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)
This verse highlights that God's wonders are not just for display, but are actively wielded to compel action, specifically to break the stubbornness of oppressive rulers and ultimately secure liberation. It reveals that even after experiencing God's powerful interventions, human hearts can still resist, requiring further demonstration of divine authority to yield.
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)
God has just instructed Moses to approach Pharaoh and ask for the Israelites' release, even predicting that Pharaoh will refuse unless compelled by a mighty hand. This verse reveals God's powerful intervention, promising to unleash a series of astonishing plagues upon Egypt to break Pharaoh's stubborn will and finally secure Israel's freedom. The context emphasizes that God's mighty acts, not just Moses' words, will ultimately bring about their liberation.
Pharaoh wouldn't budge, so God promised a dramatic intervention. What does it mean for God to 'stretch out His hand'?
When God says He will 'stretch out His hand,' it's not just a casual gesture. It signifies the full, intentional exertion of His supreme power.
A Divine Intervention
In Exodus 3:20, God tells Moses, 'I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it.' This isn't about Moses's own strength, but God's direct action. The 'wonders' (often translated as miracles) are spectacular, undeniable displays of His might, designed to break through hardened resistance.
More Than Just Plagues
While we know these wonders as the ten plagues, they represent God's active engagement with a situation. They are not random acts but purposeful interventions to demonstrate His sovereignty, expose the impotence of Egyptian gods, and ultimately liberate His people.
God's 'wonders' weren't just for show. What was the ultimate goal behind this divine display of power?
The plagues and wonders God brought upon Egypt had a dual purpose: to liberate Israel and to compel Pharaoh's submission.
Breaking Inflexible Will
Pharaoh's heart was hardened, meaning he was incredibly stubborn and resistant to God's command. The wonders were God's way of demonstrating that no human power, not even a Pharaoh's, could ultimately defy the Almighty. Each plague was a step in breaking down that resistance.
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God's Sovereignty Declared
Ultimately, these acts served to reveal God's absolute authority. By striking down Egypt with devastating plagues, God was showing that He alone is God, and His will cannot be thwarted indefinitely. Even Pharaoh, against his own will, would eventually 'let you go' because he was overpowered by God's might.
Understand the original words
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.
This verse describes God's promise to unleash His mighty power through a series of 'wonders' (the plagues) to compel Pharaoh's release of the Israelites, highlighting God's sovereign intervention in history to deliver His people.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Moses Appears Before Pharaoh
Moses, empowered by God, confronts Pharaoh and demands the release of the Israelites. God forewarned Moses that Pharaoh would refuse, not yielding even to mighty signs.
c. 1446 BC
First Ten Plagues Unleashed on Egypt
God unleashes a series of devastating plagues upon Egypt, demonstrating His power over Egyptian gods and natural forces, culminating in the death of the firstborn.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Depart Egypt
Following the final plague, Pharaoh, terrified and grieving, allows the Israelites to leave Egypt after centuries of enslavement. They also take wealth from the Egyptians.
This passage recounts the plagues of Egypt, mirroring God's promise to 'smite Egypt with all the wonders' He would perform, highlighting the comprehensive and awe-inspiring nature of God's judgment.
Psalm 105:27It directly states that God 'sent His messengers, and showed signs and wonders in Egypt,' emphasizing that the plagues were deliberate acts of God to display His power and bring about Israel's release.
Jeremiah 32:20-21This verse echoes the theme of God performing 'wonders and signs' in Egypt to deliver His people, showcasing a consistent pattern of divine intervention to rescue and establish His chosen people.
Matthew 11:20-22Jesus rebukes cities for not repenting despite the 'mighty works' done among them, drawing a parallel to Egypt's hardened heart and resistance to God's wonders, showing a common thread of human rebellion against divine authority.
Revelation 15:1This passage describes God's 'wonders and holy deeds' as a prelude to judgment, connecting the wonders in Egypt to God's ultimate acts of judgment and deliverance throughout history.
calvinExodus 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…
pooleExodus 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.
This verse highlights that God's wonders are not just for display, but are actively wielded to compel action, specifically to break the stubbornness of oppressive rulers and ultimately secure liberation. It reveals that even after experiencing God's powerful interventions, human hearts can still resist, requiring further demonstration of divine authority to yield.
God has just instructed Moses to approach Pharaoh and ask for the Israelites' release, even predicting that Pharaoh will refuse unless compelled by a mighty hand. This verse reveals God's powerful intervention, promising to unleash a series of astonishing plagues upon Egypt to break Pharaoh's stubborn will and finally secure Israel's freedom. The context emphasizes that God's mighty acts, not just Moses' words, will ultimately bring about their liberation.
God has just instructed Moses to approach Pharaoh and ask for the Israelites' release, even predicting that Pharaoh will refuse unless compelled by a mighty hand. This verse reveals God's powerful intervention, promising to unleash a series of astonishing plagues upon Egypt to break Pharaoh's stubborn will and finally secure Israel's freedom. The context emphasizes that God's mighty acts, not just Moses' words, will ultimately bring about their liberation.
"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." — This verse highlights that God's wonders are not just for display, but are actively wielded to compel action, specifically to break the stubbornness of oppressive rulers and ultimately secure liberat…
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Last reviewed October 2026