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Exodus 3:7
ESV Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings,
NIV The LORD said, 'I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.
NASB And the Lord said, 'I have certainly seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their outcry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings.
CSB Then the Lord said, "I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors. I know about their sufferings,
NLT Then the Lord told him, 'I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.
KJV And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

What does Exodus 3:7 mean?

In the prior verses, God spoke to Moses out of a burning bush—a bush which was on fire, but not consumed. In the first part of this speech, God identifies Himself, referring to Moses' Jewish ancestors. Here, the Lord's statement speaks of the suffering of the Jewish people in Egypt. Symbolically, God say that He sees, hears, and knows of the plight of Israel. God clearly states that He has "seen" the suffering of those He calls "my people." Second, he has "heard" their cry. This cry was due to the harshness of their taskmasters (Exodus 2:23–25). Moses knew this situation all too well. Forty years earlier he had fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian taskmaster.

The last phrase of the verse, "I know their sufferings," begins the next sentence that stands in parallel with the rest of this verse. The afflictions of the Hebrews were known to the Lord. He had heard their cry and would deliver them from the Egyptians. God planned to bring the Israelites out of Egypt and into a new land, just as He had with Moses. This time Moses would be the person God used to lead the people from Egypt into a new land. His personal exodus from Egypt would be repeated through the nation's exodus from bondage into a wilderness where God would provide for their needs.
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