Exodus 3:21
And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This promise is a profound statement about God's sovereignty, not just over the Israelites, but over the hearts of their oppressors. It reveals that even in their deepest oppression, God was actively working to secure not only their freedom but also their provision, turning the very people who enslaved them into instruments of their enrichment.
After God reveals Himself to Moses in the burning bush and commissions him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He foretells the king's resistance and the plagues that will follow. God then assures Moses that just before their departure, the Israelites will gain the favor of the Egyptians, who will not only permit them to leave but will also generously provide them with valuable possessions. This divine intervention is described as a divinely orchestrated compensation for the Israelites' long suffering and exploitation.
Imagine leaving a place where you've been enslaved. What do you take with you? God promises His people won't leave empty-handed.
God orchestrates events so that the very people who oppressed Israel would provide them with abundant wealth. This wasn't a result of clever manipulation by the Israelites, but a direct act of God's grace.
Centuries of brutal labor, with no reward. How does God view such injustice? This promise is about more than just wealth; it's about divine justice.
The act of the Israelites taking riches from the Egyptians, often described as 'spoiling,' was not theft. It was God's righteous redistribution of wealth, compensating His people for their suffering and unpaid labor.
Understand the original words
chen · Hebrew Noun
In a biblical context, this refers to kindness, grace, or goodwill shown by one party to another, often implying an unmerited positive disposition that leads to beneficial action. It describes the divine influence on the hearts of others to act favorably toward God's people.
reqam · Hebrew Adjective/Adverb
To be without substance, resources, or purpose; in this context, it implies departing without the compensation or provisions expected after generations of forced labor.
This promise of favor and riches wasn't just a handout; it was a divine reversal of fortune, compensating the Israelites for centuries of brutal slave labor and injustice under Egyptian oppression.
c. 1550 BC
New Kingdom Period Begins
The expulsion of the Hyksos and the establishment of the New Kingdom marked a period of strong Egyptian rule and expansion, during which the enslavement of foreign populations, including the Israelites, intensified.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Exodus from Egypt
God calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery after centuries of oppression. This event is the direct context for the promise of divine favor and material provision.
c. 1446 BC
Plagues of Egypt Culminate
A series of ten devastating plagues struck Egypt, culminating in the death of the firstborn, which finally broke Pharaoh's resistance and led to the Israelites' departure.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Depart Egypt
Following Pharaoh's reluctant agreement, the Israelites leave Egypt, taking with them the riches they had requested from the Egyptians, fulfilling God's promise.
This passage directly foreshadows the event described in Exodus 3:21, stating that Abraham's descendants would be oppressed and then depart with great wealth, fulfilling God's promise.
Exodus 12:35-36These verses describe the actual event of the Israelites leaving Egypt, explicitly mentioning how they asked the Egyptians for silver and gold articles and 'spoiled' them, directly illustrating the promise made in Exodus 3:21.
Psalm 105:37This psalm recounts the Exodus narrative, confirming that God 'brought them out with silver and gold' and that 'there was not a weak man among their tribes,' highlighting the fulfillment of God's promise of provision and favor.
Nehemiah 9:21This prayer looks back at the Exodus, testifying that God 'gave them sustenance in the wilderness' and that they 'lacked nothing,' underscoring the provision and sustenance that resulted from God granting them favor and wealth.
gillExodus 3:21: "And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:"
And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians,.... That is, give the Israelites favour in their sight, a little before their departure, who should be ready to do anything for them, or bestow anything upon them; or however lend them what they would desire, being glad to be at peace with them, or get rid of them, for whose sakes th…
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…
This promise is a profound statement about God's sovereignty, not just over the Israelites, but over the hearts of their oppressors. It reveals that even in their deepest oppression, God was actively working to secure not only their freedom but also their provision, turning the very people who enslaved them into instruments of their enrichment.
After God reveals Himself to Moses in the burning bush and commissions him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He foretells the king's resistance and the plagues that will follow. God then assures Moses that just before their departure, the Israelites will gain the favor of the Egyptians, who will not only permit them to leave but will also generously provide them with valuable possessions. This divine intervention is described as a divinely orchestrated compensation for the Israelites' long suffering and exploitation.
After God reveals Himself to Moses in the burning bush and commissions him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He foretells the king's resistance and the plagues that will follow. God then assures Moses that just before their departure, the Israelites will gain the favor of the Egyptians, who will not only permit them to leave but will also generously provide them with valuable possessions. This divine intervention is described as a divinely orchestrated compensation for the Israelites' long suffering and exploitation.
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c. 1446 BC
Crossing the Red Sea
As the Israelites flee, Pharaoh's army pursues them, only to be destroyed when God miraculously parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross to safety.
"And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty," — This promise is a profound statement about God's sovereignty, not just over the Israelites, but over the hearts of their oppressors. It reveals that even in their deepest oppression, God was actively…
