What Does Exodus 2:25 Mean in the King James?
And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The KJV’s “had respect” carries the Hebrew sense of knowing: divine regard is not only a look, but recognition.
THE MEANING
You are not lost inside the crowd: the same gaze that sees your condition also knows you. The verse holds sight and recognition together, so your suffering is not anonymous before God.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that being one among many makes you unknown to God. What appears to be a passing glance is joined to knowing.
THE ROOT
וַיֵּדַע
wayyēdaʿ
GROWS FROM
ידע
to know, perceive, recognize
The KJV’s “had respect” carries the deeper shade of knowing: this regard recognizes rather than merely notices. The verse places seeing alongside knowing, so the people are both visible and known.
ALSO GROWS
daʿat: knowledge, understanding
דַּעַת
This noun grows from the same knowing-root, opening “respect” into recognition that reaches beyond a glance.
mōdaʿ: acquaintance, kinsman
מוֹדָע
A word for someone known can also name a relation, hinting that this kind of knowing belongs to relationship rather than detached observation.
THE PATTERN
God’s seeing does not leave suffering at a distance; it becomes personal knowledge and attention.
And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.THE THREAD
And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;The “know” here is יָדַע (yādaʿ, “know, perceive”), from the same root as וַיֵּדַע (wayyēdaʿ, “and [God] knew”) in this verse. Exodus 3:7 opens the depth of that knowing: it reaches into sorrow.
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