What Does Exodus 3:21 Mean in the King James?

And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:

Exodus 3:21 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Freedom here is not just getting out: the departing people are promised they will not leave empty-handed.

THE MEANING

This verse holds release together with what travels into the next place: departure comes with favor in others’ sight and provision in hand. Being released does not mean being sent away with nothing.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that freedom means only getting out, even if you are stripped of what you need.

THE ROOT

חֵן

ḥēn

GROWS FROM

חנן

ḥ-n-n

To show favor; to be gracious.

“favour” in this verse is ḥēn. The favor in this verse is not merely approval: it is gracious regard received in the Egyptians’ eyes. It accompanies the people’s departure, so release comes with a changed relation and the possibility of provision.

ALSO GROWS

ḥānan: To show favor; to be gracious.

חָנַן

This verb is the root behind chen, linking the favor received to an act of graciousness.

ḥannun: Gracious; showing favor.

חַנּוּן

This related form names the quality present in the favor that accompanies the people’s departure.

רֵיקָם

rēqām

GROWS FROM

ריק

r-y-q

To be empty; to empty out.

Here, empty-handed points concretely to leaving with nothing. The root’s branches cover both emptiness and emptying out; the verse says the people’s departure does not end in that condition.

ALSO GROWS

rēq: Empty; void.

רֵיק

It names the emptiness the verse says will not define the people’s departure.

hērîq: To empty out; to pour out.

הֵרִיק

This verb brings the act of emptying into view, while the promise rules out an emptied departure.

וְנָתַתִּי

wenatatti

GROWS FROM

נתן

n-t-n

To give, set, or place.

“give” in this verse is wenatatti. The favor is something given, not a status the people manufacture. The gift is placed in the Egyptians’ sight and is paired with a concrete outcome: the people do not leave empty.

ALSO GROWS

mattanah: Gift.

מַתָּנָה

This noun makes visible the root’s movement from giving to what is received.

netinah: Giving; an act of giving.

נְתִינָה

This form keeps the act of giving in view, as the verse presents favor as something bestowed.

THE PATTERN

Release includes provision: the one going free is not sent away empty.

And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

Exodus 12:36 · KJVThe favor promised here results in needed goods, making the provision in the departure visible.

And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:

Deuteronomy 15:13 · KJVThis command carries the same principle into another release: freedom does not send a person away empty-handed.

And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

Luke 22:35 · KJVThe sent disciples say they lacked nothing, extending the pattern to provision on the road.

THE THREAD

And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:

Deuteronomy 15:13 · KJV

Both verses use ⁨רֵיקָם⁩ (rēqām, empty-handed) for the departure that must not end in emptiness. The shared word reveals that release includes provision, not just an open way out.

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