Exodus

Exodus 13:17–22

¹⁷When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, though it was shorter. For God said, “If the people face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” ¹⁸So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea.^c And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle.^d

¹⁹Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear a solemn oath when he said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones with you from this place.”^e

²⁰They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. ²¹And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night. ²²Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place before the people.

Footnotes

c 13:18 Or the Sea of Reeds
d 13:18 LXX left the land of Egypt in the fifth generation
e 13:19 Genesis 50:25|GEN 50:25

Read all of Exodus 13

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Exodus 13:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When Pharaoh	פַּרְעֹה֮	par·‘ōh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6547 Pharaoh
let the people	הָעָם֒	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
go	בְּשַׁלַּ֣ח	bə·šal·laḥ	Preposition-b; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H7971 send
God	אֱלֹהִ֗ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
did not	וְלֹא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
lead them	נָחָ֣ם	nā·ḥām	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine plural	H5148 lead, guide
along the road	דֶּ֚רֶךְ	de·reḵ	Noun - common singular construct	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
through the land	אֶ֣רֶץ	’e·reṣ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H776 earth, land
of the Philistines	פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים	pə·liš·tîm	Noun - proper - masculine plural	H6430 Philistine
though	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
it	ה֑וּא	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
was shorter	קָר֖וֹב	qā·rō·wḇ	Adjective - masculine singular	H7138 near
For	כִּ֣י׀	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
God	אֱלֹהִ֗ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
said	אָמַ֣ר	’ā·mar	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
If	בִּרְאֹתָ֥ם	bir·’ō·ṯām	Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine plural	H7200 see
war	מִלְחָמָ֖ה	mil·ḥā·māh	Noun - feminine singular	H4421 battle, war
might change their minds	יִנָּחֵ֥ם	yin·nā·ḥêm	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5162 be sorry, console
and return	וְשָׁ֥בוּ	wə·šā·ḇū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H7725 turn back, return
to Egypt	מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃	miṣ·rā·yə·māh	Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H4714 Egypt, Egyptians

Exodus 13:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So God	אֱלֹהִ֧ים׀	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
led the people	הָעָ֛ם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
around	וַיַּסֵּ֨ב	way·yas·sêḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5437 turn about, go around, surround
by the way	דֶּ֥רֶךְ	de·reḵ	Noun - common singular construct	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
of the wilderness	הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר	ham·miḏ·bār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4057 mouth
toward the Red	ס֑וּף	sūp̄	Noun - masculine singular	H5488 reeds, rushes
Sea	יַם־	yam-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3220 sea
And the Israelites	בְנֵי־	ḇə·nê-	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
left	עָל֥וּ	‘ā·lū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
the land	מֵאֶ֥רֶץ	mê·’e·reṣ	Preposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct	H776 earth, land
of Egypt	מִצְרָֽיִם׃	miṣ·rā·yim	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4714 Egypt, Egyptians
arrayed for battle	וַחֲמֻשִׁ֛ים	wa·ḥă·mu·šîm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural	H2571 staunch, soldiers

Exodus 13:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Moses	מֹשֶׁ֛ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
took	וַיִּקַּ֥ח	way·yiq·qaḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3947 take
the bones	עַצְמ֥וֹת	‘aṣ·mō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural construct	H6106 bone, substance, self
of Joseph	יוֹסֵ֖ף	yō·w·sêp̄	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3130 Joseph
with him	עִמּ֑וֹ	‘im·mōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H5973 with
because	כִּי֩	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the sons	בְּנֵ֤י	bə·nê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
of Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵל֙	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
swear a solemn oath	הַשְׁבֵּ֨עַ	haš·bê·a‘	Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute	H7650 swear
when he said	לֵאמֹ֔ר	lê·mōr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H559 utter, say
God	אֱלֹהִים֙	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
will surely attend to	פָּקֹ֨ד	pā·qōḏ	Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute	H6485 attend to, visit, muster, appoint
you	אֶתְכֶ֔ם	’eṯ·ḵem	Direct object marker; second person masculine plural	H853 mark of the accusative
and then you must carry	וְהַעֲלִיתֶ֧ם	wə·ha·‘ă·lî·ṯem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
my bones	עַצְמֹתַ֛י	‘aṣ·mō·ṯay	Noun - feminine plural construct; first person common singular	H6106 bone, substance, self
with you	אִתְּכֶֽם׃	’it·tə·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural	H854 with
from this place	מִזֶּ֖ה	miz·zeh	Preposition-m; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that

Exodus 13:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
They set out	וַיִּסְע֖וּ	way·yis·‘ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5265 pull out or up, set out, journey
from Succoth	מִסֻּכֹּ֑ת	mis·suk·kōṯ	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H5523 Succoth
and camped	וַיַּחֲנ֣וּ	way·ya·ḥă·nū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H2583 decline, bend down, encamp
at Etham	בְאֵתָ֔ם	ḇə·’ê·ṯām	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H864 Etham
on the edge	בִּקְצֵ֖ה	biq·ṣêh	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7097 end, extremity
of the wilderness	הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃	ham·miḏ·bār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4057 mouth

Exodus 13:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And the LORD	וַֽיהוָ֡ה	Yah·weh	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
went	הֹלֵךְ֩	hō·lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
before them	לִפְנֵיהֶ֨ם	lip̄·nê·hem	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H6440 face, before
in a pillar	בְּעַמּ֤וּד	bə·‘am·mūḏ	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H5982 pillar, column
of cloud	עָנָן֙	‘ā·nān	Noun - masculine singular	H6051 cloud-mass, cloud
to guide	לַנְחֹתָ֣ם	lan·ḥō·ṯām	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; third person masculine plural	H5148 lead, guide
their way	הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ	had·de·reḵ	Article; Noun - common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
by day	יוֹמָ֜ם	yō·w·mām	Adverb	H3119 daytime, by day
and in a pillar	בְּעַמּ֥וּד	bə·‘am·mūḏ	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H5982 pillar, column
of fire	אֵ֖שׁ	’êš	Noun - common singular	H784 fire
to give them light	לְהָאִ֣יר	lə·hā·’îr	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H215 be or become light
by night	וְלַ֛יְלָה	wə·lay·lāh	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H3915 twist, night, adversity
so that they could travel	לָלֶ֖כֶת	lā·le·ḵeṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1980 go, come, walk
by day	יוֹמָ֥ם	yō·w·mām	Adverb	H3119 daytime, by day
or night	וָלָֽיְלָה׃	wā·lā·yə·lāh	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H3915 twist, night, adversity

Exodus 13:22

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Neither	לֹֽא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
the pillar	עַמּ֤וּד	‘am·mūḏ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H5982 pillar, column
of cloud	הֶֽעָנָן֙	he·‘ā·nān	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6051 cloud-mass, cloud
by day	יוֹמָ֔ם	yō·w·mām	Adverb	H3119 daytime, by day
nor the pillar	וְעַמּ֥וּד	wə·‘am·mūḏ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H5982 pillar, column
of fire	הָאֵ֖שׁ	hā·’êš	Article; Noun - common singular	H784 fire
by night	לָ֑יְלָה	lā·yə·lāh	Noun - masculine singular	H3915 twist, night, adversity
left	יָמִ֞ישׁ	yā·mîš	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4185 depart, remove
its place before	לִפְנֵ֖י	lip̄·nê	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
the people	הָעָֽם׃פ	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people