Exodus 14:5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, "What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us."

◄ Exodus 14:5 ►

New International Version
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!”

New Living Translation
When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” they asked.

English Standard Version
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”

Berean Standard Bible
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”

King James Bible
And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

New King James Version
Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”

New American Standard Bible
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this that we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”

NASB 1995
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”

NASB 1977
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”

Amplified Bible
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this that we have done? We have let Israel go from serving us!”

Christian Standard Bible
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about the people and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about the people and said: “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”

American Standard Version
And it was told the king of Egypt that the people were fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people, and they said, What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

Contemporary English Version
When the king of Egypt heard that the Israelites had finally left, he and his officials changed their minds and said, "Look what we have done! We let them get away, and they will no longer be our slaves."

English Revised Version
And it was told the king of Egypt that the people were fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people, and they said, What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) was told that the people had fled, he and his officials changed their minds about them. They said, "What have we done? We've lost our slaves because we've let Israel go."

Good News Translation
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had escaped, he and his officials changed their minds and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites escape, and we have lost them as our slaves!"

International Standard Version
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the minds of Pharaoh and his officials changed toward the people, and they said, "What have we done in releasing Israel from serving us?"

Majority Standard Bible
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”

NET Bible
When it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people, and the king and his servants said, "What in the world have we done? For we have released the people of Israel from serving us!"

New Heart English Bible
It was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people, and they said, "What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And it was told to the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

World English Bible
The king of Egypt was told that the people had fled; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And it is declared to the king of Egypt that the people have fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants is turned against the people, and they say, “What [is] this we have done, that we have sent Israel away from our service?”

Young's Literal Translation
And it is declared to the king of Egypt that the people hath fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants is turned against the people, and they say, 'What is this we have done? that we have sent Israel away from our service.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was announced to the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh will be turned, and his servants, against the people, and they will say, What this we did, that we sent forth Israel from serving us?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And it was told the king of the Egyptians that the people was fled: and the heart of Pharao and of his servants was changed with regard to the people, and they said: What meant we to do, that we let Israel go from serving us?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And it was reported to the king of the Egyptians that the people had fled. And the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed about the people, and they said, “What did we intend to do, so that we released Israel from serving us?”

New American Bible
When it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart about the people. “What in the world have we done!” they said. “We have released Israel from our service!”

New Revised Standard Version
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the minds of Pharaoh and his officials were changed toward the people, and they said, “What have we done, letting Israel leave our service?”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And it was told the king of Egypt that the people had gone away; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants changed against the people, and they said, What have we done that we have let Israel go from serving us?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And it was told to the King of Egypt that the people themselves were going and the heart of Pharaoh was turned and what they were doing concerning the people and they were saying, “What are we doing that we are sending Israel out from our subjection?”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And it was told the king of Egypt that the people were fled; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned towards the people, and they said: 'What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it was reported to the king of the Egyptians that the people had fled: and the heart of Pharao was turned, and that of his servants against the people; and they said, What is this that we have done, to let the children of Israel go, so that they should not serve us?

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Pharaoh Pursues the Israelites
…4And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. But I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” So this is what the Israelites did. 5When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.” 6So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Psalm 105:25
whose hearts He turned to hate His people, to conspire against His servants.

Nehemiah 9:9-10
You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt; You heard their cry at the Red Sea. / You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day.

Joshua 24:6-7
When I brought your fathers out of Egypt and you reached the Red Sea, the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. / So your fathers cried out to the LORD, and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, over whom He brought the sea and engulfed them. Your very eyes saw what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.

1 Samuel 4:8
Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.

Psalm 106:7-8
Our fathers in Egypt did not grasp Your wonders or remember Your abundant kindness; but they rebelled by the sea, there at the Red Sea. / Yet He saved them for the sake of His name, to make His power known.

Acts 7:36
He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.

Hebrews 11:29
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.

Romans 9:17-18
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” / Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

1 Corinthians 10:1-2
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

Isaiah 63:11-12
Then His people remembered the days of old, the days of Moses. Where is He who brought them through the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is the One who set His Holy Spirit among them, / who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown,

Deuteronomy 11:3-4
the signs and works He did in Egypt to Pharaoh king of Egypt and all his land; / what He did to the Egyptian army and horses and chariots when He made the waters of the Red Sea engulf them as they pursued you, and how He destroyed them completely, even to this day;

Psalm 136:13-15
He divided the Red Sea in two His loving devotion endures forever. / and led Israel through the midst, His loving devotion endures forever. / but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His loving devotion endures forever.

Numbers 33:3-4
On the fifteenth day of the first month, on the day after the Passover, the Israelites set out from Rameses. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians, / who were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them; for the LORD had executed judgment against their gods.

Exodus 15:9-10
The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’ / But You blew with Your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

Isaiah 51:9-10
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon? / Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea for the redeemed to cross over?

Treasury of Scripture

And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

and the heart

Exodus 12:33
And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.

Psalm 105:25
He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.

why have we

Jeremiah 34:10-17
Now when all the princes, and all the people, which had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more, then they obeyed, and let them go…

Luke 11:24-26
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out…

2 Peter 2:20-22
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning…

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Exodus 14

1. God instructs the Israelites in their journey
5. Pharaoh pursues after them
10. The Israelites murmur
13. Moses comforts them
15. God instructs Moses
19. The cloud removes behind the camp
21. The Israelites pass through the Red sea, which drowns the Egyptians

Berean Study Bible

When the king of Egypt was told
The phrase begins with the acknowledgment of a report reaching the king, Pharaoh. In the Hebrew text, the word for "told" is "נֻגַּד" (nugad), which implies a formal announcement or declaration. This suggests that the departure of the Israelites was significant enough to warrant an official report, highlighting the magnitude of the event. Historically, Egypt was a powerful empire, and the exodus of such a large group would have been a matter of state concern, indicating the Israelites' importance to the Egyptian economy and society.

that the people had fled
The term "fled" is translated from the Hebrew "בָּרַח" (barach), which means to escape or run away. This word choice emphasizes the urgency and desperation of the Israelites' departure. It was not a mere relocation but an escape from bondage. Theologically, this flight represents a pivotal moment of liberation orchestrated by God, fulfilling His promise to deliver His people from slavery.

Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds
The phrase "changed their minds" is derived from the Hebrew "וַיֵּהָפֵךְ לְבָב" (vayehefech levav), literally meaning "their hearts were turned." This indicates a complete reversal of attitude and intention. In the biblical narrative, this change of heart is significant as it demonstrates the hardening of Pharaoh's heart, a recurring theme in Exodus. It reflects the spiritual blindness and stubbornness that can occur when one resists God's will.

about them and said, 'What have we done?'
This rhetorical question reveals a moment of regret and realization. The phrase "What have we done?" suggests a sudden awareness of the consequences of their actions. In the context of the narrative, it underscores the economic and social impact of losing the Israelite labor force. Spiritually, it serves as a reminder of the cost of disobedience to God's plan, as Pharaoh's resistance ultimately leads to further judgment.

We have released Israel from serving us
The word "released" comes from the Hebrew "שָׁלַח" (shalach), meaning to send away or let go. This term is significant as it contrasts with the earlier enslavement of the Israelites. The phrase "from serving us" highlights the Israelites' previous role as slaves, emphasizing the dramatic shift from bondage to freedom. In a broader theological context, this release symbolizes God's redemptive power and His desire for His people to serve Him rather than earthly masters. The liberation of Israel is a foreshadowing of the ultimate deliverance found in Christ, who frees believers from the bondage of sin.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) The heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people.--No doubt the change began as soon as Israel commenced its march. The emigration left Eastern Egypt a solitude, suspended all the royal works that were in progress, threw the whole course of commerce and business into disorder. Beforehand, neither the king nor the people had understood what the loss of six hundred thousand labourers--some of them highly skilled--would be. When Israel was gone they realised it; consequently both king and people regretted what they had done.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 5-9. - THE PURSUIT OF ISRAEL BY THE EGYPTIANS. A short respite from suffering was sufficient to enable Pharaoh to recover from his extreme alarm. No further deaths had followed on the destruction of the firstborn; and he might think no further danger was to be apprehended. The worst of Moses' threats had been accomplished- perhaps Jehovah had no more arrows in his quiver. At any rate, as he realised to himself what it would be to lose altogether the services of so vast a body of slaves, many of them highly skilled in different arts, he more and more regretted the permission which he had given. Under these circumstances intelligence was brought him of the change which the Israelites had made in their route, and the dangerous position into which they had Brought themselves. Upon this he resolved to start in pursuit, with such troops as he could hastily muster. As his chariots were six hundred, we may presume that his footmen were at least 100,000, all trained and disciplined soldiers, accustomed to warfare. The timid horde of escaped slaves, unused to war, though it might be five or six times as numerous as his host, was not likely to resist it. Pharaoh no doubt expected an unconditional surrender on the part of the Israelites, as soon as they saw his forces. Verse 5. - It was told the King of Egypt that the people fled. Pharaoh, when he let the Israelites go, must have felt tolerably certain that they would not voluntarily return. Formally, however, he had only consented to their going a three days' journey into the wilderness (Exodus 12:31). When, being at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness, they did not enter it, but marched southward to Pi-hahiroth, the Egyptians might naturally report that instead of sacrificing, they were flying - hasting forwards - placing as much distance as they could between themselves and the Egyptian headquarters. But this report alone would scarcely have moved Pharaoh to action. It was in the accompanying circumstances, in the particular line of route, that he thought to find his opportunity. The people "were entangled" (ver. 3). They might be taken at a disadvantage, and might be reduced to choosing between starvation and a. return to Egypt. The heart of Pharaoh, and of his servants, was turned against the people. The reaction of feeling was not confined to Pharaoh. His subjects participated in it. The loss of such a large body of labourers would be generally felt as a severe blow to the prosperity of the nation. It would affect all classes. The poor labourers might be benefited; but the employers of labour are the influential classes, and they would be injured. So "Pharaoh's servants" were of one mind with their master, and they "turned against" the Israelites. Why have we done this? In the retrospect, the afflictions which they had suffered did not seem so very great. They at any rate had survived them, and were not perhaps even seriously impoverished. Royal favour will find a way of making up any losses which court minions have suffered, out of the general taxation of the country. But in prospect, the loss of 600,000 (more or less skilled) labourers appeared a terrible thing. The official class was quite ready to make a strenuous effort to avert the loss.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

When the king
לְמֶ֣לֶךְ (lə·me·leḵ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Egypt
מִצְרַ֔יִם (miṣ·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

was told
וַיֻּגַּד֙ (way·yug·gaḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hofal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

that
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the people
הָעָ֑ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

had fled,
בָרַ֖ח (ḇā·raḥ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1272: To bolt, to flee suddenly

Pharaoh
פַּרְעֹ֤ה (par·‘ōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings

and his officials
וַעֲבָדָיו֙ (wa·‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

changed
וַ֠יֵּהָפֵךְ (way·yê·hā·p̄êḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2015: To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert

their minds
לְבַ֨ב (lə·ḇaḇ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

about
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

[them]
הָעָ֔ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

and said,
וַיֹּֽאמרוּ֙ (way·yō·m·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“What
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

have we done?
עָשִׂ֔ינוּ (‘ā·śî·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

We have released
שִׁלַּ֥חְנוּ (šil·laḥ·nū)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

from serving us.”
מֵעָבְדֵֽנוּ׃ (mê·‘ā·ḇə·ḏê·nū)
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

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OT Law: Exodus 14:5 It was told the king of Egypt (Exo. Ex)