Exodus 11:3 · Bible study
Exodus 11:3 Commentary: Divine Favor and Moses' Greatness
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Exodus 11:3 reveals God's sovereign power to turn hearts and elevate His servants.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God sovereignly gives the Israelites acceptance in Egyptian eyes and elevates Moses’ status in preparation for the exodus.
- Key words: Chen (חֵן, favor/grace); gadol me'od (גָּדוֹל מְאֹד, very great); be'enei (בְּעֵינֵי, in the sight/eyes of).
- Main debate: Whether the favor and greatness are simultaneous or the verse anticipates later events (Gill suggests anticipation; Calvin treats it as present).
- Theological theme: God’s sovereignty over human wills (Proverbs 21:1; Psalm 106:46).
- Best use: As a case study in how God prepares hearts and circumstances to fulfill His promises.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Yahweh 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 King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
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 Darby Bible 1890
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.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the Lord will give favour to his people in the sight of the Egyptians. And Moses was a very great man in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharao's servants, and of all the people.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y Jehová dió gracia al pueblo en los ojos de los Egipcios. También Moisés era muy gran|strong="H3966, H1419" varón en la tierra de Egipto, á los ojos de los siervos de Faraón, y á los ojos del pueblo.
E o SENHOR fez o povo ser favorecido aos olhos dos egípcios. Também Moisés era muito grande homem na terra do Egito, aos olhos dos servos de Faraó, e aos olhos do povo.
L’ Éternel fit trouver grâce au peuple aux yeux des Égyptiens; Moïse lui-même était très considéré dans le pays d’ Égypte, aux yeux des serviteurs de Pharaon et aux yeux du peuple.
Und der HERR gab dem Volk Gnade vor den Ägyptern. Und Mose war ein sehr großer Mann in Ägyptenland vor den Knechten Pharaos und vor dem Volk.
En de HEERE gaf het volk genade in de ogen der Egyptenaren; ook was de man Mozes zeer groot in Egypteland voor de ogen van Farao's knechten, en voor de ogen des volks.)
E l’Eterno fece entrare il popolo nelle buone grazie degli Egiziani; anche Mosè era personalmente in gran considerazione nel paese d’Egitto, agli occhi dei servitori di Faraone e agli occhi del popolo.
A dał Pan łaskę ludowi w oczach Egipczan, i był Mojżesz mąż bardzo wielki w ziemi Egipskiej, w oczach sług Faraonowych, i w oczach ludu.
И дал Господь милость народу [Своему] в глазах Египтян, [и они давали ему;] да и Моисей был весьма велик в земле Египетской, в глазах [фараона и] рабов фараоновых и в глазах [всего] народа.
耶和華 叫百姓 在埃及人 眼前 蒙 恩，並且 摩西 在埃及 地、法老 臣僕，和百姓 的眼中 看為極 大。
And the Lord gave the people grace in the eyes of the Egyptians. For the man Moses was highly honoured in the land of Egypt, by Pharaoh's servants and the people.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 11:3
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Exodus 11:3 displays God’s sovereign control over human hearts to accomplish His deliverance. Calvin argues that God turned the Egyptians’ minds by a secret inspiration, so that those who had formerly been hostile now freely gave their valuables. Gill notes that Moses’ fame from the plagues made him “very great” in Egypt, causing the Egyptians to fear or respect him. Clarke adds that the miracles had already convinced Pharaoh’s court of Moses’ extraordinary power. Matthew Henry sees the verse as proof that Moses and Israel were “favourites of Heaven.” All stress that both the favor and Moses’ stature are gifts from God, not earned by human effort.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God sovereignly gave the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians and made Moses great—both are divine acts that enabled the exodus and fulfilled His earlier promise.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| God’s role in turning the Egyptians’ hearts | All commentators affirm God gave the favor; it is a divine act, not merely human goodwill. | Calvin emphasizes God’s secret inspiration (the Egyptians were unaware of His work), while Gill and Clarke focus on Moses' miracles as the visible means. Some traditions stress God’s direct sovereignty, others the cooperation of psychological factors. |
| Timing of the favor | The verse is placed within the announcement of the tenth plague; it prepares for the Israelites’ request for valuables. | Gill reads it as an anticipation of events after the plague (Exod 12:35-36), while Calvin considers it an immediate softening. The text itself does not specify the exact moment, so readers view it either as present or proleptic. |
| Moses’ greatness: earned or gifted? | Moses was truly great in Egypt, a result of the signs God performed through him. | Some (Clarke, Gill) highlight the impact of the plagues on Egyptian perception, making Moses seem like an extraordinary magician. Others (Calvin, Matthew Henry) see it as God’s pure gift, with no human causation. Both agree the source is divine, but they differ on how much human instrumentality is involved. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Exodus 11:3 sits between the ninth plague and the announcement of the tenth and final plague, the death of the firstborn. After months of escalating judgments, the Egyptians are exhausted and demoralized. Yet God promises to make them willingly give silver and gold to the Israelites (Exod 3:21; 12:36). The Hebrew word for favor, chen (חֵן), often means grace or acceptance. Here it describes a supernatural shift in attitude: a slave nation becomes the object of generosity.
The verse also highlights Moses’ reputation. The phrase “the man Moses” (הָאִישׁ מֹשֶׁה) may emphasize his humanity, God works through an ordinary person. He is “very great” (gadol me'od), not by self-promotion but through the signs Yahweh performed (Deut 34:11). This greatness is recognized “in the land of Egypt” and specifically by Pharaoh’s officials and the people. In a culture where Egyptians despised shepherds and foreigners, such acclaim is remarkable. It prepares the way for the exodus: the Egyptians not only release the Israelites but even fund their departure.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Exodus 11:3. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscript traditions. Translations differ slightly in rendering key terms (e.g., “favour” vs. “grace”), but these do not affect the core meaning.
Reception History
Christian interpreters have consistently read Exodus 11:3 as a display of God’s sovereignty over human will. Reformers like Calvin used it to argue that God even turns the hearts of the unregenerate to accomplish His purposes. Puritan commentators such as Matthew Henry saw it as a guarantee that God provides for His people’s needs, even from their oppressors. Wesleyan interpreter Adam Clarke emphasized the evidential power of miracles in changing minds. In broader tradition, the verse has been cited as a model of how God prepares a way for His people, often quoted alongside Exodus 3:21 and 12:36 to show His faithful provision.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God turns hostility into generosity. The Canaanites had hated Israel; now they give freely. God controls the hearts of all people (Proverbs 21:1).
- Moses’ reputation grows through God’s work. Miracles, not ambition, lift Moses in Egypt’s eyes. Faithful servants are remembered.
- Favor from enemies is a gift for the journey. The valuables are not spoils but an empowerment for worship and wilderness living.
Five-point outline
- The context of judgment: God’s plagues have broken Egypt, yet He now works not through force but willingness.
- The promise fulfilled: Exodus 3:21 is kept here; God is faithful before the final plague strikes.
- Two kinds of greatness: Moses is great in God’s eyes (his faith) and in Egypt’s eyes (his reputation). Both come from God.
- Contrast with earlier oppression: The Egyptians who once “loathed” Israel (Exod 1:12) now hold them in high regard.
- Example for believers: When we face hostility, we can pray for God to change hearts, knowing He can do it without our schemes.
Illustration hooks
- A person who has been bullied at work suddenly receives an apology and an offer of help from the bully, unexpected, unearned grace.
- A church plant in a resistant neighborhood finds that a local business owner, previously opposed, now donates space and supplies.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “Does God still intervene in people’s attitudes toward me, or is that only in Bible times?”
- “How can I tell if a change in someone’s behavior is from God or just temporary convenience?”
- “Should I try to build my reputation like Moses, or just let God do it?”
Leading a Discussion
Exodus 11:3 highlights God’s ability to change hearts and elevate His servants. As you study this verse, notice how both the favor and Moses’ greatness come from the Lord. This passage calls us to trust God in difficult relationships and to see His hand even when we feel powerless.
Discussion questions
- What does this verse reveal about God’s character and His involvement in human affairs?
- Why do you think the verse mentions “the man Moses” specifically, rather than simply “Moses”?
- How does the favor described here connect with God’s promise in Exodus 3:21? What does this tell us about God’s faithfulness?
- In what ways did Moses’ greatness serve God’s larger plan for Israel’s deliverance? Can you think of a modern example where God uses someone’s reputation for His purposes?
- This favor came after nine plagues. Why might God have waited until this point to turn the Egyptians’ hearts? What does that timing teach us about patience?
- How would you respond to someone who says, “This just shows that God can do anything. I don’t need to act or ask for change”?
- Is there a relationship in your life where you need God to “give favor”? How can you pray about that while also taking appropriate steps?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 12:2 | I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. |
| Genesis 39:21 | But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. |
| Exodus 3:21 | I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, and it will happen that when you go, you shall not go empty-handed. |
| Exodus 12:36 | Yahweh gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. They plundered the Egyptians. |
| Deuteronomy 34:11 | in all the signs and the wonders which Yahweh sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, |
| II Samuel 7:9 | I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth. |
| Esther 9:4 | For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew greater and greater. |
| Psalms 106:46 | He made them also to be pitied by all those who carried them captive. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke observes that the miracles Moses worked gave Pharaoh and his court a high opinion of his wisdom and power. As a result, they viewed him as too dangerous to harm, which likely prevented the violent attacks his person might otherwise have faced.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that God alone controls human hearts, turning enemies into benefactors when He chooses. This truth teaches patience under cruelty, since even harsh treatment comes from God's hand, and it gives believers confidence to pray for softened hearts. God may grant temporary kindness without transforming a person's character.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible assigns these verses to two of the early written sources behind Exodus, J and E. It treats the passage as the announcement of the final plague, directly continuing the narrative from the end of chapter 10.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes observe that both the Israelites' favor with the Egyptians and Moses's great reputation came directly from God. The Lord sovereignly turned hostile hearts toward goodwill, making even Pharaoh's servants regard Moses as highly distinguished.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that Moses' reputation among the Egyptians, built on the signs and wonders he performed and his power to remove plagues, made them willing to lend items to Israel. They respected and feared him, which helped secure the people's requests.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch emphasize that God's strategy to overcome Pharaoh included making the Egyptians willing to give their valuables. They also note that Moses' rising reputation from his miracles helped this process. The actual command for the people to ask is not stated here but appears later in the account.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the announcement of the final plague comes immediately after Pharaoh's refusal, not beforehand. God Himself will step forth in judgment, with Moses reverently retiring. The judgment is so severe that Israel's own relative guilt requires atonement through the paschal lamb, and the proverb about a dog's tongue means Israel will face no disturbance.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees God's announcement of one final plague as a pattern for the final judgment that awaits the unrepentant in the life to come. After every lesser judgment has failed to humble sinners, God reserves one last blow that will finally break their resistance.