Exodus 13:17 “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road t…”

Exodus 13:17

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, though it was shorter. For God said, “If the people face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

World English Bible

When Pharaoh had let the people go, God didn’t lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt”;

American Standard Version

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

Geneva Bible 1599

Nowe when Pharaoh had let the people go, God caried them not by the way of the Philistims countrey, though it were neerer: (for God sayd, Lest the people repent whe they see warre, and turne againe to Egypt)

Darby Translation

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh let the people go, that God did not lead them the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, That the people may not repent when they see conflict, and return to Egypt.

Young's Literal Translation

And it cometh to pass in Pharaoh's sending the people away, that God hath not led them the way of the land of the Philistines, for it [is] near; for God said, 'Lest the people repent in their seeing war, and have turned back towards Egypt;'

Bible in Basic English

Now after Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not take them through the land of the Philistines, though that was near: for God said, If the people see war, they may have a change of heart and go back to Egypt.

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Cross references

“the people repent”

Numbers 14:1–4 Luke 14:27–32 Deuteronomy 20:8 1 Kings 8:47 Acts 15:38 Judges 7:3

Numbers 14:1–4 · BSB

Then the whole congregation lifted up their voices and cried out, and that night the people wept.

Luke 14:27–32 · BSB

And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.

Deuteronomy 20:8 · BSB

Then the officers shall speak further to the army, saying, “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him return home, so that the hearts of his brothers will not melt like his own.”

1 Kings 8:47 · BSB

and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’

Acts 15:38 · BSB

But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.

Judges 7:3 · BSB

Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the men: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand of them turned back, but ten thousand remained.

“return”

Nehemiah 9:17 Acts 7:39 Deuteronomy 17:16 Exodus 16:2 Exodus 16:3

Nehemiah 9:17 · BSB

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 co…

Acts 7:39 · BSB

But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

Deuteronomy 17:16 · BSB

But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’

Exodus 16:2 · BSB

And there in the desert the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron.

Exodus 16:3 · BSB

“If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

16So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead, for with a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”

18So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle.

Read Exodus 13