Exodus 4:18–31 — Mosheh returns to Mitsrayim

The OET Readers’ Version is designed to be read alongside the Literal Version. Expand the matching Literal Version beneath each passage. This is still an early look into the drafted text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

Exo 4:18–31

4:18 Mosheh returns to Mitsrayim

18 Then Mosheh (Moses) went back to his father-in-law Yitro (Jethro), and told him, “Can I please leave so I can return to my relatives in Mitsrayim (Egypt) and see whether they’re still alive.”

“Go in peace,” Yitro answered.

19 Meanwhile Yahweh had told Mosheh in Midyan, “Leave here and return to Mitsrayim because all those who wanted to kill you are now dead.” 20 Then Mosheh took his wife and sons and put them on a donkey and returned towards Mitsrayim with them, and Mosheh took the staff that God had turned into a snake.

21 On the way, Yahweh said to Mosheh, “When you return to Mitsrayim, all those miracles that I gave you, you’ll be able to demonstrate them in front of Par’oh (Pharaoh), but as for me, I’m going to make him stubborn so that he won’t let your people leave. 22 But tell Par’oh, ‘Yahweh has stated that Yisrael (Israel) is like his oldest son 23 and he asked you to let that son go so that he can serve him. But you refused to let Yisrael go, so Yahweh will kill your oldest son.’ ”[ref]

24 One night as they were overnighting at a lodging place near the road, Yahweh confronted Mosheh and would have killed him, 25 but his wife Tsiporah took a flint knife and cut off her son’s foreskin and threw it at Mosheh’s feet saying, “You’re definitely a bloody husband to me.” 26 (That was referring to circumcision.) So then Yahweh left them alone.

27 Meanwhile Yahweh had told Aharon (Aaron), “Go out into the wilderness to meet Mosheh.” So he went and met him at the hill of God, and he kissed him. 28 Then Mosheh told Aharon everything that Yahweh had told him and how he had sent him, and all the miracles that he commanded him to demonstrate.

29 Then Mosheh and Aharon went to Mitsrayim (Egypt) and they assembled all the Israeli elders 30 and Aharon told them everything that Yahweh had spoken to Mosheh. Then Mosheh did the miracles in front of them, 31 and the people believed. Then they heard how Yahweh had paid attention to the Israelis and that he had seen their suffering, and they bowed and prostrated themselves in thankfulness.

Show matching OET Literal Version passage

Read the Literal Version in context

18 And_ Mosheh _he/it _went and_he _returned to Yitrō/(Jethro) father-in-law _of_his and_he/it _said to_him/it let _me _go please so_that _I _may _return to relatives _of_my who are_in_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_so _that _I _may _see are_still_they living and_ Yitrō _he/it _said to_Mosheh go to_peace.

19 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to Mosheh in_Midyān go return Miʦrayim if/because all _of the_men who_sought DOM life _of_your they _have _died.

20 And_ Mosheh _he/it _took DOM his/its_wife/woman and_DOM sons _of_his and_he_made _them _ride on the_donkey and_he _returned towards_land of _Miʦrayim and_ Mosheh _he/it _took DOM the _staff _of the_ʼElohīm in_his/its_hand.

21 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to Mosheh when_go_you to_return to_Miʦrayim see all _of the_wonders which I _have _put in_hand _of_your and_you_will _do _them to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before Parˊoh and_I I _will _make _strong DOM his/its_heart and_not he _will _let _go DOM the_people.

22 And_you _will _say to Parˊoh thus YHWH he _says son _of_is_my firstborn _of_my Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

23 And_I _said to_you let _go DOM son _of_my so_that_he _may _serve _me and_you _refused to_let_him _go HERE I am_about _to _kill DOM son _of_your firstborn _of_your.

24 And_he/it _was on_journey at_place and_he_met _him YHWH and_he/it _sought to_kill _him.

25 And_ Tsipporāh/(Zipporah) _she/it _took a _flint and_she _cut _off DOM the _foreskin _of her _son _of_her and_she _made_it_touch (to)_feet _of_his and_she/it _said if/because are_a _bridegroom _of blood(s) you to_me.

26 And_he _withdrew from_him/it then she _said a _bridegroom _of blood(s) to_circumcision(s).

27 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to ʼAhₐron go to_meet Mosheh to_the_wilderness and_he/it _went and_he_met _him at_the _mountain _of the_ʼElohīm and_he _kissed to_him/it.

28 And_ Mosheh _he _told to_ʼAhₐron DOM all _of the _words/messages _of YHWH which he_had _sent _him and_DOM all _of the_signs which he_had _commanded _him.

29 And_ Mosheh and_ʼAhₐron _he/it _went and_they _gathered DOM all _of the _elders _of the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

30 And_ ʼAhₐron _he/it _spoke DOM all _of the_words/messages which YHWH he _had _spoken to Mosheh and_he/it _made the_signs to_the _eyes _of the _people.

31 And_ the_people _it _believed and_they _heard if/because _that YHWH he _had _observed DOM the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_because/when he _had _seen DOM affliction _of_their and_they _bowed _low and_they _bowed _down.
[fn]

4:31 OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

4:23: Exo 12:29.

OET-RV by cross-referenced section EXO 4:18

Mosheh returns to Mitsrayim

Exo 4:18–31

Collected OET-RV cross-references