But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, ¹  not even under force. ² 

biblegateway Exo 3:19

"But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion.

"However, I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go, unless he is forced by a strong hand.

I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, even if he is forced to.

biblegateway Exo 3:19

But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him.

But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand.

bibleoremus Exo 3:19

I know, however, that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand.

I know well that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless he is compelled.

biblegateway Exo 3:19

"But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand.

And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

biblegateway Exo 3:19

But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, ¹  not even under force. ² 

¹ tn After verbs of perception, as with “I know” here, the object may be a noun clause introduced with the particle כִּי (ki) – “I know that….” Gesenius observes that the object clause may have a kind of accusative and an infinitive construction (especially after נָתַן [natan] with the idea of “allow”): “he will not permit you to go” (see GKC 491 §157.b, n. 2).

² tn Heb “and not with a mighty hand.” This expression (וְלֹא בְּיָד חֲזָקָה, vÿlo’ vÿyad khazaqa) is unclear, since v. 20 says that God will stretch out his hand and do his wonders. Some have taken v. 19b to refer to God’s mighty hand also, meaning that the king would not let them go unless a mighty hand compels him (NIV). The expression “mighty hand” is used of God’s rescuing Israel elsewhere (Exod 6:1, 13:9, 32:11; but note also Num 20:20). This idea is a rather general interpretation of the words; it owes much to the LXX, which has “except by a mighty hand,” though “and not with” does not have the meaning of “except” or “unless” in other places. In view of these difficulties, others have suggested that v. 19b means “strong [threats]” from the Israelites (as in 4:24ff. and 5:3; see B. Jacob, Exodus, 81). This does not seem as convincing as the first view. Another possibility is that the phrase conveys Pharaoh’s point of view and intention; the Lord knows that Pharaoh plans to resist letting the Israelites go, regardless of the exercise of a strong hand against him (P. Addinall, “Exodus III 19B and the Interpretation of Biblical Narrative,” VT 49 [1999]: 289-300; see also the construction “and not with” in Num 12:8; 1 Sam 20:15 and elsewhere). If that is the case, v. 20 provides an ironic and pointed contradiction to Pharaoh’s plans as the Lord announces the effect that his hand will have. At any rate, Pharaoh will have to be forced to let Israel go.