Exodus 10 10

Exodus 10:10 kjv

And he said unto them, Let the LORD be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.

Exodus 10:10 nkjv

Then he said to them, "The LORD had better be with you when I let you and your little ones go! Beware, for evil is ahead of you.

Exodus 10:10 niv

Pharaoh said, "The LORD be with you?if I let you go, along with your women and children! Clearly you are bent on evil.

Exodus 10:10 esv

But he said to them, "The LORD be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! Look, you have some evil purpose in mind.

Exodus 10:10 nlt

Pharaoh retorted, "The LORD will certainly need to be with you if I let you take your little ones! I can see through your evil plan.

Exodus 10 verses

Exodus 10 10 Meaning

Exodus 10:10 captures Pharaoh's cunning and deceptive resistance to the LORD's demand for the complete release of Israel. Pharaoh, attempting a manipulative concession, sarcastically "blesses" Moses while simultaneously refusing to allow the Israelite children to leave. He then aggressively accuses Moses and Aaron of harboring evil intentions for requesting the departure of all the people, framing their legitimate demand as a dangerous or wicked plot against Egypt's welfare or his rule.

Exodus 10 10 Context

This verse is a pivotal moment in the escalating confrontation between God and Pharaoh, occurring after several devastating plagues—including frogs, lice, and flies, then livestock disease, boils, and hail. Pharaoh had previously offered to allow only the men to leave for a limited time of worship (Exo 10:7-8). However, Moses firmly declared that all of Israel—young and old, men, women, and children, with their livestock—must go to worship the LORD (Exo 10:9). Exodus 10:10 is Pharaoh's hostile response to Moses's unwavering demand for total liberation, just before the plague of locusts is prophesied and unleashed.

From a historical and cultural standpoint, Pharaoh, as the perceived divine ruler of Egypt, viewed the Israelites as his personal property and an invaluable labor force. Allowing the complete exodus, especially of children, was an unthinkable surrender of future labor and a monumental loss of revenue, an act that would fundamentally undermine his divine authority and economic stability. His refusal and accusations reflect his desperate attempt to retain control and justify his continued oppression against God's direct command.

Exodus 10 10 Word analysis

• And he said to them, This indicates a direct address by Pharaoh to Moses and Aaron, highlighting the personal nature of the confrontation. The dialogue continues to escalate, showing Pharaoh's deep-seated opposition.
• The LORD (Yahweh): Pharaoh uses the personal name of Israel's God. This is profoundly significant. It may be a feigned acknowledgement, an attempt to co-opt divine language for his own ends, or a subtle sign that the LORD's power is indeed being recognized, even grudgingly, by the Egyptian court. Yet, Pharaoh immediately contradicts this 'blessing.'
• so be with you (yehî): Literally, "let be." The phrase Yahweh yehî immākem ("The LORD be with you") is a common Hebrew blessing, conveying a wish for divine presence and favor (e.g., Ruth 2:4). Here, it is twisted by Pharaoh into sarcasm or a conditional statement. It’s an empty religious platitude, mocking the true meaning of the LORD's presence while intending the opposite outcome.
• as I send you (kên ašallah ōtkem): The word kên (thus, so, indeed) creates a condition, subtly connecting his sarcastic blessing with a limited, rather than a full, permission to depart. Pharaoh implies that if the LORD is truly with them, then his restricted "sending" is the reality, suggesting a false dilemma: accept his limited terms or prove the LORD isn't with them.
• and your little ones away! (tapkem): This is a crucial element. Taph specifically refers to small children and dependents who are unable to fend for themselves. Pharaoh's insistence on retaining the "little ones" reveals his strategy: holding the future generation of Israel hostage. This prevents a complete, generational exodus, ensuring Israel's return as a subjugated people and blocking their establishment as a free nation dedicated to the LORD. It aims to cut off their heritage and continuity.
• Look! (Re'ū!): An emphatic interjection. "Look!" or "See!" serves to demand attention, setting up a pronouncement with urgency, accusation, or a warning. Here, it precedes a direct accusation against Moses and Aaron.
• For evil is before your face! (ra‘ah neged pneykhem):
  • evil (ra'ah): This can refer to wickedness, malice, harm, misfortune, or disaster. Pharaoh suggests Moses's request for total departure hides a sinister plan, or that disaster awaits them if they pursue this full liberation.
  • before your face (neged pneykhem): This implies that the evil is evident, staring them in the face, or that it is from their very presence/intent. Pharaoh projects his own malicious intent onto Moses, accusing Moses of orchestrating a plot (e.g., planning not to return, or to somehow defraud Egypt of its people, or even plotting rebellion). He is unwilling to conceive that Israel truly desires to worship Yahweh. To him, the demand for true freedom is "evil."

Exodus 10 10 Bonus section

• Pharaoh's use of "The LORD" marks a progression in the narrative. While previously ignoring or challenging Yahweh, here he directly addresses the concept of Yahweh's involvement, albeit mockingly. This shows the cumulative effect of the plagues beginning to erode his defiance, though not his will to resist.
• This specific compromise, allowing only adults but retaining children, is a deeply cynical maneuver designed to break the spirit of the Israelites. Without their children, their future as a distinct people of God would be jeopardized, their very identity under constant threat, forcing them back to Egypt.
• Pharaoh's "evil is before your face!" also functions as a veiled threat. He is implicitly warning Moses and Aaron of consequences if they persist in their demands for complete liberation, implying that Pharaoh himself might inflict the "evil" upon them if they do not comply with his partial offer. This highlights the tyrannical nature of his rule, where all opposition is framed as malevolent.

Exodus 10 10 Commentary

Exodus 10:10 reveals Pharaoh's insidious strategy and profound spiritual blindness. His mock blessing, "The LORD so be with you," is an ironic twisting of genuine piety, immediately betrayed by his refusal to release Israel's children. By clinging to the "little ones," Pharaoh strategically denies Israel's generational continuity and attempts to prevent a complete break from Egyptian servitude, ensuring their eventual return to bondage. This resistance isn't merely about lost labor; it’s a direct assault on the covenant promise of a great nation to Abraham, which necessitates the preservation and worship of future generations.

Pharaoh's subsequent declaration, "Look! For evil is before your face!" is a quintessential act of projecting his own wickedness. He cannot fathom a righteous demand for total liberty and thus accuses Moses of deceit and harmful intentions. Pharaoh, as an oppressor, portrays the very act of seeking freedom and true worship as an act of "evil" or sedition. This highlights a critical spiritual truth: those steeped in rebellion against God often misinterpret the motives of the righteous, perceiving God's truth as threatening "evil" that must be suppressed. The verse marks a further hardening of Pharaoh's heart, not just against Moses but against the very nature of divine liberation, setting the stage for more severe judgment.

• Practical Usage Example 1: Recognizing how manipulators can use religious language to mask selfish motives, often seen when someone says "God bless you" while actively causing harm or obstructing justice.
• Practical Usage Example 2: Understanding how oppressors deflect blame, accusing the oppressed of malicious intent when they simply seek what is right or deserved.
• Practical Usage Example 3: The importance of protecting the spiritual education and freedom of children in faith, as future generations are key targets in spiritual warfare.