And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While they believed and worshipped, what’s striking is that their belief and worship were a direct response to hearing God had seen their suffering and visited them. This highlights that for ancient Israel, God’s awareness and intervention in their suffering were the powerful triggers for faith and praise, not just abstract promises.
And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following a mysterious and terrifying encounter with God that nearly cost Moses his life, he and Aaron are reunited and then go to the elders of Israel. Aaron relays God's message and demonstrates the signs, leading the people to believe in Moses' divine commission and to worship God for finally addressing their suffering.
Imagine generations of suffering. Then, a message of hope arrives. What happens when a downtrodden people finally hear God's promises?
In Exodus 4:31, we see a remarkable moment: 'And the people believed.' This wasn't just a passive acceptance; it was a response to hearing that the Lord had 'visited' them and 'seen their affliction.'
Think about the weight of generations of slavery. For so long, their cries seemed to go unheard. Yet, when Moses and Aaron, empowered by God's signs, delivered the message, the people responded with faith. This faith was a direct result of understanding that God was not distant, but actively intervening in their suffering.
This moment stands in contrast to the Israelites' usual 'incredulous temper' (as noted in commentary). Often described as a 'faithless and stubborn generation,' their belief here is a powerful testament to God's faithfulness and the impact of His direct intervention.
God's attention is not casual. When Scripture says He 'looked upon' our affliction, it carries profound meaning for those in pain.
The phrase 'he had looked upon their affliction' is incredibly potent. It signifies more than just noticing; it implies deep empathy, recognition, and the precursor to divine action.
Commentaries emphasize that God 'taking cognizance of their cause and condition' (Poole) and looking 'with an eye of pity and compassion' (Gill) reveals a God who is intimately aware of the suffering of His people.
This wasn't a distant, indifferent gaze. It was a divine perception that saw their pain, understood its depth, and resolved to act. This assurance that God sees is often the first step toward hope in the midst of despair.
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How do we express deep emotion when words aren't enough? The Israelites' response shows worship as a full-body acknowledgment of God's grace.
The culmination of the people's response in Exodus 4:31 is profound: 'they bowed their heads and worshipped.' This wasn't just a mental assent; it was a physical act of devotion.
Commentaries highlight the significance of this posture. It's described as an 'act of respect and homage' (Pulpit), a sign of 'gratitude' (Benson), and a posture reflecting 'the majesty of God, and their own sinfulness and unworthiness' (Clarke).
This embodied worship, whether bowing the head or a deeper prostration, shows that true worship engages the whole person – body, soul, and spirit. It’s a tangible expression of acknowledging God's sovereignty and His merciful intervention in their lives. It’s an outward sign of an inward reality: God has acted, and they respond with awe and thankfulness.
Understand the original words
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of the one true God, signifying His eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His covenant promises toward His people.
paqad · Hebrew Verb
To look upon with intense concern, care, or intervention; in a biblical context, it implies God is not distant but actively observing and responding to the state of His people.
oniy · Hebrew Noun
Physical, emotional, or spiritual suffering, misery, or distress; it often describes the state of God's people under oppression, leading to their cry for deliverance.
shachah · Hebrew Verb
To bow down, prostrate oneself, or show supreme reverence; it is the physical act of acknowledging God's worthiness, sovereignty, and holiness.
This moment marks a crucial turning point where the oppressed Israelites, weary of their suffering, finally embrace the hope of divine intervention and place their faith in God's messengers.
c. 1446 BC
Israelite Sojourn in Egypt
The Israelites have been living in Egypt for generations, growing in number but facing increasing oppression and enslavement under a new dynasty.
c. 1446 BC
Moses' Encounter with God at the Burning Bush
God calls Moses from the burning bush, commissioning him to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery.
c. 1446 BC
Moses' Hesitation and Divine Signs
Moses expresses doubts about his ability to lead, and God grants him signs (staff to snake, hand to leprosy) and sends his brother Aaron to assist him.
c. 1446 BC
God's Confrontation with Moses
God confronts Moses, seeking to kill him due to the uncircumcised state of his son, an act Zipporah remedies, allowing Moses to continue his journey.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Moses and Aaron Address the Elders
Moses and Aaron gather the elders of Israel, relaying God's message of deliverance and performing the signs they were given.
c. 1446 BC
The People's Belief and Worship
Upon hearing God's message and witnessing the signs, the people believe in Moses and Aaron as God's chosen leaders and worship Yahweh.
This passage shows a similar physical posture of worship and gratitude when a significant divine promise is confirmed, mirroring the Israelites' response to God's intervention.
Psalm 78:22This Psalm contrasts the Israelites' immediate belief and worship in Exodus 4 with their typical 'faithless and stubborn' nature, highlighting the special significance of their response in this moment.
Luke 5:12This verse describes a leper falling on his face to worship Jesus, paralleling the deep humility and reverence expressed by the Israelites when they recognized God's presence and action on their behalf.
Matthew 8:2Similar to Luke 5:12, this account of the leper worshipping Jesus demonstrates a profound physical expression of faith and awe in the face of divine power, echoing the Israelites' worship.
1 Corinthians 11:30While focused on the Lord's Supper, this passage warns of judgment for disrespecting sacred acts, underscoring the importance of sincere worship and belief, as demonstrated by the Israelites in Exodus.
calvinExodus 4:24-31: "And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him."
And the Lord said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.
Dixit autem Jehova ad Aharon, Vade in occursum Mosi in desertum. Profectus est igitur, et occurrit ei in monte Dei, et osculatus est eum.
And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.…
bensonExodus 4:31: "And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped."
Exodus 4:31 . The people believed — That Moses was God’s messenger, sent for their deliverance, and bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah as the true God, and the God of their fathers, acknowledging his goodness, and testifying their gratitude for his thus graciously visiting them.
While they believed and worshipped, what’s striking is that their belief and worship were a direct response to hearing God had seen their suffering and visited them. This highlights that for ancient Israel, God’s awareness and intervention in their suffering were the powerful triggers for faith and praise, not just abstract promises.
Following a mysterious and terrifying encounter with God that nearly cost Moses his life, he and Aaron are reunited and then go to the elders of Israel. Aaron relays God's message and demonstrates the signs, leading the people to believe in Moses' divine commission and to worship God for finally addressing their suffering.
Following a mysterious and terrifying encounter with God that nearly cost Moses his life, he and Aaron are reunited and then go to the elders of Israel. Aaron relays God's message and demonstrates the signs, leading the people to believe in Moses' divine commission and to worship God for finally addressing their suffering.
"And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped." — While they believed and worshipped, what’s striking is that their belief and worship were a direct response to hearing God had seen their suffering and visited them. This highlights that for anci…
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Last reviewed October 2026