Exodus 12:33 - The Egyptians were urgent with the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We are all dead men.”

Generated Verse: Exodus 12:33

What does "Exodus 12:33" mean?


This verse from Exodus 12:33 in the Bible, "The Egyptians were urgent with the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We are all dead men,”" describes the frantic state of the Egyptians as they urged the Israelites to leave Egypt. Let's break it down:

"The Egyptians were urgent with the people...": This means the Egyptians were not just suggesting or politely asking the Israelites to leave; they were actively and forcefully pushing them to depart. The word "urgent" emphasizes the Egyptians' desperate need to get rid of the Israelites.

"...to send them out of the land in haste...": This highlights the speed at which the Egyptians wanted the Israelites to leave. They wanted them gone immediately. They weren't allowing for a gradual departure.

"...for they said, “We are all dead men.”": This is the key to understanding their urgency. The Egyptians believed that if the Israelites remained any longer, they would all be killed. The phrase "We are all dead men" is a hyperbole, an exaggeration to emphasize the gravity of their situation. They had just endured a series of devastating plagues from God, the final one being the death of their firstborn sons. They attributed these plagues to the God of the Israelites and believed that more death and destruction would follow if the Israelites didn't leave.

In essence, the verse illustrates:

The impact of the plagues on the Egyptians: The Egyptians were terrified by the power of the Israelite God and the devastating consequences they faced.
The fulfillment of God's promise: God had promised to free the Israelites from slavery, and this verse shows how He accomplished that, even to the point of making their oppressors eager to see them go.
The reversal of power dynamics: Previously, the Egyptians held all the power, enslaving the Israelites. Now, they were begging the Israelites to leave, fearing for their own lives.

The verse is a dramatic depiction of the culmination of the plagues and the Egyptians' desperate desire to avoid further divine punishment. It marks a turning point in the story of the Exodus, as the Israelites finally begin their journey to freedom.

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