What Does Exodus 5:2 Mean in the King James?
And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
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 verse joins “I know not” to “I will not let go”: refusing to recognize the voice becomes a decision to keep hold.
THE MEANING
The voice of constriction asks, “Who has authority over what I hold?” and makes refusal sound like ignorance. The verse shows denial becoming action: not recognizing the voice is joined to refusing release. The claim to freedom remains present even when the holder refuses to name it.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that refusal becomes legitimate merely because the holder says “I do not know” is exposed: claimed ignorance and the choice to keep hold stand together.
THE ROOT
לְשַׁלֵּחַ
le-shalleaḥ
GROWS FROM
שלח
Send forth; release, let go.
“let Israel go” in this verse is le-shalleaḥ. The same Hebrew verb names both the requested release and Pharaoh’s refusal. English preserves “let go,” while shalach also carries the force of sending someone forth from the hand that holds them.
ALSO GROWS
shilluach: Sending away, dismissal.
שִׁלּוּחַ
This branch makes release an active sending out, not simply the absence of restraint.
Shiloach: Sent; the name of the waters of Siloam.
שִׁלֹחַ
The name carries the same sending-forth image: what is sent out can become a path toward restoration.
אֶשְׁמַע בְּקֹלוֹ
’eshma beqolo
GROWS FROM
שמע
Hear and respond.
“obey his voice” in this verse is ’eshma beqolo. The Hebrew says, literally, “hear his voice,” where the KJV gives “obey.” The root joins hearing with response, so the question is whether the voice will be answered, not merely whether it can be heard.
ALSO GROWS
shema: Hear and respond.
שְׁמַע
The familiar form makes the response within hearing explicit.
shemuah: A report, something heard.
שְׁמוּעָה
This branch begins with what reaches the ear; in the verse, hearing becomes the question of response.
יָדַעְתִּי
yada‘ti
GROWS FROM
ידע
Know, perceive through encounter.
Yada can carry knowing through encounter and recognition, beyond possession of information. Here the claim “I know not” stands beside a refusal to release, revealing how claimed nonrecognition can keep a grip in place.
ALSO GROWS
yada: Know, perceive.
יָדַע
The verb names the recognition Pharaoh says is absent.
daat: Knowledge, understanding.
דַּעַת
This noun shows the same root’s movement from knowing to what is known.
THE PATTERN
Those who treat another’s freedom as theirs to grant reveal their power by whether they release the one held.
Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,THE THREAD
Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.The same root, שׁלח (shalach), names release in both verses, making the question concrete: who can keep another under their hand? Here release is refused; in Exodus 8:8 it is offered conditionally, showing how a grip tries to bargain.
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