Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. With a strong hand] hqzj dy yad chazakah, the same verb which we translate to harden; see on "ver. 21". The strong hand here means sovereign power, suddenly and forcibly applied. God purposed to manifest his sovereign power in the sight of Pharaoh and the Egyptians; in consequence of which Pharaoh would manifest his power and authority as sovereign of Egypt, in dismissing and thrusting out the people. See chap. xii. 31-33.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - We are most likely to prosper in attempts to glorify God, and to be useful to men, when we learn by experience that we can do nothing of ourselves; when our whole dependence is placed on him, and our onl expectation is from him. Moses had been expecting what God would do but now he shall see what he will do. God would now be known by his name Jehovah, that is, a God performing what he had promised, an finishing his own work. God intended their happiness: I will take yo to me for a people, a peculiar people, and I will be to you a God. Mor than this we need not ask, we cannot have, to make us happy. He intended his own glory: Ye shall know that I am the Lord. These goo words, and comfortable words, should have revived the droopin Israelites, and have made them forget their misery; but they were s taken up with their troubles, that they did not heed God's promises. By indulging discontent and fretfulness, we deprive ourselves of the comfort we might have, both from God's word and from his providence and go comfortless.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 יהוה3068 אל413 משׁה4872 עתה6258 תראה7200 אשׁר834 אעשׂה6213 לפרעה6547 כי3588 ביד3027 חזקה2389 ישׁלחם7971 וביד3027 חזקה2389 יגרשׁם1644 מארצו׃776
