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Read the Bible

Myles Coverdale Bible

Exodus 14:12

Is not this it, that we sayde vnto the in Egipte? Leaue of, & let vs serue the Egipcians: for it were better for vs to serue the Egipcians, then to dye in the wyldernes?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Doubting;   Egypt;   Egyptians;   Infidelity;   Israel;   Murmuring;   Prayer;   Presumption;   Readings, Select;   Servant;   Trouble;   Uncharitableness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Courage-Fear;   Servility;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Egypt;  

Dictionaries:

- Fausset Bible Dictionary - Moses;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Exodus, Book of;   Horseman;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Exodus;   Red Sea;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Exodus, the;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Migdol;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ouches;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Red Sea;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Exodus, the;   On to Canaan;   Moses, the Man of God;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Abiram;   Moses;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for March 20;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Isn't this the word that we spoke to you in Mitzrayim, saying, 'Leave us alone, that we may serve the Mitzrim?' For it were better for us to serve the Mitzrim, than that we should die in the wilderness."
King James Version
Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
Lexham English Bible
Isn't this the word we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone so that we can serve Egypt!' because serving Egypt is better for us than our dying in the desert."
New Century Version
We told you in Egypt, ‘Let us alone; we will stay and serve the Egyptians.' Now we will die in the desert."
New English Translation
Isn't this what we told you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we can serve the Egyptians, because it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!'"
Amplified Bible
"Did we not say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?' For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians [as slaves] than to die in the wilderness."
New American Standard Bible
"Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, 'Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!"
Geneva Bible (1587)
Did not wee tell thee this thing in Egypt, saying, Let vs be in rest, that we may serue the Egyptians? for it had bene better for vs to serue the Egyptians, then that wee shoulde dye in the wildernesse.
Legacy Standard Bible
Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than for us to die in the wilderness."
Contemporary English Version
While we were there, didn't we tell you to leave us alone? We had rather be slaves in Egypt than die in this desert!"
Complete Jewish Bible
Didn't we tell you in Egypt to let us alone, we'll just go on being slaves for the Egyptians? It would be better for us to be the Egyptians' slaves than to die in the desert!"
Darby Translation
Is not this what we told thee in Egypt, when we said, Let us alone, and we will serve the Egyptians? For [it had been] better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.
Easy-to-Read Version
We told you this would happen! In Egypt we said, ‘Please don't bother us. Let us stay and serve the Egyptians.' It would have been better for us to stay and be slaves than to come out here and die in the desert."
English Standard Version
Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."
George Lamsa Translation
Is not this the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in this wilderness.
Good News Translation
Didn't we tell you before we left that this would happen? We told you to leave us alone and let us go on being slaves of the Egyptians. It would be better to be slaves there than to die here in the desert."
Christian Standard Bible®
Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”
Literal Translation
Is this not the word which we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, Go away from us, and let us serve the Egyptians. For it is good for us to serve the Egyptians, than to die in the wilderness.
American Standard Version
Is not this the word that we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
Bible in Basic English
Did we not say to you in Egypt, Let us be as we are, working for the Egyptians? for it is better to be the servants of the Egyptians than to come to our death in the waste land.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Dyd not we tell thee this in Egypt, saying, let vs be in rest, that we maye serue the Egyptians? For it had ben better for vs to haue serued the Egyptians, then for to dye in the wyldernesse.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Is not this the word that we spoke unto thee in Egypt, saying: Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.'
King James Version (1611)
Is not this the word that wee did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let vs alone, that we may serue the Egyptians? For it had bene better for vs to serue the Egyptians, then that wee should die in the wildernesse.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Is not this the word which we spoke to thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? for it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in this wilderness.
English Revised Version
Is not this the word that we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
Berean Standard Bible
Did we not say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whether this is not the word which we spaken to thee in Egipt, `and seiden, Go awei fro vs, that we serue Egipcians? for it is myche betere to serue hem, than to die in wildirnesse.
Young's Literal Translation
Is not this the word which we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Cease from us, and we serve the Egyptians; for better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in a wilderness?'
Update Bible Version
Isn't this the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than we should die in the wilderness.
Webster's Bible Translation
[Is] not this the word that we told thee in Egypt, Saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For [it had been] better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
World English Bible
Isn't this the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, 'Leave us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians?' For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness."
New King James Version
Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, "Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness."
New Living Translation
Didn't we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It's better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!'"
New Life Bible
Did we not tell you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone and let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die here."
New Revised Standard
Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, ‘Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Is not this the word which we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians, - for it is better for us, to serve the Egyptians, than to die in the desert?
Douay-Rheims Bible
Is not this the word that we spoke to thee in Egypt, saying: Depart from us, that we may serve the Egyptians? for it was much better to serve them, than to die in the wilderness.
Revised Standard Version
Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, 'Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."

Contextual Overview

10 And whan Pharao came nye them, the children of Israel lift vp their eyes, and beholde, ye Egipcians wente behinde the, and they were sore afrayed, and cried vnto the LORDE. 11 And sayde vnto Moses: Were there no graues in Egipte, yt thou hast brought vs awaye to dye in the wyldernes? Wherfore hast thou done this vnto vs, that thou hast caried vs out of Egipte? 12 Is not this it, that we sayde vnto the in Egipte? Leaue of, & let vs serue the Egipcians: for it were better for vs to serue the Egipcians, then to dye in the wyldernes? 13 Moses sayde vnto the people: Feare you not, stonde styll, and beholde, what a saluacion the LORDE shall shewe vpon you this daye: for these Egipcians whom ye se this daye, shall ye neuer se more for euer: 14 the LORDE shal fight for you, onely quyete youre selues.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Is not this: Exodus 5:21, Exodus 3:9

Let us alone: Hosea 4:17, Mark 1:24, Mark 5:7, Mark 5:17, Mark 5:18

For it had: Jonah 4:3, Jonah 4:8

Reciprocal: Exodus 6:9 - hearkened Exodus 13:17 - the people repent Exodus 17:2 - the people Numbers 20:4 - that we Joshua 7:7 - to deliver 1 Samuel 8:8 - General 1 Samuel 27:1 - there is nothing 2 Samuel 14:32 - it had been Psalms 78:42 - the day Psalms 106:7 - but Acts 7:39 - and in

Cross-References

Genesis 11:27
These are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran begat Lot,
Genesis 12:5
So Abram toke Sarai his wife, and Lot his brothers sonne, wt all their goodes which they had gotten, and soules which they begat in Hara, and departed to go in to ye londe of Canaan.
Genesis 14:9
wt Kedorlaomer the kynge of Elam, & with Thideal ye kynge of the Heithen, & with Amraphel ye kynge of Synear, & with Arioch the kynge of Ellasar: foure kynges wt fyue.
Genesis 14:11
Then toke they all the goodes at Sodoma and Gomorra, & all their vytales, & wente their waye.
Genesis 14:12
They toke Lot also Abrams brothers sonne, & his good (for he dwelt at Sodome) and departed.
Genesis 14:13
Then came one that had escaped, and tolde Abram the Aleaunt, which dwelt in the Okegroue of Mamre the Amoryte, which was the brother of Escol & Aner: for these were confederate with Abram.
Genesis 14:17
And as he came agayne from the slaughter of Kedorlaomer & of the kinges that were with him, the kynge of Sodome wente to mete him in to the playne felde, which is called kynges dale.
Genesis 14:19
blessed him and sayde: Blessed be thou Abram vnto the most hye God possessor of heauen and earth.
Numbers 16:26
& he spake to ye cogregacio, & saide: Departe fro ye tentes of these vngodly me & touche nothinge yt is theirs, yt ye perishe not in eny of their sinnes.
Job 9:23
And though he slaye sodenly wt the scourge, yet laugheth he at the punyshment of the innocent.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt,.... The thing they suggested to him, and talked with him about while they were in the land of Egypt, before they came out of it, particularly after their service and bondage were made more severe and cruel upon Moses and Aaron's demanding their dismission, see Exodus 5:21:

saying, let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? peaceably and quietly, as we have been used to do, since there is no likelihood of being freed, and since we are more evilly treated than before:

for it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness: of such mean spirits were they, and had so poor a notion of, and taste for liberty, and so ungrateful were they to their deliverer.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Let us alone - This is a gross exaggeration, yet not without a semblance of truth: for although the Israelites welcomed the message of Moses at first, they gave way completely at the first serious trial. See the reference in the margin. The whole passage foreshadows the conduct of the people in the wilderness.


 
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