Exodus 14:12 (GNV)

Passage

Did not wee tell thee this thing in Egypt, saying, Let vs be in rest, that we may serue the Egyptians? for it had bene better for vs to serue the Egyptians, then that wee shoulde dye in the wildernesse.

Nearby Context

Exodus 14:10 And when Pharaoh drew nie, the children of Israel lift vp their eyes, and beholde, the Egyptians marched after them, and they were sore afrayde: wherefore the children of Israel cried vnto the Lord.

Exodus 14:11 And they sayde vnto Moses, Hast thou brought vs to die in the wildernes, because there were no graues in Egypt? wherefore hast thou serued vs thus, to carie vs out of Egypt?

Exodus 14:12 Did not wee tell thee this thing in Egypt, saying, Let vs be in rest, that we may serue the Egyptians? for it had bene better for vs to serue the Egyptians, then that wee shoulde dye in the wildernesse.

Exodus 14:13 Then Moses sayde to the people, Feare ye not, stand still, and beholde the saluation of the Lord which he will shew to you this day. For the Egyptians, whome ye haue seene this day, ye shall neuer see them againe.

Exodus 14:14 The Lord shall fight for you: therefore hold you your peace.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "tell", "thee", "egypt", "saying", "rest", "serue", "egyptians", and "bene". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "tell" and "thee", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "And they sayde vnto Moses Hast thou..." into verse 13's "Then Moses sayde to the people Feare...", so "tell" and "thee" 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 "tell" and "thee" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.