'My People' in the Bible

“No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.”

Esau said, “Let me leave some of my people with you.”But he replied, “Why do that? Please indulge me, my lord.”

You will be over my house, and all my people will obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

Then he commanded them: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite.

Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of My people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I know about their sufferings.

Therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”

Later, Moses and Aaron went in and said to Pharaoh, “This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: Let My people go, so that they may hold a festival for Me in the wilderness.”

I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am Yahweh your God, who delivered you from the forced labor of the Egyptians.

Pharaoh will not listen to you, but I will put My hand on Egypt and bring the divisions of My people the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.

Tell him: Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me in the wilderness, but so far you have not listened.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and tell him: This is what Yahweh says: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Ask Yahweh to remove the frogs from me and my people. Then I will let the people go and they can sacrifice to Yahweh.”

The Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh when you see him going out to the water. Tell him: This is what Yahweh says: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

But if you will not let My people go, then I will send swarms of flies against you, your officials, your people, and your houses. The Egyptians’ houses will swarm with flies, and so will the land where they live.

But on that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen, where My people are living; no flies will be there. This way you will know that I, Yahweh, am in the land.

I will make a distinction between My people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.”

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him: This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh. Tell him: This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews says: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

You are still acting arrogantly against My people by not letting them go.

Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. “I have sinned this time,” he said to them. “Yahweh is the Righteous One, and I and my people are the guilty ones.

So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may worship Me.

But if you refuse to let My people go, then tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory.

He summoned Moses and Aaron during the night and said, “Get up, leave my people, both you and the Israelites, and go, worship Yahweh as you have asked.

“If you lend money to My people, to the poor person among you, you must not be like a moneylender to him; you must not charge him interest.

I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people.

Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future.”

Then Jephthah said to them, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammonites. So I called for you, but you didn’t deliver me from their power.

So Samson’s wife came to him, weeping, and said, “You hate me and don’t love me! You told my people the riddle, but haven’t explained it to me.”“Look,” he said, “I haven’t even explained it to my father or mother, so why should I explain it to you?”

But Ruth replied:Do not persuade me to leave youor go back and not follow you.For wherever you go, I will go,and wherever you live, I will live;your people will be my people,and your God will be my God.

I thought I should inform you: Buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do so. But if you do not want to redeem it, tell me so that I will know, because there isn’t anyone other than you to redeem it, and I am next after you.”“I want to redeem it,” he answered.

Why, then, do all of you despise My sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship? You have honored your sons more than Me, by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of My people Israel.’

“At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over My people Israel. He will save them from the hand of the Philistines because I have seen the affliction of My people, for their cry has come to Me.”

When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man I told you about; he will rule over My people.”

Saul said, “I have sinned. Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so I can bow in worship to the Lord your God.”

Now take action, because the Lord has spoken concerning David: ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the power of the Philistines and the power of all Israel’s enemies.’”

Even while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led us out to battle and brought us back. The Lord also said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over Israel.’”

In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked anyone among the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel: Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’

“Now this is what you are to say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from following the sheep to be ruler over My people Israel.

I will establish a place for My people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not afflict them as they have done

ever since the day I ordered judges to be over My people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies.“‘The Lord declares to you: The Lord Himself will make a house for you.

You have freed me from the feuds among my people;You have appointed me the head of nations;a people I had not known serve me.

I will live among the Israelites and not abandon My people Israel.”

“Since the day I brought My people Israel out of Egypt,I have not chosen a city to build a temple inamong any of the tribes of Israel,so that My name would be there.But I have chosen David to rule My people Israel.”

Go tell Jeroboam, ‘This is what the Lord God of Israel says: I raised you up from among the people, appointed you ruler over My people Israel,

“Because I raised you up from the dust and made you ruler over My people Israel, but you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have caused My people Israel to sin, provoking Me with their sins,

So he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight Ramoth-gilead?”Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

Then he sent a message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?”Jehoshaphat said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

“Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of My people, ‘This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the Lord’s temple.

Even when Saul was king, you led us out to battle and brought us back. The Lord your God also said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over My people Israel.’”

In all My travels throughout Israel, have I ever spoken a word to even one of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, asking: Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’

“Now this is what you will say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from following the sheep to be ruler over My people Israel.

I will establish a place for My people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they formerly have

ever since the day I ordered judges to be over My people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies.“‘Furthermore, I declare to you that the Lord Himself will build a house for you.

Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. It was in my heart to build a house as a resting place for the ark of the Lord’s covenant and as a footstool for our God. I had made preparations to build,

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your own hand.

God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart, and you have not requested riches, wealth, or glory, or for the life of those who hate you, and you have not even requested long life, but you have requested for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king,

“Since the day I brought My people Israelout of the land of Egypt,I have not chosen a city to build a temple inamong any of the tribes of Israel,so that My name would be there,and I have not chosen a manto be ruler over My people Israel.

But I have chosen Jerusalemso that My name will be there,and I have chosen Davidto be over My people Israel.”

If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on My people,

and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

for Israel’s King Ahab asked Judah’s King Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?”He replied to him, “I am as you are, my people as your people; we will be with you in the battle.”

Queen Esther answered, “If I have obtained your approval, my king, and if the king is pleased, spare my life—this is my request; and spare my people—this is my desire.

For my people and I have been sold out to destruction, death, and extermination. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept silent. Indeed, the trouble wouldn’t be worth burdening the king.”

For how could I bear to see the disaster that would come on my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my relatives?”

Will evildoers never understand?They consume My people as they consume bread;they do not call on the Lord.

“Listen, My people, and I will speak;I will testify against you, Israel.I am God, your God.

Will evildoers never understand?They consume My people as they consume bread;they do not call on God.

Do not kill them; otherwise, my people will forget.By Your power, make them homeless wanderersand bring them down,Lord, our shield.

A Maskil of Asaph.My people, hear my instruction;listen to what I say.

Listen, My people, and I will admonish you.Israel, if you would only listen to Me!

“But My people did not listen to Me;Israel did not obey Me.

If only My people would listen to Meand Israel would follow My ways,

He is my faithful love and my fortress,my stronghold and my deliverer.He is my shield, and I take refuge in Him;He subdues my people under me.

The ox knows its owner,and the donkey its master’s feeding trough,but Israel does not know;My people do not understand.”

Youths oppress My people,and women rule over them.My people, your leaders mislead you;they confuse the direction of your paths.

Why do you crush My peopleand grind the faces of the poor?”This is the declarationof the Lord God of Hosts.

Therefore My people will go into exilebecause they lack knowledge;her dignitaries are starving,and her masses are parched with thirst.

to keep the poor from getting a fair trialand to deprive the afflicted among my people of justice,so that widows can be their spoiland they can plunder the fatherless.

Therefore, the Lord God of Hosts says this: “My people who dwell in Zion, do not fear Assyria, though he strikes you with a rod and raises his staff over you as the Egyptians did.

The Lord of Hosts will bless them, saying, “Egypt My people, Assyria My handiwork, and Israel My inheritance are blessed.”

Go, my people, enter your roomsand close your doors behind you.Hide for a little while until the wrath has passed.

for the ground of my peoplegrowing thorns and briers,indeed, for every joyous house in the joyful city.

Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place,in safe and secure dwellings.

“Comfort, comfort My people,”says your God.

I was angry with My people;I profaned My possession,and I placed them under your control.You showed them no mercy;you made your yoke very heavy on the elderly.

Pay attention to Me, My people,and listen to Me, My nation;for instruction will come from Me,and My justice for a light to the nations.I will bring it about quickly.

I have put My words in your mouth,and covered you in the shadow of My hand,in order to plant the heavens,to found the earth,and to say to Zion, “You are My people.”

For this is what the Lord God says:“At first My people went down to Egypt to live there,then Assyria oppressed them without cause.

So now what have I here”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“that My people are taken away for nothing?Its rulers wail”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and My name is continually blasphemed all day long.

Therefore My people will know My name;therefore they will know on that daythat I am He who says:Here I am.”

He was taken away because of oppression and judgment;and who considered His fate?For He was cut off from the land of the living;He was struck because of my people’s rebellion.

He said,“Build it up, build it up, prepare the way,remove every obstacle from My people’s way.”

“Cry out loudly, don’t hold back!Raise your voice like a trumpet.Tell My people their transgressionand the house of Jacob their sins.

He said, “They are indeed My people,children who will not be disloyal,”and He became their Savior.

Sharon will be a pasture for flocks,and the Valley of Achor a place for cattle to lie down,for My people who have sought Me.

I will rejoice in Jerusalemand be glad in My people.The sound of weeping and cryingwill no longer be heard in her.

They will not build and others live in them;they will not plant and others eat.For My people’s lives will belike the lifetime of a tree.My chosen ones will fully enjoythe work of their hands.

Has a nation ever exchanged its gods?(But they were not gods!)Yet My people have exchanged their Gloryfor useless idols.

For My people have committed a double evil:They have abandoned Me,the fountain of living water,and dug cisterns for themselves,cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.

Evil generation,pay attention to the word of the Lord!Have I been a wilderness to Israelor a land of dense darkness?Why do My people claim,“We will go where we want;we will no longer come to You”?