Exodus 3:20 Meaning Explained

Exodus 3:20

So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The text emphasizes that God's "wonders" are the means by which Egypt will finally release Israel, not just a display of power. This implies that the miraculous events are specifically designed to break Pharaoh's stubbornness, demonstrating that even the most hardened hearts will yield to God's unstoppable force.

What Exodus 3:20 means

God assures Moses that Pharaoh will not let the Israelites go willingly, even when they ask for a short journey to worship. He reveals that He will powerfully intervene by striking Egypt with His wonders, forcing Pharaoh to release them. This promise of divine intervention and ultimate victory is given to encourage Moses and the people before their difficult confrontation with the Egyptian king.

The Divine Hand of Judgment and Deliverance

Why would God describe His actions as 'stretching out His hand' to strike Egypt?

In Exodus 3:20, God declares, 'I will stretch out my hand, and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it.' This imagery is powerful and intentional.

A Visible Demonstration of Authority

The 'stretching out of the hand' is a visual metaphor for God's direct intervention and exercise of power. It's not passive; it's an active, deliberate act of judgment and, ultimately, deliverance. Think of it like a parent needing to firmly intervene when a child is in danger – the action is decisive.

Wonders as Signs of God's Sovereignty

God doesn't just intend to punish Egypt; He will do it with 'all the wonders.' These aren't mere random events. The plagues were extraordinary signs (miracles) designed to reveal God's supreme authority over nature, over the gods of Egypt, and over Pharaoh himself. Each wonder was a step in a divine plan to demonstrate His power and compel Pharaoh's obedience.

The Purpose of the Plagues

While the immediate effect is to 'strike Egypt,' the ultimate purpose, as stated in the verse, is that 'after that he will let you go.' The wonders are the means by which liberation is achieved. God's judgment on Egypt is inextricably linked to His liberation of His people.

Pharaoh's Stubbornness vs. Divine Power

Why did God have to promise such dramatic wonders to get Pharaoh to let His people go?

Exodus 3:20 reveals a crucial dynamic: the clash between human stubbornness and divine power.

The Predictable Resistance

God, in His foreknowledge, tells Moses, 'I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand' (Exodus 3:19, implied context). Pharaoh's heart is set against God and His people. His pride and tyranny won't yield to simple requests or even the display of ordinary authority.

Wonders as the Irrefutable Argument

Understand the original words

Original language

wondersפֶּלֶא

pele · Hebrew Noun

Signs, miracles, or extraordinary events performed by God to display His power and glory. They are designed to reveal His identity, confirm His message, and demonstrate His sovereignty over creation and nations.

Historical context

Written: Likely between the 15th and 13th centuries BC, during the New Kingdom period of Egypt.
Author: Traditionally Moses, though scholarly consensus suggests it was compiled by various sources over time.
Location: Written from the wilderness of Midian or on the way to the Promised Land.
Genre: Narrative, with significant use of divine dialogue and prophetic pronouncements.

Historical background

The context for this verse is the long-standing presence and eventual enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt, a situation that developed over centuries within the framework of Egyptian imperial power and labor demands. God's promise of 'wonders' signifies a divine intervention designed to shatter the entrenched power structures and deeply ingrained resistance of the Egyptian state.

c. 1550 BC
Expulsion of the Hyksos
The expulsion of the Hyksos, rulers of foreign origin, by native Egyptian dynasties marks the beginning of the New Kingdom. This event ushered in a period of strong, centralized rule and expansionist policies that may have contributed to increased vigilance and harshness towards foreign populations like the Israelites living in Egypt.
c. 1450 BC
Reign of Thutmose III
During the reign of Thutmose III, often called the 'Napoleon of Egypt,' the Egyptian empire reached its zenith. His extensive military campaigns and building projects likely reinforced Egyptian power and influence, potentially leading to increased enslavement of foreign labor to fuel these ambitions.
c. 1350 BC
Amarna Period and Imperial Decline
The Amarna Period saw a shift in religious and political focus under Akhenaten, followed by a restoration of traditional power. This era of internal upheaval and subsequent reassertion of control might have seen changes in the management of foreign labor, possibly leading to the increased oppression of the Israelites.

Key themes

01Divine power over nations
02God's wondrous works
03Judgement precedes release

Cross-references

Genesis 15:14

This passage directly parallels God's promise to judge the nation that oppresses His people after they have been enslaved, echoing the theme of divine intervention and retribution seen in Exodus 3:20.

Psalm 105:27

This verse describes God sending plagues upon Egypt, highlighting the 'wonders' God performed and their purpose in asserting His power against Pharaoh's resistance, similar to the divine hand described in Exodus 3:20.

Psalm 135:8-9

This passage recounts God striking down the firstborn of Egypt, a specific and powerful wonder that directly led to Israel's release, reinforcing the idea of God's mighty acts as the catalyst for liberation.

Isaiah 10:24-26

This prophecy speaks of God's anger against oppressive nations and His promise to break their yoke, mirroring the divine action against Egypt and the eventual freedom of His people.

Acts 7:36

Stephen recounts the Exodus narrative, emphasizing God working 'wonders and signs' in Egypt, directly referencing the miraculous displays of power that characterized Israel's liberation and God's judgment on their oppressors.

Scholarly commentary

Exodus 3:18-22: "And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God."

And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hat…

calvin

Exodus 3:20: "And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go."

No text from Poole on this verse.
poole

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What Exodus 3:20 means

Historical context

Written: Likely between the 15th and 13th centuries BC, during the New Kingdom period of Egypt.
Author: Traditionally Moses, though scholarly consensus suggests it was compiled by various sources over time.
Location: Written from the wilderness of Midian or on the way to the Promised Land.
Genre: Narrative, with significant use of divine dialogue and prophetic pronouncements.

Historical background

c. 1550 BC

Expulsion of the Hyksos

The expulsion of the Hyksos, rulers of foreign origin, by native Egyptian dynasties marks the beginning of the New Kingdom. This event ushered in a period of strong, centralized rule and expansionist policies that may have contributed to increased vigilance and harshness towards foreign populations like the Israelites living in Egypt.

c. 1450 BC

Reign of Thutmose III

During the reign of Thutmose III, often called the 'Napoleon of Egypt,' the Egyptian empire reached its zenith. His extensive military campaigns and building projects likely reinforced Egyptian power and influence, potentially leading to increased enslavement of foreign labor to fuel these ambitions.

c. 1350 BC

Amarna Period and Imperial Decline

The Amarna Period saw a shift in religious and political focus under Akhenaten, followed by a restoration of traditional power. This era of internal upheaval and subsequent reassertion of control might have seen changes in the management of foreign labor, possibly leading to the increased oppression of the Israelites.