Exodus 2:4 — Word Study
WLCוַתֵּתַצַּ֥ב אֲחֹת֖וֹ מֵרָחֹ֑ק לְדֵעָ֕ה מַה־ יֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה לֽוֹ׃
BSAAnd his sisterʼâchôwth [a biological sibling, a close relative] stoodyâtsab▸ [to stand firmly, to present oneself] at a distancerâchôwq [far away, physically or in time] to seeyâdaʻ [to know, to learn, to perceive] whatmâh [in what manner, to what extent] would happenʻâsâh▸ [be done, come to pass]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַתֵּתַצַּ֥ב | and she stood | Verb, Hithpael, sequential imperfect third person feminine singular |
| אֲחֹת֖וֹ | sister his | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| מֵרָחֹ֑ק | from a distance | Preposition |
| לְדֵעָ֕ה | to know | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| מַה־ | what? | Pronoun |
| יֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה | will it be done | Verb, Niphal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| לֽוֹ׃ | to him | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | And his sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. |
| KJV | And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. |
| ASV | And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him. |
| YLT | and his sister stationeth herself afar off, to know what is done to him. |
| WEB | His sister stood far off, to see what would be done to him. |
| BBE | And his sister took her place at a distance to see what would become of him. |
Translations agree on the key terms in this verse, reflecting a unified understanding of the actions described.
The main action is emphasized by the prepositional phrase that indicates distance, followed by an infinitive phrase explaining the purpose of her action.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectמָה
verbיָצַב
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 2:4
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 Early Life of Mosesgenerated
Exodus 2:4 describes how Moses' sister took a position at a distance to observe what would happen to him after he was placed in a basket in the Nile. This moment is part of the larger narrative of Moses' early life, where his family seeks to protect him from Pharaoh's decree. The actions of his sister reflect the theme of familial loyalty and care, which is echoed throughout the story of Moses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 15:20 | Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing. |
| 2 | Numbers 12:1–15 | Then Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married, for he had taken a Cushite wife. |
| 3 | Numbers 20:1 | In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. |
| 4 | Numbers 26:59 | and Amram’s wife was named Jochebed. She was also a daughter of Levi, born to Levi in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam. |
| 5 | Micah 6:4 | For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery. I sent Moses before you, as well as Aaron and Miriam. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָצַב, va.te.ta.Tzavgenerated
The verb יָצַב (yatsab) means to stand or to station oneself, particularly in the Hithpael form, which indicates a reflexive action. It suggests a firm positioning, as seen in contexts where one presents oneself or stands firm in faith.
In this verse, it conveys the idea of the sister standing firmly to observe the situation, emphasizing her role in safeguarding her brother. The use of this verb highlights her active participation in the unfolding events.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses stood for the Hebrew verb יָצַב.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is וַתֵּתַצַּ֥ב, and she stood, which governs the subject and the prepositional phrases that follow. The structure emphasizes the sister's action and her position in relation to the events.
The sentence includes a noun phrase for the subject, a prepositional phrase indicating distance, and an infinitive phrase describing the purpose of her action, all contributing to a clear depiction of the scene.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָצַב with κατεσκόπευεν, which means 'to look down upon' or 'to observe closely.' This choice suggests an interpretation that emphasizes the act of watching over rather than merely standing.
This reflects a slight shift in focus, from the physical act of standing to the attentiveness of the sister in her observation.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 2:4 tells us that Moses' sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him after he was placed in the basket. This moment highlights her protective role and concern for her brother's safety.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
She stood at a distance to observe what would happen to Moses, showing her care and concern for his safety.
The term 'sister' refers to a biological sibling, indicating a close familial relationship and a sense of responsibility.
The distance suggests caution and a desire to remain unnoticed while still being able to protect and watch over Moses.
This verse sets the stage for Moses' eventual rescue and highlights the theme of family loyalty and protection that runs throughout his narrative.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does this verse teach us about the importance of family in times of crisis?
- How can we apply the idea of standing firm in our own lives when faced with challenges?
- In what ways can we be watchful and protective of those we care about?
- What lessons can we learn from the actions of Moses' sister in this story?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 2:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd his sister stood afar off,.... This was Miriam, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it; who is supposed to be about ten or twelve years of age, others say seven: she was placed (e), as the word
Read John Gill on Exodus 2 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. His sister - Miriam would probably be a girl of 10 or 12 years of age at the time.
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 2 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHis sister stood afar off, that she might not be thought to have laid the child there, or to be related to it. This she might very probably guess, both from the circumstances in which she found him, and from the singular fairness and beauty of the child, far differing from the Egyptian hue; and she might certainly know it by its circumcision.
Read Matthew Poole on Exodus 2 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsExodus 2:4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.Ver. 4. And his sister.] By a singular instinct of the Holy Spirit, as appears by the event. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." "He keepeth the feet of his saints."
Read John Trapp on Exodus 2 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) His sister.—Presumably Miriam, the only sister of Moses mentioned elsewhere (Exodus 15:20-21; Numbers 26:59). To have taken the part which is assigned her in this chapter, she must have been a girl of some fourteen or fifteen years of age, and possessed of much quickness and intelligence.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 2 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges4. stood] took her stand (Exodus 19:17).
Read Cambridge on Exodus 2 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible4. His sister — Probably Miriam, who is the only sister named in the history. Numbers 26:59. The mother has now exhausted all her skill; she can think of but one thing more — to station Miriam afar off.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 2 →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
And his sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
His sister stood far off, to see what would be done to him.
And his sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
His sister stationed herself at a distance to find out what would happen to him.
Tyndale line
And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.
And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.
And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.
Now his sister stood a farre off, to wit what would come of him.
Strictly literal
And his sister stood afar off to see what would happen to him.
and his sister stationeth herself afar off, to know what is done to him.
and his sister stations herself far off, to know what is done to him.
And his sister placed herself afar off, to ascertain what would be done to him.
His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
From the Latin
His sister standing afar off, and taking notice what would be done.
Simplified
His sister waited some distance away, keeping an eye on him.
And his sister took her place at a distance to see what would become of 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 is supported by the Septuagint, which matches five of the seven words. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs in three words: it uses תתיצב for 'stood', אחותו for 'his sister', and דעת for 'to know'. The Dead Sea Scrolls also show variations, with some words supplied by an editor.
וַתֵּתַצַּ֥ב אֲחֹת֖וֹ מֵרָחֹ֑ק לְדֵעָ֕ה מַה־ יֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה לֽוֹ׃
5 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.
ותתיצב אחותו מרחק לדעת מה יעשׂה לו
3 words differ from the Masoretic Text: תתיצב (stand), אחותו (sister), דעת (know)
[ותתצב] [אחת׳ו] [מרחק] לדעת מה יעשה ל׳ו
4 words on the leather — 3 supplied entire by an editor.
[ותתיצב] [אחות׳ו] [מרחק] [לדעת] מה יעשה ל׳ו
3 words on the leather — 4 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 2:4
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.
The Hebrew word יָצַב (yatsab) primarily means to stand or to station oneself, particularly in the Hithpael form, which indicates a reflexive action. It encompasses the ideas of placing, setting, or presenting oneself. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
[יָצַב] vb. only Hithp. set or station oneself, take one's stand
base
H3320 יָצַב only Hithp. set or station oneself, take one's stand
3320 yatsab yaw-tsab'
a primitive root; to place (any thing so as to stay);
reflexively, to station, offer, continue:--present selves,
remaining, resort, set (selves), (be able to, can, with-)
stand (fast, forth, -ing, still, up).
יָצַב (ya.tsav) — to stand.
1) to place, set, stand, set or station oneself, present oneself
1a) (Hithpael) to station oneself, take one's stand, stand, present oneself, stand with someone
Aramaic equivalent: ye.tsav (יְצַב "to know" H3321)
Conj | V-Hithpael-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Hithpael · sequential imperfect third person feminine singularHc/Vtw3fs
אָחוֹת (achowth) means 'sister' and can refer to a full sister, half-sister, or a relative. It is used both literally and figuratively, symbolizing relationships such as that of Israel and Judah, and can also imply intimacy or connection. The word is built from a feminine form related to other terms for kinship.
אָחוֹת 114 n.f. sister
sister
= beloved
symbol. of Judah, Samaria, Sodom & Jerusalem
fig. of intimate connection
another
base
H269 אָחוֹת sister
269 'achowth aw-khoth'
irregular feminine of 251; a sister (used very widely (like
250), literally and figuratively):--(an-)other, sister,
together.
see HEBREW for 0251
see HEBREW for 0250
אָחוֹת (a.chot) — sister.
1) sister
1a) sister (same parents)
1b) half-sister (same father)
1c) relative
1c1) (metaph) of Israel's and Judah's relationship
1d) beloved
1d1) bride
1e) (fig.) of intimate connection
1f) another
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3ms
רָחֹק (rachowq) means distant or far, and can refer to both physical distance and time. It can also denote a sense of remoteness or preciousness. The word can be used adverbially and is associated with the concept of distance in various contexts, including distant lands or times.
רָחֹק, רָחוֹק adj. distant, far, et n.m. distance
base
H7350 רָחֹק, רָחוֹק distant, far, distance
7350 rachowq raw-khoke'
or rachoq {raw-khoke'}; from 7368; remote, literally or
figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often
used adverbially (with preposition):--(a-)far (abroad, off),
long ago, of old, space, great while to come.
see HEBREW for 07368
רָחֹק (ra.choq) — distant.
adj
1) remote, far, distant, distant lands, distant ones
1a) of distance, time
n m
2) distance
2a) from a distance (with prep)
Aramaic equivalent: ra.chiq (רְחִיק "far" H7352)
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHR/Aamsa
יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.
יָדַע 943 vb. know
Qal
know, learn to know
perceive
perceive and see; find out and discern
discriminate, distinguish
know by experience
recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
consider
not know = not expect
know a person, be acquainted with
know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
be skilful in
abs. have knowledge, be wise
Niph.
be made known, be or become known, of things
make oneself known of pers.
be perceived
be instructed
Pi. cause to know
Pu. known
Hiph. make known, declare
Hoph. made known
Hithp. make oneself known
base
H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know
. perceive
. perceive and see; find out and discern
. discriminate, distinguish
. know by experience
. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
. consider
. not know = not expect
. know a person, be acquainted with
. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
. be skilful in
. abs. have knowledge, be wise
. . be made known, be or become known, of things
. make oneself known of pers.
. be perceived
. be instructed
. cause to know
. known
. make known, declare
. made known
. make oneself known
3045 yada` yaw-dah'
a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);
used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,
euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,
care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,
punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted
with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,
(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X
could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)
discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,
can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause
to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have
(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be
learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X
prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man
of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,
יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.
1) to know
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to know
1a1a) to know, learn to know
1a1b) to perceive
1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern
1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish
1a1e) to know by experience
1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess
1a1g) to consider
1a2) to know, be acquainted with
1a3) to know (a person carnally)
1a4) to know how, be skilful in
1a5) to have knowledge, be wise
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed
1b2) to make oneself known
1b3) to be perceived
1b4) to be instructed
1c) (Piel) to cause to know
1d) (Poal) to cause to know
1e) (Pual)
1e1) to be known
1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)
1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare
1g) (Hophal) to be made known
1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself
Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHR/Vqcc
מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.
מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught
interrog. what?
Used adverbially
Indef. pron.
With preps.
base
H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?
. Used adverbially
. Indef. pron.
. With preps.
4100 mah maw
or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a
primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including
how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including
how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even
relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various
adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-
soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),
whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
מָה (mah) — what?.
interr pron
1) what, how, of what kind
1a) (interrogative)
1a1) what?
1a2) of what kind
1a3) what? (rhetorical)
1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what
1b) (adverb)
1b1) how, how now
1b2) why
1b3) how! (exclamation)
1c) (with prep)
1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?
1c2) because of what?
1c3) the like of what?
1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?
1c3b) for how long?
1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?
1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?
indef pron
2) anything, aught, what may
Part — PronounHPi
עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.
עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make
Qal 2524
do (1560 t.)
deal with
oft. in phr. do kindness with
abs. act, act with effect
make (670 t.)
produce, yield
prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
make offering
attend to, put in order
observe, celebrate, religious festival
acquire property of various kinds
appoint priests
bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
use
spend, pass, days of life
Niph.
97be done
be made, of concr. things
be produced from vine
be prepared, of food
be offered
be observed, passover
be used
Pu. I was made
base
[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze
base
H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)
. deal with
. oft. in phr. do kindness with
. abs. act, act with effect
. . make (670 + t.)
. produce, yield
. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
. make offering
. attend to, put in order
. observe, celebrate, religious festival
. acquire property of various kinds
. appoint priests
. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
. use
. spend, pass, days of life
. . be done
. . be made, of concr. things
. be produced from vine
. be prepared, of food
. be offered
. be observed, passover
. be used
. I was made
H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze
6213 `asah aw-saw'
a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and
widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,
appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,
bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal
(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)
execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +
finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go
about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X
indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,
make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,
bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,
provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,
spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be
(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.
: do/perform
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
1a2c) to prepare
1a2d) to make (an offering)
1a2e) to attend to, put in order
1a2f) to observe, celebrate
1a2g) to acquire (property)
1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute
1a2i) to bring about
1a2j) to use
1a2k) to spend, pass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be done
1b2) to be made
1b3) to be produced
1b4) to be offered
1b5) to be observed
1b6) to be used
1c) (Pual) to be made
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.
(Piel) to press, squeeze
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.
: make(OBJECT)
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVNi3ms
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HRd/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp3ms