Exodus 10:3

10:3 So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh and told him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews: ‘How long do you refuse ¹  to humble yourself before me? ²  Release my people so that they may serve me!

Psalms 18:44

18:44 When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. ³ 

Foreigners are powerless ⁴  before me;

Psalms 66:3

66:3 Say to God:

“How awesome are your deeds!

Because of your great power your enemies cower in fear ⁵  before you.

Psalms 78:34-37

78:34 When he struck them down, ⁶  they sought his favor; ⁷ 

they turned back and longed for God.

78:35 They remembered that God was their protector, ⁸ 

and that the sovereign God was their deliverer. ⁹ 

78:36 But they deceived him with their words, ¹⁰ 

and lied to him. ¹¹ 

78:37 They were not really committed to him, ¹² 

and they were unfaithful to his covenant.

[10:3]  ¹ tn The verb is מֵאַנְתָּ (me’anta), a Piel perfect. After “how long,” the form may be classified as present perfect (“how long have you refused), for it describes actions begun previously but with the effects continuing. (See GKC 311 §106.g-h). The use of a verb describing a state or condition may also call for a present translation (“how long do you refuse”) that includes past, present, and potentially future, in keeping with the question “how long.”

[10:3]  ² tn The clause is built on the use of the infinitive construct to express the direct object of the verb – it answers the question of what Pharaoh was refusing to do. The Niphal infinitive construct (note the elision of the ה [hey] prefix after the preposition [see GKC 139 §51.l]) is from the verb עָנָה (’anah). The verb in this stem would mean “humble oneself.” The question is somewhat rhetorical, since God was not yet through humbling Pharaoh, who would not humble himself. The issue between Yahweh and Pharaoh is deeper than simply whether or not Pharaoh will let the Israelites leave Egypt.

[18:44]  ³ tn Heb “at a report of an ear they submit to me.” The report of the psalmist’s exploits is so impressive that those who hear it submit to his rulership without putting up a fight.

[18:44]  ⁴ tn For the meaning “be weak, powerless” for כָּחַשׁ (kakhash), see Ps 109:24. The next line (see v. 45a), in which “foreigners” are also mentioned, favors this interpretation. Another option is to translate “cower in fear” (see Deut 33:29; Pss 66:3; 81:15; cf. NIV “cringe”; NRSV “came cringing”).

[66:3]  ⁵ tn See Deut 33:29; Ps 81:15 for other uses of the verb כָּחַשׁ (kakhash) in the sense “cower in fear.” In Ps 18:44 the verb seems to carry the nuance “be weak, powerless” (see also Ps 109:24).

[78:34]  ⁶ tn Or “killed them,” that is, killed large numbers of them.

[78:34]  ⁷ tn Heb “they sought him.”

[78:35]  ⁸ tn Heb “my high rocky summit.”

[78:35]  ⁹ tn Heb “and [that] God Most High [was] their redeemer.”

[78:36]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “with their mouth.”

[78:36]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and with their tongue they lied to him.”

[78:37]  ¹² tn Heb “and their heart was not firm with him.”