Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” New Living Translation Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’” English Standard Version Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” Berean Standard Bible Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” King James Bible Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. New King James Version Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” New American Standard Bible Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!” NASB 1995 “Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians ‘? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” NASB 1977 “Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” Legacy Standard Bible Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than for us to die in the wilderness.” Amplified Bible Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?’ For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians [as slaves] than to die in the wilderness.” Christian Standard Bible Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” American Standard Version Is not this the word that we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. Contemporary English Version While we were there, didn't we tell you to leave us alone? We'd rather be slaves in Egypt than die in this desert!" English Revised Version Is not this the word that we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. GOD'S WORD® Translation Didn't we tell you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone! Let us go on serving the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" Good News Translation Didn't we tell you before we left that this would happen? We told you to leave us alone and let us go on being slaves of the Egyptians. It would be better to be slaves there than to die here in the desert." International Standard Version Is this not what we told you in Egypt, when we said, 'Leave us alone!' and 'Let us serve the Egyptians!'? Indeed, it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" Majority Standard Bible Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” NET Bible Isn't this what we told you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone so that we can serve the Egyptians, because it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!'" New Heart English Bible Isn't this the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, 'Leave us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians?' For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness." Webster's Bible Translation Is not this the word that we told thee in Egypt, Saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. World English Bible Isn’t this the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians?’ For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionIs this not the word which we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, Cease from us, and we serve the Egyptians; for [it is] better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in a wilderness?” Young's Literal Translation Is not this the word which we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Cease from us, and we serve the Egyptians; for better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in a wilderness?' Smith's Literal Translation Is not this the word which we spake to thee in Egypt, saying, Desist from us, and we will serve the Egyptians? For it is good to us to serve Egypt rather than that we died in the desert. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIs not this the word that we spoke to thee in Egypt, saying: Depart from us that we may serve the Egyptians? for it was much better to serve them, than to die in the wilderness. Catholic Public Domain Version Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying: Withdraw from us, so that we may serve the Egyptians? For it was much better to serve them, than to die in the wilderness.” New American Bible Did we not tell you this in Egypt, when we said, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? Far better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” New Revised Standard Version Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, ‘Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIs not this the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in this wilderness. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Was this not the answer we were saying to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us that we may work for the Egyptians’, because it was better for us that we may work for the Egyptians than that we should die in this wilderness?” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Is not this the word that we spoke unto thee in Egypt, saying: Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.' Brenton Septuagint Translation Is not this the word which we spoke to thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? for it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in this wilderness. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Pharaoh Pursues the Israelites…11They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.… Cross References Numbers 14:3-4 Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” / So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.” Acts 7:39 But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. Numbers 11:5 We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them. Psalm 106:7 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. Numbers 21:5 and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!” Deuteronomy 1:27 You grumbled in your tents and said, “Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be annihilated. Psalm 78:17-19 But they continued to sin against Him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High. / They willfully tested God by demanding the food they craved. / They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness? Numbers 14:11 And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them? Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. Numbers 20:3-5 The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD! / Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? / Why have you led us up out of Egypt to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates—and there is no water to drink!” Hebrews 3:7-9 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, / do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works. Numbers 16:13-14 Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also appoint yourself as ruler over us? / Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!” 1 Corinthians 10:10 And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. Numbers 14:22 not one of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness—yet have tested Me and disobeyed Me these ten times— Treasury of Scripture Is not this the word that we did tell you in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. is not this Exodus 5:21 And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us. Exodus 3:9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. let us alone Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. Mark 1:24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. Mark 5:7,17,18 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not… for it had Jonah 4:3,8 Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live… Jump to Previous Alone Better Cease Death Desert Die Egypt Egyptians Leave Servants Serve Waste Wilderness Word WorkingJump to Next Alone Better Cease Death Desert Die Egypt Egyptians Leave Servants Serve Waste Wilderness Word WorkingExodus 14 1. God instructs the Israelites in their journey5. 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 Did we not say to you in Egypt This phrase reflects the Israelites' mindset while they were still in Egypt. The Hebrew word for "say" is "אָמַר" (amar), which can also mean to command or declare. This indicates that the Israelites had previously expressed their fears and reluctance to Moses. Historically, Egypt was a place of bondage, yet it was also a place of familiarity. The Israelites' statement reveals a common human tendency to prefer the known, even if it is oppressive, over the uncertainty of freedom. This reflects a lack of faith and trust in God's promises and deliverance. Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew {Did we} notהֲלֹא־ (hă·lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no say דִּבַּ֨רְנוּ (dib·bar·nū) Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common plural Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue to you אֵלֶ֤יךָ (’ê·le·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to in Egypt, בְמִצְרַ֙יִם֙ (ḇə·miṣ·ra·yim) Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa ‘Leave us alone חֲדַ֥ל (ḥă·ḏal) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 2308: To be flabby, desist, be lacking, idle so that we may serve וְנַֽעַבְדָ֣ה (wə·na·‘aḇ·ḏāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave the Egyptians’? מִצְרָ֑יִם (miṣ·rā·yim) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4713: Egyptian -- inhabitant of Egypt For כִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction it would have been better ט֥וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good for us לָ֙נוּ֙ (lā·nū) Preposition | first person common plural Strong's Hebrew to serve עֲבֹ֣ד (‘ă·ḇōḏ) Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave the Egyptians מִצְרַ֔יִם (miṣ·ra·yim) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4713: Egyptian -- inhabitant of Egypt than to die מִמֻּתֵ֖נוּ (mim·mu·ṯê·nū) Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common plural Strong's 4191: To die, to kill in the wilderness.” בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ (bam·miḏ·bār) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech Links Exodus 14:12 NIVExodus 14:12 NLT Exodus 14:12 ESV Exodus 14:12 NASB Exodus 14:12 KJV Exodus 14:12 BibleApps.com Exodus 14:12 Biblia Paralela Exodus 14:12 Chinese Bible Exodus 14:12 French Bible Exodus 14:12 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 14:12 Isn't this the word that we spoke (Exo. 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