Exodus 13 · Verse 20

Exodus 13:20

And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
Exodus 13:20, King James Version

Exodus 13:20 in other translations

BSBThey set out from Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness.
WEBThey took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
ASVAnd they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
YLTAnd they journey from Succoth, and encamp in Etham at the extremity of the wilderness,
DARBYAnd they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, at the end of the wilderness.
BBEThen they went on their journey from Succoth, and put up their tents in Etham at the edge of the waste land.
WebsterAnd they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

What does Exodus 13:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. encamped in Etham--This place is supposed by the most intelligent travellers to be the modern Ajrud, where is a watering-place, and which is the third stage of the pilgrim-caravans to Mecca. "It is remarkable that either of the different routes eastward from Heliopolis, or southward from Heroopolis, equally admit of Ajrud being Etham. It is twelve miles northwest from Suez, and is literally on the edge of the desert" [Pictorial Bible].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 Encamped in Etham - As for the reasons assigned on Exo 13:17, God would not lead the Israelites by the way of the Philistines' country, he directed them towards the wilderness of Shur, Exo 15:22, upon the edge or extremity of which, next to Egypt, at the bottom of the Arabian Gulf, lay Etham, which is the second place of encampment mentioned. See the extracts from Dr. Shaw at the end of Exodus. See Clarke's note on Exo 40:38.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 13:17-20

There were two ways from Egypt to Canaan. One was only a few days' journey; the other was much further about, through the wilderness, and that was the way in which God chose to lead his people Israel. The Egyptians were to be drowned in the Red sea; the Israelites were to be humbled and proved in the wilderness. God's way is the right way, though it seems about. If we think he leads not his people the nearest way…

Read the full comment on Exodus 13:17-20 →

Exodus 13:20 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּסְע֖וּvai.yis.'Uand they set outH5265
מִסֻּכֹּ֑תmi.su.Kotfrom SuccothH5523
וַיַּחֲנ֣וּvai.ya.cha.Nuand they encampedH2583
בְאֵתָ֔םve.'e.Tamat EthamH864
בִּקְצֵ֖הbik.Tzehon [the] edge ofH7097
הַמִּדְבָּֽר\׃ha.mid.Barthe wildernessH4057

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Exodus 13:20

  • Numbers 33:5-6

    And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth. And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness.

  • Exodus 12:37

    And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Nu 33:5,6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Exodus 13:19

    And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

  • Exodus 13:20

    And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

  • Exodus 13:21

    And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

Read all of Exodus 13

Exodus 13:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y partidos de Succoth, asentaron campo en Etham, á la entrada del desierto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ils partirent de Succoth, et campèrent à Étham, à l’extrémité du désert.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie brachen auf von Sukkoth und lagerten sich in Etham, am Rande der Wüste.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Profectique de Socoth castrametati sunt in Etham, in extremis finibus solitudinis.