The Meaning of Exodus 11:3 Explained

Exodus 11:3

KJV: And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.

YLT: And Jehovah giveth the grace of the people in the eyes of the Egyptians; also the man Moses is very great in the land of Egypt, in the eyes of the servants of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of the people.

Darby: And Jehovah gave the people favour in the eyes of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt in the eyes of Pharaoh's bondmen, and in the eyes of the people.

ASV: And Jehovah gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  gave  the people  favour  in the sight  of the Egyptians.  Moreover the man  Moses  [was] very  great  in the land  of Egypt,  in the sight  of Pharaoh's  servants,  and in the sight  of the people. 

What does Exodus 11:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 11:1-10 - The Death Of The First-Born Threatened
"One plague more." These are ominous words! This final act of judgment would smite the fetters from Israel's neck forever. It is vain for man to enter into conflict with God. God does not crush him at once, because He is long-suffering and forgiving. See 2 Peter 3:9. But if man persists, the inevitable blow falls. See Psalms 7:12. The word borrow is better rendered ask, Exodus 11:2, r.v. The Hebrew phrase has no suggestion of a return being expected. This was befitting payment for their long and unrewarded labor.
The great cry, Exodus 11:6, recalls the piercing wail that rings through an eastern home when death takes place. The world shall hear one other such cry, as we learn from Revelation 1:7. There is no difference between God's people and others when sin is concerned. All have come short of God's glory. Nor is there difference in His redeeming grace. But there is all the difference between those who shelter under the blood of the Lamb and those who refuse. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 11

1  God's message to the Israelites to borrow jewels of their neighbors
4  Moses threatens Pharaoh with the death the firstborn

What do the individual words in Exodus 11:3 mean?

And gave Yahweh - favor the people in the sight of Egypt Moreover the man Moses [was] great very in the land of Egypt of servants of Pharaoh and in the sight of the people -
וַיִּתֵּ֧ן יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־ חֵ֥ן הָעָ֖ם בְּעֵינֵ֣י מִצְרָ֑יִם גַּ֣ם ׀ הָאִ֣ישׁ מֹשֶׁ֗ה גָּד֤וֹל מְאֹד֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם עַבְדֵֽי־ פַרְעֹ֖ה וּבְעֵינֵ֥י הָעָֽם ס

וַיִּתֵּ֧ן  And  gave 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
יְהוָ֛ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
חֵ֥ן  favor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֵן  
Sense: favour, grace, charm.
הָעָ֖ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
בְּעֵינֵ֣י  in  the  sight 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
מִצְרָ֑יִם  of  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרִי  
Sense: Egyptian—an inhabitant or citizen of Egypt.
גַּ֣ם ׀  Moreover 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
הָאִ֣ישׁ  the  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
מֹשֶׁ֗ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
גָּד֤וֹל  [was]  great 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
מְאֹד֙  very 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ  in  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
מִצְרַ֔יִם  of  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
עַבְדֵֽי־  of  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
פַרְעֹ֖ה  of  Pharaoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.
וּבְעֵינֵ֥י  and  in  the  sight 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, cdc
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
הָעָֽם  of  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation