Exodus 5:2

NETBible

But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey him by releasing Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I will not release Israel!”

NIV ©

Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go."

NASB ©

But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go."

NLT ©

"Is that so?" retorted Pharaoh. "And who is the LORD that I should listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go."

MSG ©

Pharaoh said, "And who is GOD that I should listen to him and send Israel off? I know nothing of this so-called 'GOD' and I'm certainly not going to send Israel off."

BBE ©

And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, to whose voice I am to give ear and let Israel go? I have no knowledge of the Lord and I will not let Israel go.

NRSV ©

But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should heed him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go."

NKJV ©

And Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go."


KJV
And Pharaoh
<06547>
said
<0559> (8799)_,
Who [is] the LORD
<03068>_,
that I should obey
<08085> (8799)
his voice
<06963>
to let Israel
<03478>
go
<07971> (8763)_?
I know
<03045> (8804)
not the LORD
<03068>_,
neither will I let Israel
<03478>
go
<07971> (8762)_.
NASB ©

But Pharaoh
<6547>
said
<559>
, "Who
<4310>
is the LORD
<3068>
that I should obey
<8085>
His voice
<6963>
to let
<7971>
Israel
<3478>
go
<7971>
? I do not know
<3045>
the LORD
<3068>
, and besides
<1571>
, I will not let
<7971>
Israel
<3478>
go
<7971>
."
LXXM
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
eipen {V-AAI-3S} faraw
<5328> 
N-PRI
tiv
<5100> 
I-NSM
estin
<1510> 
V-PAI-3S
ou
<3739> 
R-GSM
eisakousomai
<1522> 
V-FMI-1S
thv
<3588> 
T-GSF
fwnhv
<5456> 
N-GSF
autou
<846> 
D-GSM
wste
<5620> 
CONJ
exaposteilai
<1821> 
V-AAN
touv
<3588> 
T-APM
uiouv
<5207> 
N-APM
israhl
<2474> 
N-PRI
ouk
<3364> 
ADV
oida {V-RAI-1S} ton
<3588> 
T-ASM
kurion
<2962> 
N-ASM
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
ton
<3588> 
T-ASM
israhl
<2474> 
N-PRI
ouk
<3364> 
ADV
exapostellw
<1821> 
V-PAI-1S
NET [draft] ITL
But Pharaoh
<06547>
said
<0559>
, “Who
<04310>
is the Lord
<03068>
that
<0834>
I should obey
<08085>
him
<06963>
by releasing
<07971>
Israel
<03478>
? I do not
<03808>
know
<03045>
the Lord
<03068>
, and I will not
<03808>
release
<07971>
Israel
<03478>
!”
HEBREW
xlsa
<07971>
al
<03808>
larvy
<03478>
ta
<0853>
Mgw
<01571>
hwhy
<03068>
ta
<0853>
ytedy
<03045>
al
<03808>
larvy
<03478>
ta
<0853>
xlsl
<07971>
wlqb
<06963>
emsa
<08085>
rsa
<0834>
hwhy
<03068>
ym
<04310>
herp
<06547>
rmayw (5:2)
<0559>

NETBible

But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey him by releasing Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I will not release Israel!”

NET Notes

tn Heb “Yahweh.” This is a rhetorical question, expressing doubt or indignation or simply a negative thought that Yahweh is nothing (see erotesis in E. W. Bullinger, Figures of Speech, 944-45). Pharaoh is not asking for information (cf. 1 Sam 25:5-10).

tn The relative pronoun introduces the consecutive clause that depends on the interrogative clause (see GKC 318-19 §107.u).

tn The imperfect tense here receives the classification of obligatory imperfect. The verb שָׁמַע (shama’) followed by “in the voice of” is idiomatic; rather than referring to simple audition – “that I should hear his voice” – it conveys the thought of listening that issues in action – “that I should obey him.”

sn The construction of these clauses is similar to (ironically) the words of Moses: “Who am I that I should go?” (3:11).

tn The Piel infinitive construct here has the epexegetical usage with lamed (ל); it explains the verb “obey.”

sn This absolute statement of Pharaoh is part of a motif that will develop throughout the conflict. For Pharaoh, the Lord (Yahweh) did not exist. So he said “I do not know the Lord [i.e., Yahweh].” The point of the plagues and the exodus will be “that he might know.” Pharaoh will come to know this Yahweh, but not in any pleasant way.