the Israelites out of their brutal enslavement in Egypt. This promise of deliverance is rooted in God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, assuring them that He has heard their cries and remembers His promises. He declares He will bring them to a rich and abundant land, but this land is currently inhabited by several nations that will need to be displaced.
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c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, depart from Egypt after 400 years of sojourning, a pivotal event in their history.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
Following their exodus, the Israelites journey through the Sinai Peninsula for 40 years, during which they receive the Law at Mount Sinai and prepare to enter the Promised Land.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin the military campaign to dispossess the various Canaanite peoples and claim the land promised to their ancestors.
Jesus invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest, offering a spiritual deliverance from affliction and a new kind of belonging. This echoes God's promise to deliver His people from hardship into a place of rest and provision.
"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 to bring them out of Egypt isn't just about escape; it’s about ascendancy. By saying "bring you up," God emphasizes a transition from a low, oppressed state to a higher, dominant positi…
