Exodus 14:3 Pharaoh will think, 'The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.'

◄ Exodus 14:3 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Pharaoh will think, 'The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.'

English Standard Version
For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’

New American Standard Bible
"For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, 'They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.'

King James Bible
For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Pharaoh will say of the Israelites: They are wandering around the land in confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in.

International Standard Version
Pharaoh will say about the Israelis, 'They're wandering aimlessly in the land, and the desert has closed in on them.'

American Standard Version
And Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Pharao will say of the children of Israel: They are straitened in the land, the desert hath shut them in.

Darby Bible Translation
And Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness has hemmed them in.

Young's Literal Translation
and Pharaoh hath said of the sons of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut upon them;

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

14:1-9 Pharaoh would think that all Israel was entangled in the wilderness, and so would become an easy prey. But God says, I will be honoured upon Pharaoh. All men being made for the honour of their Maker, those whom he is not honoured by, he will be honoured upon. What seems to tend to the church's ruin, is often overruled to the ruin of the church's enemies. While Pharaoh gratified his malice and revenge, he furthered the bringing to pass God's counsels concerning him. Though with the greatest reason he had let Israel go, yet now he was angry with himself for it. God makes the envy and rage of men against his people, a torment to themselves. Those who set their faces heavenward, and will live godly in Christ Jesus, must expect to be set upon by Satan's temptations and terrors. He will not tamely part with any out of his service.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

3. the wilderness hath shut them in—Pharaoh, who would eagerly watch their movements, was now satisfied that they were meditating flight, and he naturally thought from the error into which they appeared to have fallen by entering that defile, he could intercept them. He believed them now entirely in his power, the mountain chain being on one side, the sea on the other, so that, if he pursued them in the rear, escape seemed impossible.