And the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
God doesn't just tell Moses to go back, but gives him the specific reason: all those who wanted him dead are gone. This reassures Moses that his past act of killing the Egyptian and the subsequent fear of reprisal is no longer a barrier to obeying God's call.
And the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having received permission from his father-in-law Jethro to return to Egypt, Moses is urged by God to go immediately, as the men who had sought his life forty years prior, including Pharaoh and his officials, are now dead. This assurance aims to remove Moses's fear and hesitation about returning to the land where he had committed a life-taking offense.
Moses had permission from his father-in-law to return to Egypt, but God's word is what truly launched him. Notice the urgency in God's command.
After receiving his commission at the burning bush, Moses appears to have hesitated. He had permission from Jethro to leave Midian, but God reiterates His command with an imperative: 'Go, return into Egypt.' This isn't a suggestion; it's a direct order. The forty years Moses spent in Midian had made him comfortable, perhaps even hesitant to face the power he had once defied. God's word cuts through any lingering doubt or fear, urging immediate action.
Moses had a past that could haunt him – he had killed an Egyptian. God addresses this hidden fear head-on, clearing the way for Moses' return.
Moses' reason for fleeing Egypt forty years prior was that the Pharaoh sought his life after he killed an Egyptian. This past deed and the potential for retribution would have been a significant source of anxiety. God, knowing Moses' heart even when unexpressed, reveals that 'all the men who were seeking your life are dead.' This isn't just a statement of fact; it's a divine reassurance. The threat has been neutralized. God is clearing the path, not just by commanding, but by removing the specific dangers that Moses might have feared.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the unique, personal name of the covenant God of Israel, YHWH. It signifies His eternal self-existence, faithfulness, and His active role in the redemption of His people.
This divine command to Moses is a pivotal moment, occurring after years of exile and uncertainty. God's reassurance that his former pursuers are dead not only removes a personal fear for Moses but also signifies that the oppressive regime under which he fled has fundamentally changed, paving the way for God's intervention.
c. 1490 BC
Moses kills an Egyptian overseer
Moses, in his youth, strikes and kills an Egyptian who was brutalizing an Israelite slave. This act forces Moses to flee Egypt to escape Pharaoh's wrath.
c. 1490 BC - c. 1450 BC
Moses lives in Midian
Moses finds refuge in Midian, marries Zipporah, and becomes a shepherd, living a life far removed from the Egyptian court and his former Egyptian enemies.
c. 1450 BC
God commissions Moses at the Burning Bush
God appears to Moses in a burning bush and commands him to return to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of slavery. Moses expresses initial reluctance and fear.
c. 1450 BC— this verse
God reassures Moses about his enemies
The LORD directly tells Moses to return to Egypt, assuring him that the officials who once threatened his life are now dead, removing a significant fear and obstacle.
c. 1450 BC
Moses returns to Egypt with Aaron
Moses, accompanied by his brother Aaron, travels back to Egypt and confronts Pharaoh, beginning the series of plagues and the demand for Israel's release.
This passage highlights God's initial commissioning of Moses to go to Egypt, setting the stage for the later instruction in Exodus 4:19 to actually return.
Numbers 20:12This verse shows a later instance where Moses and Aaron disobeyed God, resulting in their exclusion from the promised land, reinforcing the seriousness of obedience in carrying out God's commands.
Joshua 1:1-2Following Moses' death, Joshua is commissioned to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, illustrating the continuation of God's plan through different leaders, even after significant transitions.
Hebrews 11:24-27This passage in Hebrews describes Moses' faith and deliberate choice to identify with the Israelites, emphasizing the courageous faith required to obey God's call, even in the face of danger and the loss of royal privilege.
gillExodus 4:19: "And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life."
And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian,.... After he had obtained leave of his father-in-law to quit Midian, but before he left it: go, return into Egypt: that is, directly, immediately; before he had only given him a commission at large to go thither, but had not fixed the time when he should go; but now he orders him to set forward at once: for all the men are dead whi…
bensonExodus 4:19: "And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life."
Exodus 4:19-20 . The Lord said unto Moses — This seems to have been a second vision, whereby God calls him to the present execution of the command given before. The rod of God — His shepherd’s crook, so called, as it was God’s instrument in so many glorious works.
God doesn't just tell Moses to go back, but gives him the specific reason: all those who wanted him dead are gone. This reassures Moses that his past act of killing the Egyptian and the subsequent fear of reprisal is no longer a barrier to obeying God's call.
Having received permission from his father-in-law Jethro to return to Egypt, Moses is urged by God to go immediately, as the men who had sought his life forty years prior, including Pharaoh and his officials, are now dead. This assurance aims to remove Moses's fear and hesitation about returning to the land where he had committed a life-taking offense.
Having received permission from his father-in-law Jethro to return to Egypt, Moses is urged by God to go immediately, as the men who had sought his life forty years prior, including Pharaoh and his officials, are now dead. This assurance aims to remove Moses's fear and hesitation about returning to the land where he had committed a life-taking offense.
"And the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.”" — God doesn't just tell Moses to go back, but gives him the specific reason: all those who wanted him dead are gone. This reassures Moses that his past act of killing the Egyptian and the subsequent fe…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026