Exodus 4:22
New International Version
Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son,

New Living Translation
Then you will tell him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son.

English Standard Version
Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son,

Berean Standard Bible
Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,

King James Bible
And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

New King James Version
Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.

New American Standard Bible
Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the LORD says: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.

NASB 1995
“Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My firstborn.

NASB 1977
“Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My first-born.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Israel is My son, My firstborn.

Amplified Bible
Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My firstborn.

Christian Standard Bible
And you will say to Pharaoh: This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then you will say to Pharaoh: This is what Yahweh says: Israel is My firstborn son.

American Standard Version
And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith Jehovah, Israel is my son, my first-born:

Contemporary English Version
Then tell him that I have said, "Israel is my first-born son,

English Revised Version
And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, my firstborn:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then tell Pharaoh, 'This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son.

Good News Translation
Then you must tell him that I, the LORD, say, 'Israel is my first-born son.

International Standard Version
You are to say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the LORD says: "Israel is my firstborn son.

Majority Standard Bible
Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,

NET Bible
You must say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, "Israel is my son, my firstborn,

New Heart English Bible
You shall tell Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, Israel is my son, my firstborn,

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou shalt say to Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my first-born.

World English Bible
You shall tell Pharaoh, ‘Yahweh says, Israel is my son, my firstborn,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you have said to Pharaoh, Thus said YHWH: My son, My firstborn [is] Israel,

Young's Literal Translation
and thou hast said unto Pharaoh, Thus said Jehovah, My son, My first-born is Israel,

Smith's Literal Translation
And say thou to Pharaoh, So said Jehovah, my first-born son is Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou shalt say to him: Thus saith the Lord: Israel is my son, my firstborn.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you shall say to him: ‘Thus says the Lord: Israel is my firstborn son.

New American Bible
So you will say to Pharaoh, Thus says the LORD: Israel is my son, my firstborn.

New Revised Standard Version
Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD: Israel is my firstborn son.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And you shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says the LORD, Israel is my first-born son;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And speak to Pharaoh in this way: LORD JEHOVAH says: “My son, my firstborn, is Israel:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh: Thus saith the LORD: Israel is My son, My first-born.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou shalt say to Pharao, These things saith the Lord, Israel is my first-born.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses Leaves for Egypt
21The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 22Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son, 23and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’ ”…

Cross References
Hosea 11:1
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

Matthew 2:15
where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Romans 9:4
the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.

Deuteronomy 14:1
You are sons of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead,

Jeremiah 31:9
They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.”

Isaiah 63:16
Yet You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.

John 1:12-13
But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— / children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

Galatians 4:4-5
But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, / to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.

Psalm 103:13
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

2 Corinthians 6:18
And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Malachi 1:6
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’

1 John 3:1
Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

Isaiah 1:2
Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.

Romans 8:14-17
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. / For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” / The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ...

Deuteronomy 32:6
Is this how you repay the LORD, O foolish and senseless people? Is He not your Father and Creator? Has He not made you and established you?


Treasury of Scripture

And you shall say to Pharaoh, Thus said the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

Israel.

Exodus 19:5,6
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: …

Deuteronomy 14:1
Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.

Jeremiah 31:9
They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

Jump to Previous
First Firstborn First-Born Israel Pharaoh
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First Firstborn First-Born Israel Pharaoh
Exodus 4
1. Moses's rod is turned into a serpent.
6. His hand is leprous.
10. He loathes his calling.
13. Aaron is appointed to assist him.
18. Moses departs from Jethro.
21. God's message to Pharaoh.
24. Zipporah circumcises her son.
27. Aaron is sent to meet Moses.
29. The people believe them.














Then tell Pharaoh
This phrase marks a direct command from God to Moses, emphasizing the divine authority behind the message. The Hebrew word for "tell" is "אָמַר" (amar), which implies not just speaking but declaring with authority. Moses is to act as God's mouthpiece, confronting the most powerful ruler of the time. Historically, Pharaohs were considered gods in their own right, making this command a bold assertion of the true God's supremacy.

that this is what the LORD says
The phrase underscores the prophetic nature of Moses' mission. "LORD" here is the tetragrammaton "יהוה" (YHWH), the covenant name of God, signifying His eternal, self-existent nature. This is not merely a human message but a divine proclamation. The use of "says" (Hebrew "אָמַר") again reinforces the authority and certainty of God's word, a theme that runs throughout the prophetic literature.

Israel is My firstborn son
This declaration is profound both theologically and historically. The term "firstborn" (Hebrew "בְּכוֹר" - bekhor) carries significant weight in ancient Near Eastern culture, denoting preeminence, inheritance rights, and special favor. By calling Israel His "firstborn son," God is establishing a unique relationship with the nation, one of intimacy and privilege. This is the first time in Scripture that Israel is referred to in such familial terms, highlighting God's covenantal love and the nation's chosen status. Historically, this would have been a radical statement, as it places a group of enslaved people in a position of honor above all other nations. This phrase also foreshadows the New Testament revelation of believers as children of God through Christ, the ultimate Firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15).

(22) Israel is my son.--Compare Hosea 11:1. This tender relation, now first revealed, is not a mere metaphor, meaning "as dear to me as a son," but a reality. The Israel of God enjoys the sonship of adoption by being taken into the True Son, and made one with Him (Romans 8:14-17).

My first ? born.--Admitted to sonship in the Messiah before the other nations of the earth.

Verse 22. - Thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Israel is my son. This would be addressing Pharaoh in language familiar to him. Each Egyptian monarch of this period was accustomed to style himself, "son of the Sun," and to claim and expect the constant favour and protection of his divine parent. It was also quite within the range of Egyptian ideas that God should declare himself by word of mouth to his special favourites, and give directions as to their actions. (See 'Records of the Past,' vol. 4. p. 43.) My firstborn. Not only "as dear to me as to a father his firstborn" (Kalisch), but the only nation that I have adopted, and taken into covenant, so as to be unto me "a peculiar people above all the nations that are upon the earth" (Deuteronomy 14:2). Israel's sonship is here mentioned for the first time.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then tell
וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ (wə·’ā·mar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

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

this is what
כֹּ֚ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

says:
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

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

is My firstborn
בְכֹרִ֖י (ḇə·ḵō·rî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

son,
בְּנִ֥י (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son


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OT Law: Exodus 4:22 You shall tell Pharaoh 'Thus says Yahweh (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 4:21
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