Exodus 14:12 “Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve t…”

Exodus 14:12

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.”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

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.”

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.

Geneva Bible 1599

Did not wee tell thee this thing in Egypt, saying, Let vs be in rest, that we may serue the Egyptians? for it had bene better for vs to serue the Egyptians, then that wee shoulde dye in the wildernesse.

Darby Translation

Is not this what we told thee in Egypt, when we said, Let us alone, and we will serve the Egyptians? For [it had been] better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the 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?'

Bible in Basic English

Did we not say to you in Egypt, Let us be as we are, working for the Egyptians? for it is better to be the servants of the Egyptians than to come to our death in the waste land.

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Cross references

“Is not this”

Exodus 5:21 Exodus 3:9

Exodus 5:21 · BSB

“May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!”

Exodus 3:9 · BSB

And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them.

“Let us alone”

Hosea 4:17 Mark 1:24 Mark 5:7 Mark 5:17 Mark 5:18

Hosea 4:17 · BSB

Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!

Mark 1:24 · BSB

“What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

Mark 5:7 · BSB

And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!”

Mark 5:17 · BSB

And the people began to beg Jesus to leave their region.

Mark 5:18 · BSB

As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him.

“For it had”

Jonah 4:3 Jonah 4:8

Jonah 4:3 · BSB

And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Jonah 4:8 · BSB

As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint and wished to die, saying, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

Also

Exodus 6:9

Exodus 6:9 · BSB

Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but on account of their broken spirit and cruel bondage, they did not listen to him.

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

In context

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?

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.

Read Exodus 14