Exodus 16:3 ““If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they sa…”

Exodus 16:3

“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!”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

World English Bible

and the children of Israel said to them, “We wish that we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots, when we ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

American Standard Version

and the children of Israel said unto them, Would that we had died by the hand of Jehovah in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh-pots, when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Geneva Bible 1599

For the children of Israel sayde to them, Oh that we had dyed by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when wee sate by the flesh pots, when wee ate bread our bellies full: for yee haue brought vs out into this wildernesse, to kill this whole company with famine.

Darby Translation

And the children of Israel said to them, Would that we had died by the hand of Jehovah in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh-pots, when we ate bread to the full; for ye have brought us out into this wilderness, to kill this whole congregation with hunger!

Young's Literal Translation

and the sons of Israel say unto them, 'Oh that we had died by the hand of Jehovah in the land of Egypt, in our sitting by the flesh-pot, in our eating bread to satiety — for ye have brought us out unto this wilderness to put all this assembly to death with hunger.'

Bible in Basic English

And the children of Israel said to them, It would have been better for the Lord to have put us to death in the land of Egypt, where we were seated by the flesh-pots and had bread enough for our needs; for you have taken us out to this waste of sand, to put all this people to death through need of food.

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Cross references

“Would”

Numbers 20:3–5 Deuteronomy 28:67 Lamentations 4:9 Joshua 7:7 1 Corinthians 4:8 2 Samuel 18:33

Numbers 20:3–5 · BSB

The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD!

Deuteronomy 28:67 · BSB

In the morning you will say, ‘If only it were evening!’ and in the evening you will say, ‘If only it were morning!’—because of the dread in your hearts of the terrifying sights you will see.

Lamentations 4:9 · BSB

Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.

Joshua 7:7 · BSB

“O, Lord GOD,” Joshua said, “why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be destroyed? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!

1 Corinthians 4:8 · BSB

Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!

2 Samuel 18:33 · BSB

The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

“we had”

Numbers 14:2 Numbers 11:15 Job 3:1 Job 3:10 Job 3:20 Jeremiah 20:14–18

Numbers 14:2 · BSB

All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!

Numbers 11:15 · BSB

If this is how You are going to treat me, please kill me right now—if I have found favor in Your eyes—and let me not see my own wretchedness.”

Job 3:1 · BSB

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

Job 3:10 · BSB

For that night did not shut the doors of the womb to hide the sorrow from my eyes.

Job 3:20 · BSB

Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,

Jeremiah 20:14–18 · BSB

Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me never be blessed.

“flesh”

Exodus 2:23 Numbers 11:4 Numbers 11:5

Exodus 2:23 · BSB

After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God.

Numbers 11:4 · BSB

Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, “Who will feed us meat?

Numbers 11:5 · BSB

We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.

“to kill”

Exodus 17:3 Exodus 5:21 Numbers 16:13 Numbers 16:41

Exodus 17:3 · BSB

But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: “Why have you brought us out of Egypt—to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

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!”

Numbers 16:13 · BSB

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?

Numbers 16:41 · BSB

The next day the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the LORD’s people!”

“hunger”

Jeremiah 2:6 Deuteronomy 8:3

Jeremiah 2:6 · BSB

They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and darkness, a land where no one travels and no one…

Deuteronomy 8:3 · BSB

He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth o…

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

In context

2And there in the desert the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron.

4Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.

Read Exodus 16