Exodus 14:11 (DRB)

Passage

And they said to Moses: Perhaps there were no graves in Egypt, therefore thou hast brought us to die in the wilderness: why wouldst thou do this, to lead us out of Egypt?

Nearby Context

Exodus 14:9 And when the Egyptians followed the steps of them who were gone before, they found them encamped at the sea side: all Pharao's horse and chariots and the whole army were in Phihahiroth, before Beelsephon.

Exodus 14:10 And when Pharao drew near, the children of Israel lifting up their eyes, saw the Egyptians behind them: and they feared exceedingly, and cried to the Lord.

Exodus 14:11 And they said to Moses: Perhaps there were no graves in Egypt, therefore thou hast brought us to die in the wilderness: why wouldst thou do this, to lead us out of Egypt?

Exodus 14:12 Is not this the word that we spoke to thee in Egypt, saying: Depart from us, that we may serve the Egyptians? for it was much better to serve them, than to die in the wilderness.

Exodus 14:13 And Moses said to the people: Fear not: stand, and see the great wonders of the Lord, which he will do this day; for the Egyptians, whom you see now, you shall see no more for ever.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "said", "moses", "perhaps", "graves", "egypt", "therefore", "thou", and "hast". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "said" and "moses", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 10's "And when Pharao drew near the children..." into verse 12's "Is not this the word that we...", so "said" and "moses" belong inside that flow. In Exodus context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "said" and "moses" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.