Exodus 5:2 But Pharaoh replied, "Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go."

◄ Exodus 5:2 ►

New International Version
Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go.”

New Living Translation
“Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the LORD? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

English Standard Version
But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.”

Berean Standard Bible
But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

King James Bible
And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

New King James Version
And Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.”

New American Standard Bible
But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”

NASB 1995
But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”

NASB 1977
But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But Pharaoh said, “Who is Yahweh that I should listen to His voice to let Israel go? I do not know Yahweh, and also, I will not let Israel go.”

Amplified Bible
But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.”

Christian Standard Bible
But Pharaoh responded, “Who is the LORD that I should obey him by letting Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Pharaoh responded, “Who is Yahweh that I should obey Him by letting Israel go? I do not know anything about Yahweh, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”

American Standard Version
And Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah, that I should hearken unto his voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, and moreover I will not let Israel go.

Contemporary English Version
"Who is this LORD and why should I obey him?" the king replied. "I refuse to let you and your people go!"

English Revised Version
And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should hearken unto his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, and moreover I will not let Israel go.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Pharaoh asked, "Who is the LORD? Why should I obey him and let Israel go? I don't know the LORD, and I won't let Israel go."

Good News Translation
"Who is the LORD?" the king demanded. "Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD; and I will not let Israel go."

International Standard Version
Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD that I should listen to him and let Israel go? I don't know about the LORD, nor will I let Israel go!"

Majority Standard Bible
But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

NET Bible
But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD that I should obey him by releasing Israel? I do not know the LORD, and I will not release Israel!"

New Heart English Bible
Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover I will not let Israel go."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

World English Bible
Pharaoh said, “Who is Yahweh, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don’t know Yahweh, and moreover I will not let Israel go.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and Pharaoh says, “Who [is] YHWH, that I listen to His voice to send Israel away? I have not known YHWH, and I also do not send Israel away.”

Young's Literal Translation
and Pharaoh saith, 'Who is Jehovah, that I hearken to His voice, to send Israel away? I have not known Jehovah, and Israel also I do not send away.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Pharaoh will say, Who is Jehovah, whose voice I shall hear to send forth Israel? I knew not Jehovah, and also I shall not send Israel forth.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he answered: Who is the Lord, that I should hear his voice, and let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But he responded: “Who is the Lord, that I should listen to his voice and release Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I will not release Israel.”

New American Bible
Pharaoh answered, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

New Revised Standard Version
But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should heed him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Pharaoh said, “Who is LORD JEHOVAH, that I should listen to his voice to send away Israel? I do not know LORD JEHOVAH, neither am I sending out Israel.”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Pharaoh said: 'Who is the LORD, that I should hearken unto His voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, and moreover I will not let Israel go.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Pharao said, Who is he that I should hearken to his voice, so that I should send away the children of Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Pharaoh's First Refusal
1After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ” 2But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.” 3“The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Romans 9:17
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.”

Ezekiel 29:3
Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies among his rivers, who says, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it myself.’

Daniel 3:15
Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the statue I have made, very good. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?”

2 Kings 18:35
Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

2 Chronicles 32:15
So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive you, and do not let him mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand!”

Psalm 10:4
In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.

Psalm 12:4
They say, “With our tongues we will prevail. We own our lips—who can be our master?”

Psalm 14:1
For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.

Psalm 73:11
The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”

Isaiah 36:20
Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

Jeremiah 43:2
Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to reside there.’

Jeremiah 44:16-17
“As for the word you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you! / Instead, we will do everything we vowed to do: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and offer drink offerings to her, just as we, our fathers, our kings, and our officials did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and good things, and we saw no disaster.

John 19:15
At this, they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” “Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests.

Acts 5:29
But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

Acts 7:51
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.

Treasury of Scripture

And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

who.

Exodus 3:19
And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

2 Kings 18:35
Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?

2 Chronicles 32:15,19
Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? …

I know not.

1 Samuel 2:12
Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.

John 16:3
And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Romans 1:28
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

neither.

Exodus 3:19
And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

Jeremiah 44:16,17
As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee…

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Exodus 5

1. Pharaoh chides Moses and Aaron for their message.
6. He increases the Israelites' task.
16. He ignores their complaints.
19. They cry out to Moses and Aaron.
22. Moses complains to God.

Berean Study Bible

But Pharaoh replied
The phrase introduces Pharaoh's response, setting the stage for a confrontation between divine authority and human arrogance. In the Hebrew text, the word for "replied" (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayomer) is a common term for speaking, but here it signifies a dismissive and defiant tone. Pharaoh, as the ruler of Egypt, represents the epitome of earthly power and authority, yet his response reveals a heart hardened against the divine will. This sets a precedent for the ensuing narrative where God's power will be demonstrated over human obstinacy.

Who is the LORD
Pharaoh's question is rhetorical, reflecting his ignorance and disdain for the God of Israel. The Hebrew term for "LORD" here is יְהוָה (YHWH), the sacred and personal name of God, which signifies His eternal and self-existent nature. Pharaoh's question underscores a spiritual blindness and a lack of recognition of the true God, contrasting with the Israelites' understanding of YHWH as their covenant God. This question becomes a central theme in Exodus, as God will reveal His identity and power through the plagues and the eventual liberation of His people.

that I should obey His voice
The concept of obedience is central to the biblical narrative. The Hebrew word for "obey" (אֶשְׁמַע, eshma) implies listening with the intent to act. Pharaoh's refusal to obey highlights a fundamental conflict between human will and divine command. In the broader scriptural context, obedience to God's voice is a recurring theme, emphasizing the importance of submission to divine authority as a mark of true faith and devotion.

and let Israel go?
This phrase encapsulates the demand made by Moses and Aaron on behalf of God. "Israel" refers to the descendants of Jacob, God's chosen people, who are enslaved in Egypt. The demand to "let go" (שַׁלַּח, shalach) is not merely a request for freedom but a call for Pharaoh to recognize God's sovereignty over His people. Historically, this reflects the socio-political reality of the time, where the liberation of a slave nation would challenge the economic and political structures of Egypt.

I do not know the LORD
Pharaoh's admission of not knowing YHWH is both a statement of ignorance and a declaration of defiance. In the ancient Near Eastern context, to "know" a deity often implied acknowledgment and reverence. Pharaoh's lack of knowledge is not just intellectual but relational, indicating a refusal to acknowledge YHWH's authority. This ignorance sets the stage for God to make Himself known through mighty acts, demonstrating His supremacy over the gods of Egypt.

and I will not let Israel go
Pharaoh's final declaration is a direct challenge to God's command. The Hebrew construction here emphasizes his resolute refusal. This sets up the narrative tension that will drive the subsequent events in Exodus. Pharaoh's obstinacy becomes a backdrop against which God's power and faithfulness to His promises are vividly displayed. Theologically, this highlights the futility of resisting God's will and the certainty of His purposes being fulfilled despite human opposition.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) Who is the Lord?--Heb., Who is Jehovah? If Jehovah was a name, the use of which had been laid aside, as would seem to have been the case by the later chapters of Genesis, and which was revived by the scene at the burning bush, Pharaoh may very probably not have heard of it.

That I should obey his voice.--The king means to say, that, whoever Jehovah is, He can have no authority over him, as He is not one of his gods. The Egyptians were accustomed to the idea of local gods, and quite expected every nation to have a deity or several deities of its own; but they regarded the power of each as circumscribed, certainly not extending beyond the race or nation to which the god belonged.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord? Rather, "Who is Jehovah?" Either Pharaoh is actually ignorant, or he pretends to be. The former is possible, since Jehovah was a name but little employed, until the return of Moses to Egypt. The latter, however, is more probable. That I should obey his voice. Why am I to obey his voice? What is your Jehovah to me? What authority has he over me? He is, at best, your god, not mine. I know not Jehovah. I acknowledge him not. He is not within the range of my Pantheon. Neither will I let Israel go, i.e. "nor even, if he were, would I consent to such a request as this from him." The Pharaohs assumed to be themselves gods, on a par with the national gods, and not bound to obey them.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

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

replied,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Who
מִ֤י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

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

that
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I should obey
אֶשְׁמַ֣ע (’eš·ma‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

His voice
בְּקֹל֔וֹ (bə·qō·lōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

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

go?
לְשַׁלַּ֖ח (lə·šal·laḥ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

I do not
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

know
יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ (yā·ḏa‘·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3045: To know

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

and
וְגַ֥ם (wə·ḡam)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

I will not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

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

go.”
אֲשַׁלֵּֽחַ׃ (’ă·šal·lê·aḥ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

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OT Law: Exodus 5:2 Pharaoh said Who is Yahweh that (Exo. Ex)