Exodus 5:2 (KJV)

What does Exodus 5:2 mean?

Exodus 5:2 shows Pharaoh directly challenging Moses and Aaron by refusing to recognize the authority of the LORD and rejecting the demand to let the Israelites go. Pharaoh claims he does not know the LORD and sees no reason to obey His command.

Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, is speaking to Moses and Aaron after they deliver God’s message to release the Israelites from slavery. The verse highlights Pharaoh’s ignorance of the LORD (the God of Israel, named as יְהוָה / YHWH) and his unwillingness to submit to a power he does not acknowledge. This sets up the conflict between Pharaoh’s authority and God’s, which unfolds in the following chapters.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 5:2

• יְהוָה (YHWH, “the LORD”): This is the personal name of the God of Israel. Pharaoh’s question, “Who is the LORD?” shows he does not recognize or respect Israel’s God, which is central to the coming confrontation.
• שָׁמַע (shama‘, “obey”): This word often means “to hear” or “to listen,” but here it carries the sense of “to heed” or “to obey.” Pharaoh is not just refusing to listen; he is actively rejecting the LORD’s authority.
• יָדַע (yada‘, “know”): Pharaoh says he does not “know” the LORD. In Hebrew, “know” often means more than being aware of someone; it can mean acknowledging or having a relationship. Pharaoh is saying he has no connection or obligation to Israel’s God.

Why Exodus 5:2 matters

• This verse makes clear that Pharaoh’s resistance is not just political but spiritual—he refuses to recognize the LORD’s authority, setting up the central conflict of the Exodus story.
• Pharaoh’s statement explains why the coming signs and plagues are necessary: they are meant to show both Pharaoh and Egypt who the LORD is.
• The verse helps clarify that the Exodus is not just about freeing slaves, but about revealing God’s identity and power to those who do not know Him.