The Meaning of Exodus 19:4 Explained

Exodus 19:4

KJV: Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.

YLT: Ye -- ye have seen that which I have done to the Egyptians, and I bear you on eagles' wings, and bring you in unto Myself.

Darby: Ye have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, and how I have borne you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.

ASV: Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles wings, and brought you unto myself.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Ye have seen  what I did  unto the Egyptians,  and [how] I bare  you on eagles'  wings,  and brought  you unto myself. 

What does Exodus 19:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 19:1-15 - Moses Receives Jehovah's Words In The Mount
The plain beneath Sinai, where Israel encamped, has been identified, and the reader should study the books of travelers which afford a mental conception of the scene. The brilliant colors, in which red sandstone predominates; the shattered, thunder-stricken peaks; the awful silence; the utter absence of vegetation; the level plain giving abundant opportunity for all to hear and see-all these deserve notice. The tenderness of the divine address is very touching. Nor are we excluded from these promises, if we are among Abraham's spiritual children. See Romans 4:10. If God could carry this multitude of people, He is sufficient for us and our burdens. We also may be His peculiar treasure and a kingdom of priests.
But Israel's solemn pledge was a profound mistake. Had they known themselves better, they would never have made it, and one design of the Decalogue was to show how absolutely impossible it is for any to be justified by the works of the Law. Pentecost, which Whitsuntide commemorates, took place on the anniversary of this august scene. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 19

1  The people arrive at Sinai
3  God's message by Moses unto the people out of the mount
8  The people are prepared against the third day, for the giving of the law
12  The mountain must not be touched
16  The fearful presence of God upon the mount

What do the individual words in Exodus 19:4 mean?

You have seen what I did to Egypt And [how] I bore you on wings eagles' and brought you to Myself
אַתֶּ֣ם רְאִיתֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי לְמִצְרָ֑יִם וָאֶשָּׂ֤א אֶתְכֶם֙ עַל־ כַּנְפֵ֣י נְשָׁרִ֔ים וָאָבִ֥א אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֵלָֽי

רְאִיתֶ֔ם  have  seen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
עָשִׂ֖יתִי  I  did 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לְמִצְרָ֑יִם  to  Egypt 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרִי  
Sense: Egyptian—an inhabitant or citizen of Egypt.
וָאֶשָּׂ֤א  And  [how]  I  bore 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
כַּנְפֵ֣י  wings 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: כָּנָף  
Sense: wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner, shirt.
נְשָׁרִ֔ים  eagles' 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: נֶשֶׁר  
Sense: eagle, vulture, griffon-vulture.
וָאָבִ֥א  and  brought 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֵלָֽי  to  Myself 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).