Exodus 7:16
ContextNETBible | Tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you to say, 1 “Release my people, that they may serve me 2 in the desert!” But until now 3 you have not listened. 4 |
XREF | Ex 3:12,18; Ex 3:18; Ex 5:1-3; Ex 5:3; Ex 8:1,20; Ex 9:1,13; Ex 9:1; Ex 10:3; Ex 13:15; Ex 14:5; 1Sa 4:6-9; Isa 45:13; Jer 50:33; Ac 4:21-23 |
NET © Notes |
1 tn The form לֵאמֹר (le’mor) is the Qal infinitive construct with the lamed (ל) preposition. It is used so often epexegetically that it has achieved idiomatic status – “saying” (if translated at all). But here it would make better sense to take it as a purpose infinitive. God sent him to say these words. 2 tn The imperfect tense with the vav (וְיַעַבְדֻנִי, vÿya’avduni) following the imperative is in volitive sequence, showing the purpose – “that they may serve me.” The word “serve” (עָבַד, ’avad) is a general term to include religious observance and obedience. 3 tn The final עַד־כֹּה (’ad-koh, “until now”) narrows the use of the perfect tense to the present perfect: “you have not listened.” That verb, however, involves more than than mere audition. It has the idea of responding to, hearkening, and in some places obeying; here “you have not complied” might catch the point of what Moses is saying, while “listen” helps to maintain the connection with other uses of the verb. 4 tn Or “complied” (שָׁמַעְתָּ, shama’ta). |