Exodus 5:2
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)
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Pharaoh's defiant question, "Who is the LORD?", reveals he's not just denying God's existence, but more crucially, denying His authority over him. He operates under the assumption that gods are local, like tribal chiefs, and since the God of the Hebrews isn't his god, He has no claim on his obedience. This showcases a profound ignorance, not of divinity itself, but of the universal sovereignty of the true God.
Moses and Aaron have just delivered God's demand to Pharaoh: let His people go to worship Him in the wilderness. Pharaoh, enraged by this audacious request from a formerly enslaved people and their God, dismisses their claim entirely. He declares he has never heard of this "LORD" and has no intention of obeying a deity he doesn't know, especially when it means releasing his valuable workforce.
Pharaoh's first response to God's command is a defiant question: "Who is the LORD?" This wasn't just ignorance; it revealed his entire worldview.
Pharaoh operated with a very human, localized understanding of deities. In his world, gods were often tied to specific nations, places, or peoples. He saw the God of Israel, Jehovah, as just another one of these – perhaps the tutelary deity of the Hebrews, but with no authority over him, the ruler of Egypt.
He couldn't comprehend a God whose power transcended national boundaries and demanded obedience from a mighty king. His response shows a profound lack of understanding of the LORD's sovereignty and universal power.
Pharaoh dismisses the name 'Jehovah' with scorn. But this name, revealed to Moses, carries immense theological weight and power.
The name 'Jehovah' (often translated as LORD in English Bibles) is not just a label; it's a revelation of God's eternal, active, and covenantal nature. For Pharaoh, it was an unknown name, perhaps a local god's name that held no sway in Egypt. His ignorance was willful and arrogant.
God’s strategy through the plagues was to make Himself known to Pharaoh and Egypt, demonstrating that Jehovah was not merely the God of the Hebrews, but the sovereign Lord over all gods and all creation. Pharaoh's scornful question was met with a series of undeniable demonstrations of divine power.
Pharaoh's response isn't just a lack of information; it's a hardened heart. His 'I will not' is as significant as his 'I do not know.'
Pharaoh’s declaration, “neither will I let Israel go,” reveals a deep-seated rebellion and pride. Even if he had known who the LORD was, his will was set against obeying Him. This highlights the nature of ungodly resistance: it’s often fueled by arrogance, self-interest, and a refusal to acknowledge any higher authority.
This isn't merely intellectual disagreement; it’s a choice to defy God. The narrative shows that God allows this stubbornness to play out, not because He is weak, but to demonstrate His power more fully and to reveal the depths of human depravity when set against divine will.
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 question reveals the deep-seated polytheism of Egyptian religion, where gods were often seen as local or national deities. He couldn't conceive of a God with universal authority who could command him, an earthly king.
c. 1648 BC
Joseph brought into Egypt
Joseph, a Hebrew, rises to power in Egypt, eventually leading his family to settle in the land of Goshen during a period of famine.
c. 1600-1500 BC
Hebrews multiply in Egypt
Over generations, the Israelite population grows significantly, becoming a large and industrious population within Egypt.
c. 1550 BC
New Kingdom begins; Hyksos expelled
A new dynasty of Egyptian rulers comes to power, expelling the Hyksos and establishing a strong, centralized government that viewed foreign populations with suspicion.
Undated (Likely 15th Century BC)
Moses' Birth and Escape
Moses is born, hidden from Pharaoh's decree, cast into the Nile, and miraculously found and raised in Pharaoh's own household.
Undated (Likely 15th Century BC)
This passage shows God challenging Job's understanding and authority, much like Pharaoh's arrogant dismissal of God's name and power. It highlights the vast difference between human understanding and divine sovereignty.
Isaiah 43:10-13Here, God declares His uniqueness and power, asserting that He is the first and the last, and no other god can deliver. This directly counters Pharaoh's ignorance and contempt for the LORD's authority.
1 Kings 18:20-21Elijah confronts the people of Israel for 'limping between two opinions,' failing to fully commit to the LORD. Pharaoh's demand, 'Who is the LORD?' echoes this divided loyalty and willful ignorance, showing a broader theme of choosing allegiance.
Psalm 82:1-7This psalm describes God presiding over the 'gods' (divine beings or rulers) and calling them to account for their unjust judgments. Pharaoh's arrogant assertion of his own authority mirrors the flawed 'gods' in this psalm, who are ultimately subject to the true God's justice.
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 defiant question, "Who is the LORD?", reveals he's not just denying God's existence, but more crucially, denying His authority over him. He operates under the assumption that gods are local, like tribal chiefs, and since the God of the Hebrews isn't his god, He has no claim on his obedience. This showcases a profound ignorance, not of divinity itself, but of the universal sovereignty of the true God.
Moses and Aaron have just delivered God's demand to Pharaoh: let His people go to worship Him in the wilderness. Pharaoh, enraged by this audacious request from a formerly enslaved people and their God, dismisses their claim entirely. He declares he has never heard of this "LORD" and has no intention of obeying a deity he doesn't know, especially when it means releasing his valuable workforce.
Moses and Aaron have just delivered God's demand to Pharaoh: let His people go to worship Him in the wilderness. Pharaoh, enraged by this audacious request from a formerly enslaved people and their God, dismisses their claim entirely. He declares he has never heard of this "LORD" and has no intention of obeying a deity he doesn't know, especially when it means releasing his valuable workforce.
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Moses Flees to Midian
After killing an Egyptian taskmaster, Moses flees Egypt and lives as a shepherd in Midian for forty years.
Undated (Likely 15th Century BC)
The Burning Bush
God appears to Moses at the burning bush, commissioning him to return to Egypt and demand the release of the Israelites.
Undated (Likely 15th Century BC)— this verse
Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh
Moses and Aaron deliver God's demand to Pharaoh: 'Let my people go.' Pharaoh responds with outright defiance, questioning the authority of the LORD.
"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 defiant question, "Who is the LORD?", reveals he's not just denying God's existence, but more crucially, denying His authority over him. He operates under the assumption that gods are local…
