Exodus 14:6 — Word Study
WLCוַיֶּאְסֹ֖ר אֶת־ רִכְבּ֑וֹ וְאֶת־ עַמּ֖וֹ לָקַ֥ח עִמּֽוֹ׃
BSASo [Pharaoh] preparedʼâçar▸ [the king, ruler, made ready, harnessed] his chariotrekeb [vehicle, team of horses] and tooklâqach■ [gathered, brought] his armyʻam [people, nation] with himʻim [together, in his company]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיֶּאְסֹ֖ר | and he harnessed | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| רִכְבּ֑וֹ | chariot his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| עַמּ֖וֹ | people his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| לָקַ֥ח | he took | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| עִמּֽוֹ׃ | with him | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him. |
| KJV | And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: |
| ASV | And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: |
| YLT | And he harnesseth his chariot, and his people he hath taken with him, |
| WEB | He prepared his chariot, and took his army with him; |
| BBE | So he had his war-carriage made ready and took his people with him: |
Translations agree on the key actions of Pharaoh in this verse.
The sentence has two main actions, each with its own object, clearly showing Pharaoh's preparations.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָסַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Exodus 14:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Pursuit of Israelgenerated
Exodus 14:6 describes Pharaoh's reaction after learning that the Israelites had fled Egypt. He prepares his chariot and gathers his army, demonstrating his determination to regain control over the people who had escaped. This moment is pivotal as it sets the stage for the confrontation between Pharaoh and the Israelites, showcasing the tension and urgency of the situation.
Cross References
The Key Word — אָסַר, vai.ye'.Sorgenerated
The verb אָסַר (asar) means to bind or tie something, and in this context, it implies preparing for battle by harnessing the chariot. This word can also mean to imprison or make a covenant, indicating a range of actions from binding physically to preparing strategically.
In the parsing, it is noted as a sequential imperfect third person masculine singular verb, indicating that Pharaoh is actively engaging in the action of harnessing his chariot, which emphasizes his role as the king taking decisive steps.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses prepared and took to convey Pharaoh's actions.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main verbs: אֶסֹר (he harnessed) and לָקַח (he took). The first verb introduces Pharaoh's action of preparing his chariot, while the second verb indicates the gathering of his army.
The structure reflects a straightforward sequence of actions, with the verbs leading the sentence and the objects following them, illustrating Pharaoh's immediate response to the fleeing Israelites.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אָסַר as οὖν, which indicates a continuation of thought rather than a direct translation of the action of harnessing. This choice may reflect a broader narrative flow rather than a focus on the specific action.
The Greek word for רֶ֫כֶב is rendered as αὐτοῦ, suggesting possession but not explicitly conveying the action of harnessing.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 14:6 shows Pharaoh preparing his chariot and gathering his army after hearing that the Israelites had fled. This action reveals Pharaoh's determination to pursue them and regain control.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies his readiness to pursue the Israelites and regain control after they fled Egypt.
The gathering of the army shows Pharaoh's commitment to recapture the Israelites and highlights the escalating conflict.
It implies preparation for battle, indicating that Pharaoh is taking serious steps to confront the fleeing Israelites.
This verse sets the stage for the pursuit of the Israelites, leading to the dramatic events of the crossing of the Red Sea.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does Pharaoh's determination reveal about his character and leadership?
- How can we understand the significance of preparation in our own lives?
- What lessons can be learned from Pharaoh's response to the Israelites' escape?
- In what ways can we prepare ourselves for challenges we face?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 14:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd he made ready his chariot,.... Which he usually rode in when he went forth to war; for this seems to be a military chariot, and not for show or grandeur; and this was got ready not by himself, as
Read John Gill on Exodus 14 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 14 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsExodus 14:6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:Ver. 6. Made ready his chariot.] To meet his destruction.
Read John Trapp on Exodus 14 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(6) He made ready his chariot.—Egyptian monarchs of the Rameside period almost always led their armies out to battle, and when they did so, uniformly rode with a single attendant, who acted as charioteer, in a two-horse chariot. “Made ready” means, of course, ordered to be made ready.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 14 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6. made ready] Heb. bound, i.e. attached to the horses (Genesis 46:29 al.). chariot] marg. ‘Or, chariots.’ The Heb. word may be used either of in individual chariot (2 Kings 9:21; 2 Kings 9:24), or collectively (vv. 7, 9, 17, &c.). Here, however, the Pharaoh’s own chariot appears to be meant. his people] i.e. his warriors (Numbers 21:23 al.).
Read Cambridge on Exodus 14 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible6. He made ready his chariot — Horses and chariots are first represented in the monuments of Amosis, (1520 B.C.,) although there is evidence of their use before that time.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 14 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him.
He prepared his chariot, and took his army with him;
So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him.
Then he prepared his chariots and took his army with him.
Tyndale line
And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
And he made ready his charets, and tooke his people with him,
Strictly literal
And he yoked his chariot, and took his people with him.
And he harnesseth his chariot, and his people he hath taken with him,
And he harnesses his chariot, and he has taken his people with him,
And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him.
Then Pharaoh got his chariots ready and took his army with him.
From the Latin
So he made ready his chariot, and took all his people with him.
Simplified
So Pharaoh had his chariot made ready and set out with his army.
So he had his war-carriage made ready and took his people with him:
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text states, 'וַיֶּאְסֹ֖ר אֶת־ רִכְבּ֑וֹ וְאֶת־ עַמּ֖וֹ לָקַ֥ח עִמּֽוֹ׃' which translates to 'So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him.' The Samaritan Pentateuch agrees with the Masoretic Text word for word. The Septuagint matches six of the seven words in a different word order, reflecting its own sentence structure. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q14 and 4Q22) contain fragments that include the same phrases but have been edited to fill in gaps, indicating they align with the Masoretic Text but are not complete. Overall, the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Masoretic Text are in agreement, while the Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls show varying degrees of alignment with the Masoretic Text.
וַיֶּאְסֹ֖ר אֶת־ רִכְבּ֑וֹ וְאֶת־ עַמּ֖וֹ לָקַ֥ח עִמּֽוֹ׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ויאסר את רכבו ואת עמו לקח עמו
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
[ויאסר] [את] [רכב׳ו] [ואת] [עמ׳ו] [לקח] [עמ׳ו]
nothing on the leather here — 7 supplied entire by an editor.
[ויאסר] [את] [רכב׳ו] [ואת] [עמ׳ו] [לקח] [עמ׳ו]
nothing on the leather here — 7 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Exodus 14:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אָסַר (asar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to tie or bind, with a range of applications including imprisonment and the figurative sense of obligation, such as oaths. It can also refer to preparing for battle or being taken prisoner. The entries indicate that it can be used in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Pual, each with slightly different nuances.
[אָסַר] vb. tie, bind, imprison
Qal
tie, bind, for security
tie, harness
bind, with cords
gird (rare & late)
begin the battle, make the attack
fig. of obligation of oath or vow
Niph. be bound, imprisoned
Pu. be taken prisoner
base
H631 [אָסַר] tie, bind, imprison .. tie, bind, for security
. tie, harness
. bind, with cords
. gird (rare & late)
. begin the battle, make the attack
. fig. of obligation of oath or vow
. be bound, imprisoned
. be taken prisoner
631 'acar aw-sar'
a primitive root; to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in
any sense, to join battle:--bind, fast, gird, harness, hold,
keep, make ready, order, prepare, prison(-er), put in bonds,
set in array, tie.
אָסַר (a.sar) — to bind.
1) to tie, bind, imprison
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to tie, bind
1a2) to tie, harness
1a3) to bind (with cords)
1a4) to gird (rare and late)
1a5) to begin the battle, make the attack
1a6) of obligation of oath (figurative)
1b) (Niphal) to be imprisoned, bound
1c) (Pual) to be taken prisoner
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
רֶ֫כֶב (rekeb) refers to a chariot or vehicle, and can also denote a team of horses, cavalry, or riders. It is associated with the upper millstone, implying a connection to movement or transport. The term encompasses various meanings, including chariotry, individual chariots, and groups of horsemen.
רֶ֫כֶב 120 n.m. chariotry, chariot, mill-stone; appar. also riders
base
H7393 רֶ֫כֶב chariotry, chariot, mill-stone; appar. also riders
7393 rekeb reh'-keb
from 7392; a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension,
cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the upper
millstone:--chariot, (upper) millstone, multitude (from the
margin), wagon.
see HEBREW for 07392
רֶ֫כֶב (re.khev) — chariot.
: chariot
1) a team, chariot, chariotry, mill-stone, riders
1a) chariotry, chariots
1b) chariot (single)
1c) upper millstone (as riding on lower millstone)
1d) riders, troop (of riders), horsemen, pair of horsemen, men riding, ass-riders, camel-riders
Also means: re.khev (רֶ֫כֶב ": millstone" H7393H)
רֶ֫כֶב (re.khev) — chariot: millstone.
: millstone
1) a team, chariot, chariotry, mill-stone, riders
1a) chariotry, chariots
1b) chariot (single)
1c) upper millstone (as riding on lower millstone)
1d) riders, troop (of riders), horsemen, pair of horsemen, men riding, ass-riders, camel-riders
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
עַם (am) primarily means 'people' or 'nation,' referring to a collective group, often in the context of tribes such as those of Israel. It can also denote kinsmen or compatriots. The term appears in various contexts, including military and familial references. There is a mention of a specific individual named Ammi in Song of Solomon 6:12.
עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people
a people, nation
= smaller units
= common people
people in gen., persons
phrases
base
[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)
base
H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)
5971 `am am
from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a
tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or
attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation,
people.
see HEBREW for 06004
עַם (am) — people.
: people/nation
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
עַם (am) — kinsman.
kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — Ammi.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at Sng.6.12
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — People's (Gate).
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.
Combined with yiv.le.am (יִבְלְעָם "Ibleam" H2991)
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — Amaw.
This name means nation, people
עַם (am) — people: soldiers.
: soldiers/army
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
עַם (am) — people: creatures.
: creatures
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and encompasses a wide range of actions, including to receive, seize, capture, and carry away. It can refer to taking something in hand, taking a wife, or even taking vengeance. The verb has various forms indicating different nuances, such as being taken away or captured.
לָקַח 965 vb. take
Qal
take, take in hand
take and carry along with oneself
take from, or out of
take, carry away
take away from, so as to deprive of
esp. take away life
take to or for a person
take up, upon = put upon
= fetch
take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)
take = capture, seize
take = carry off
in phr. take vengeance
Niph.
be captured, of ark
be taken away, removed
be taken, brought unto
Pu.
be taken from, out of
= be stolen from
be taken captive
be taken away, removed
Hoph.
be taken, brought unto
be taken out of
be taken away from
Hithp. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning
base
H3947 לָקַח take .. take, take in hand
. take and carry along with oneself
. . take from, or out of
. take, carry away
. take away from, so as to deprive of
. esp. take away life
. take to or for a person
. take up, upon = put upon
. = fetch
. take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)
. take = capture, seize
. take = carry off
. in phr. take vengeance
. . be captured, of ark
. be taken away, removed
. be taken, brought unto
. . be taken from, out of
. = be stolen from
. be taken captive
. be taken away, removed
. . be taken, brought unto
. be taken out of
. be taken away from
. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning
3947 laqach law-kakh'
a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of
applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch,
get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve,
seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
לָקַח (la.qach) — to take: take.
: take
1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to take, take in the hand
1a2) to take and carry along
1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away
1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept
1a5) to take up or upon, put upon
1a6) to fetch
1a7) to take, lead, conduct
1a8) to take, capture, seize
1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be captured
1b2) to be taken away, be removed
1b3) to be taken, brought unto
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be taken from or out of
1c2) to be stolen from
1c3) to be taken captive
1c4) to be taken away, be removed
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto
1d2) to be taken out of
1d3) to be taken away
1e) (Hithpael)
1e1) to take hold of oneself
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.
עִם prep. with
of fellowship and companionship
of aid
Of actions done jointly with another
If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
Of a common lot together with the wicked
Of equality or resemblance generally aid
Of time, as long as
Of a locality, close to, beside
Of persons, עִם is spec.
in the house or family or service of
In possession of
In the custody or care of
Beside = except
With = friendly with
Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
base
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
base
H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship
. Of a locality, close to, beside
. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of
. In possession of
. In the custody or care of
. Beside = except
. With = friendly with
. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside
5973 `im eem
from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction
with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;
often with prepositional prefix (and then usually
unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X
long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from
(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,
with(-al).
see HEBREW for 06004
עִם (im) — with.
1) with
1a) with
1b) against
1c) toward
1d) as long as
מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.
1a) beside, except
1b) in spite of
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3ms