Exodus 19:4
in Exodus 19‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.
KJV
Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.
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This verse in Exodus 19
Commentary
8 notes on this verseHow I bare you on eagles’ wings - Mr. Bruce contends that the word נשר nesher does not mean the bird we term eagle; but a bird which the Arabs, from its kind and merciful disposition, call rachama, which is noted for its care of its young, and its carrying them upon its back. See his Travels, vol. vii., pl.
This site's exposition
Moses went up to God
on Exodus 19:3-4
The covenant opens with history, and God's first words at Sinai recall what he has done. The figure is eagles' wings, and Deuteronomy 32:11 works it out, as an eagle stirs up its nest and hovers over its young. The destination named is God himself, and the land goes unmentioned.
This site's exposition
You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt
You have seen for yourselves grounds the LORD's covenant on what the people saw done to Egypt. The same words open the law of the altar at 20:22, and Israel is the witness.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
They were brought not only into a state of liberty and honour, but into covenant and communion with God. This, this was the glory of their deliverance, as it is of ours by Christ, that he died, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.
Ye have seen what I did to the Egyptians,....
They were brought not only into a state of liberty and honour, but into covenant and communion with God. This, this was the glory of their deliverance, as it is of ours by Christ, that he died, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
In thus negotiating between God and His people, the highest post of duty which any mortal man was ever called to occupy, Moses was still but a servant. The only Mediator is Jesus Christ [1Ti 2:5;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-brackets
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
On eagles’ wings - Both in the law Deu 32:11 and in the Gospel Mat 23:37, the Church is compared to fledgelings which the mother cherishes and protects under her wings: but in the law that mother is an eagle, in the Gospels “a hen”; thus shadowing forth the diversity of administration under each covenant: the one of power, which God manifested when He brought His people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and led them into the promised land; the other of grace, when Christ came in humility and took the form of a servant and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. Compare also Rev 12:14.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אַתֶּ֣ם | ʾatem | you | H859 → | 1094 times |
| רְאִיתֶ֔ם | reitem | you have seen | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | [that] which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| עָשִׂ֖יתִי | ʾasiti | I did | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| לְמִצְרָ֑יִם | lemitzrayim | to Egypt | H4714 → | 641 times |
| וָאֶשָּׂ֤א | vaesa' | and I carried | H5375 → | 656 times |
| אֶתְכֶם֙ | ʾetkhem | <obj.> you | H853 → | 10935 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| כַּנְפֵ֣י | kanfei | wings of | H3671 → | 109 times |
| נְשָׁרִ֔ים | nesharim | eagles | H5404 → | |
| וָאָבִ֥א | vaavi' | and I brought | H935 → | 2568 times |
| אֶתְכֶ֖ם | ʾetkhem | <obj.> you | H853 → | 10935 times |
| אֵלָֽי׃ | ʾelai | to myself | H413 → | 5510 times |
אַתֶּ֣םyou
ʾatemH859 →1094 times
רְאִיתֶ֔םyou have seen
reitemH7200 →1300 times
אֲשֶׁ֥ר[that] which
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
עָשִׂ֖יתִיI did
ʾasitiH6213 →2628 times
לְמִצְרָ֑יִםto Egypt
lemitzrayimH4714 →641 times
וָאֶשָּׂ֤אand I carried
vaesa'H5375 →656 times
אֶתְכֶם֙<obj.> you
ʾetkhemH853 →10935 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
כַּנְפֵ֣יwings of
kanfeiH3671 →109 times
נְשָׁרִ֔יםeagles
nesharimH5404 →
וָאָבִ֥אand I brought
vaavi'H935 →2568 times
אֶתְכֶ֖ם<obj.> you
ʾetkhemH853 →10935 times
אֵלָֽי׃to myself
ʾelaiH413 →5510 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 40:31But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
it leads to
- Lamentations 3:25–26
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
- 2 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.
- Psalms 27:13–14
Still I am certain to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
- Psalms 103:5
who satisfies you with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…
- Lamentations 3:25–26
Through
Isaiah 63:9In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days…
it leads to
- Exodus 33:14
And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
- Exodus 23:20–21
Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.
- Exodus 33:14
Through
Revelation 12:14But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly from the presence of the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, and times,…
it leads to
- Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
- Isaiah 40:31
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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On this verse
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About Exodus
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.