But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Pharaoh's question, "Who is the LORD?" isn't just ignorance; it's a radical dismissal based on his worldview. He implies that gods are local and tied to their people, so why should he, the supreme ruler of Egypt, know or obey a god he believes is only for the Hebrews? This reveals his deep-seated pride and his polytheistic assumptions, framing his defiance not just as political stubbornness but as a spiritual arrogance.
But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Moses and Aaron deliver God's command to Pharaoh, demanding the release of the Israelites to worship Him in the wilderness, Pharaoh dismisses them with contempt. He questions the authority of this unknown God, refusing to obey a deity he doesn't recognize and asserting his own supreme power as ruler of Egypt. Pharaoh's response reveals his ignorance of Jehovah and his belief that gods are exclusive to specific nations, thus demonstrating his absolute rejection of God's demand and setting the stage for the ensuing conflict.
Pharaoh's bold question, 'Who is the LORD?', wasn't just arrogance; it reflected a common worldview of his time. How did ancient people see their gods?
In Pharaoh's world, each nation or even locality had its own gods. These deities were often seen as having limited power, confined to their own people or region. Pharaoh, steeped in this polytheistic perspective, viewed the God of Israel as just another local deity, no different from Egypt's own gods. He wasn't necessarily denying the existence of all gods, but he was certainly questioning the authority and relevance of this particular God, Jehovah, over him and his kingdom. It was a challenge rooted in a very different understanding of the divine than the monotheistic claim made by Moses and Aaron.
Pharaoh declares, 'I do not know the LORD.' Was he truly ignorant, or was this a strategic dismissal? What's the difference?
Pharaoh's claim of not knowing Jehovah is complex. While he might not have personally encountered or heard of the specific name 'Jehovah' before Moses, his 'ignorance' was deeply intertwined with his defiance. It was a willful ignorance, a refusal to acknowledge the God of the Hebrews, whom he viewed as a lesser, local deity. His statement, 'neither will I let Israel go,' reveals that his 'not knowing' was a posture of rebellion, not just a lack of information. He was choosing not to know, because knowing would require obedience, which he was determined to withhold. This sets the stage for God to reveal Himself not just to Pharaoh, but to the entire world through overwhelming power.
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Understand the original words
shama · Hebrew Verb
To listen, heed, and submit to the authority of a speaker. In a biblical context, it implies compliance with divine or authoritative commands through action.
yada · Hebrew Verb
To possess experiential knowledge, discernment, or recognition of a person or reality. Pharaoh's claim of not knowing the Lord signifies a refusal to acknowledge His authority or divine status.
Pharaoh's dismissive 'Who is the LORD?' wasn't just ignorance; it reflected an Egyptian worldview where gods were local and limited in power. He couldn't comprehend a God whose authority extended beyond the Hebrews to challenge Egypt's sovereign.
c. 1850 BC
Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams
Joseph, a Hebrew slave, gains favor with Pharaoh by interpreting dreams, leading to his rise as second-in-command in Egypt. This event establishes a significant, albeit temporary, presence of Hebrews within Egyptian society.
c. 1700 BC - 1550 BC
The Hyksos Period in Egypt
Foreign rulers, known as the Hyksos, controlled Lower Egypt. While not directly stated, the Hebrews may have flourished during this period due to their integration facilitated by Joseph's rise.
c. 1550 BC
Expulsion of the Hyksos
Native Egyptian dynasties reasserted control, expelling the Hyksos. This marked a shift in Egyptian policy, potentially leading to increased suspicion and subjugation of foreign populations like the Hebrews.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Moses Appears Before Pharaoh
Moses and Aaron, acting on God's command, deliver Pharaoh the demand to "let my people go." Pharaoh's defiant response, 'Who is the LORD?', is the central moment of this verse, highlighting his ignorance and rejection of the Hebrew God.
c. 1446 BC
The Ten Plagues Begin
Following Pharaoh's refusal, God unleashes a series of devastating plagues upon Egypt. These were designed to demonstrate Jehovah's supreme power over all Egyptian gods and compel Pharaoh's submission.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
After the tenth plague, Pharaoh finally relents, allowing the Israelites to leave Egypt after 430 years of slavery. This marks the pivotal liberation of the Hebrew people.
This passage describes earthly rulers and kings conspiring against the Lord and his Anointed, echoing Pharaoh's defiant stance and his rejection of God's authority over him and his kingdom.
Isaiah 45:9-12This prophetic passage directly confronts the arrogance of those who question God's power and authority, highlighting the folly of mortals presuming to understand or challenge the Creator, much like Pharaoh's 'Who is the Lord?' question.
Job 38:1-11God Himself answers Job's deeper questions about suffering by demonstrating His supreme power and authority over creation, a profound counter-argument to Pharaoh's ignorance and denial of the Lord's sovereignty.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25This New Testament passage speaks of the 'foolishness' of God being wiser than men and the 'weakness' of God being stronger than men, directly addressing the arrogant dismissal of God's power that Pharaoh exhibits.
Romans 1:20-23This passage describes how humanity, despite having clear evidence of God's eternal power and divine nature, becomes futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts are darkened, leading them to worship created things instead of the Creator – a state that Pharaoh exemplifies.
ellicottExodus 5:2: "And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go."
(2) Who is the Lord ?—Heb., Who is Jehovah? If Jehovah was a name, the use of which had been laid aside, as would seem to have been the case by the later chapters of Genesis, and which was revived by the scene at the burning bush, Pharaoh may very probably not have heard of it. That I should obey his voice.—The king means to say, that, whoever Jehova…
gillExodus 5:2: "And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go."
And Pharaoh said, who is the Lord,.... Jehovah, they made mention of, which, whether he took it for the name of a deity, or of a king, whose ambassadors they declared themselves to be, was a name he had never heard of before; and this being expressed and pronounced, shows that this name is not ineffable, or unlawful to be pronounced, as say the Jews:…
Pharaoh's question, "Who is the LORD?" isn't just ignorance; it's a radical dismissal based on his worldview. He implies that gods are local and tied to their people, so why should he, the supreme ruler of Egypt, know or obey a god he believes is only for the Hebrews? This reveals his deep-seated pride and his polytheistic assumptions, framing his defiance not just as political stubbornness but as a spiritual arrogance.
After Moses and Aaron deliver God's command to Pharaoh, demanding the release of the Israelites to worship Him in the wilderness, Pharaoh dismisses them with contempt. He questions the authority of this unknown God, refusing to obey a deity he doesn't recognize and asserting his own supreme power as ruler of Egypt. Pharaoh's response reveals his ignorance of Jehovah and his belief that gods are exclusive to specific nations, thus demonstrating his absolute rejection of God's demand and setting the stage for the ensuing conflict.
After Moses and Aaron deliver God's command to Pharaoh, demanding the release of the Israelites to worship Him in the wilderness, Pharaoh dismisses them with contempt. He questions the authority of this unknown God, refusing to obey a deity he doesn't recognize and asserting his own supreme power as ruler of Egypt. Pharaoh's response reveals his ignorance of Jehovah and his belief that gods are exclusive to specific nations, thus demonstrating his absolute rejection of God's demand and setting the stage for the ensuing conflict.
"But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.”" — Pharaoh's question, "Who is the LORD?" isn't just ignorance; it's a radical dismissal based on his worldview. He implies that gods are local and tied to their people, so why should he, the supreme ru…
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Last reviewed October 2026