Exodus 10:16 kjv
Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.
Exodus 10:16 nkjv
Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and said, "I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you.
Exodus 10:16 niv
Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you.
Exodus 10:16 esv
Then Pharaoh hastily called Moses and Aaron and said, "I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.
Exodus 10:16 nlt
Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. "I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you," he confessed.
Exodus 10 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 8:8 | Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD... | Pharaoh's similar temporary plea during the plague of frogs. |
| Ex 8:28 | Pharaoh said, I will let you go... | Another temporary promise during the plague of flies. |
| Ex 9:27 | Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. | A more detailed confession during the hail plague, still not true repentance. |
| Ex 10:20 | But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart... | Directly after this confession, illustrating its superficiality. |
| Ex 10:24-25 | Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD... Only let your flocks and your herds be stayed... | Pharaoh's final negotiation attempt during the darkness plague, showing his underlying stubbornness. |
| Num 21:7 | Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD... | Israel's confession of sin and request for intercession, paralleling Pharaoh's words. |
| 1 Sam 15:24 | Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD... because I feared the people... | King Saul's confession driven by fear of consequence and popularity, not genuine repentance. |
| Job 33:27 | He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right... | A general truth about confessing wrongdoing to God. |
| Psa 32:5 | I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid... I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. | True, heartfelt confession leading to divine forgiveness and blessing. |
| Psa 78:46 | He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, and their labour unto the locust. | Poetic reference to the destructive locust plague as divine judgment. |
| Pro 28:13 | He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. | Emphasizes both confession and forsaking for true mercy and prosperity. |
| Isa 1:18 | Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow... | God's gracious invitation to repent and be cleansed. |
| Jer 3:13 | Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God... | God's call to Israel to confess specific sins against Him. |
| Jer 42:2 | Let our supplication, we pray thee, be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God... | People seeking a prophet's intercession for their sins. |
| Dan 2:47 | The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets... | Nebuchadnezzar's acknowledgment of Daniel's God, but not necessarily personal commitment. |
| Matt 3:6 | And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. | An example of public confession linked to repentance and faith. |
| Lk 15:18 | I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee. | The Prodigal Son's heartfelt, genuine confession upon returning to his father. |
| Rom 2:4 | Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? | Highlights God's patience, meant to lead sinners to true repentance, unlike Pharaoh's reaction. |
| Jas 5:16 | Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed... | Call for mutual confession and intercession within the believing community. |
| 1 Jn 1:9 | If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. | New Testament promise of forgiveness and cleansing based on confession and God's faithfulness. |
| Rev 9:3-5 | And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth... and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion... | Prophetic vision of a future judgment involving destructive 'locusts', echoing the Exodus plague. |
Exodus 10 verses
Exodus 10 16 Meaning
Exodus 10:16 describes Pharaoh's immediate, desperate response to the severe plague of locusts. Faced with overwhelming destruction, he swiftly summoned Moses and Aaron and confessed, stating, "I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you." This utterance represents a momentary, fear-induced acknowledgment of his wrongdoings against both God's authority, manifested through Moses, and against His representatives, yet it indicates a repentance born out of duress rather than true change of heart.
Exodus 10 16 Context
Exodus 10:16 is situated in the midst of the escalating plagues upon Egypt, specifically immediately following the devastating eighth plague: the locusts. Pharaoh, having previously hardened his heart against Moses' demands, experiences profound and total agricultural destruction, far beyond any prior plague. The context of chapter 10 emphasizes the immense, unprecedented scale of this particular plague and Pharaoh's ministers urging him to relent. Despite his prior intransigence, this plague drives him to a point of intense desperation and a seemingly humble confession. His words, however, must be understood within the ongoing pattern of his vacillating promises and ultimate refusal to let Israel go, illustrating the hardness of his heart which the text consistently highlights. This verse serves as another crucial point in the theological contest between Yahweh and the gods of Egypt, further demonstrating Yahweh's absolute sovereignty.
Exodus 10 16 Word analysis
- Then Pharaoh hurried (וַיְמַהֵר פַּרְעֹה - way'maher Par‘oh):
- "Hurried" (מַהֵר - maher) denotes speed and urgency, implying Pharaoh's immediate distress and desperation caused by the locusts. This contrasts sharply with his previous arrogance and defiant delay. It highlights the direct, intense pressure exerted by this plague.
- and called (וַיִּקְרָא - vayyikra) Moses (מֹשֶׁה - Mosheh) and Aaron (וְאַהֲרֹן - ve'Aharon):
- "Called" is a standard verb for summoning. Moses and Aaron are consistently God's appointed messengers and agents throughout the plagues, through whom Pharaoh experiences divine power. This summoning underlines their established role as conduits of God's judgments and commands.
- and said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer): Introduces Pharaoh's direct speech.
- "I have sinned (חָטָאתִי - chatati)":
- This is the first person singular perfect of the verb חָטָא (hata), meaning "to miss the mark," "to go astray," "to err," and in a theological context, "to sin."
- It is a direct confession. In the ancient Near East, acknowledging fault was rare for a ruler unless under extreme duress or as a tactical maneuver. This utterance signals the profound impact of the plague.
- against the LORD (לַיהוָה - la-Yahweh) your God (אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - Eloheikhem):
- "the LORD (Yahweh)": Pharaoh uses the covenant name of Israel's God, demonstrating he knows which deity is behind the plagues. This is a crucial recognition of Yahweh's identity and power.
- "your God": This specific phrasing is significant. Pharaoh acknowledges Yahweh as Israel's God, but not his own. This subtly maintains his distance and lack of personal allegiance or submission, highlighting that his "repentance" is tactical, not transformative. It suggests he perceives Yahweh as a tribal deity, though a powerful one, not the universal sovereign God. This also hints at his continued resistance to true theological change.
- and against you (וְלָכֶם - ve-lakhem)":
- Pharaoh admits to having sinned against God's human agents, Moses and Aaron, demonstrating an awareness of his repeated defiance against their God-given commands and their persons. This acknowledges the affront to their divine mission and personal authority.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Then Pharaoh hurried and called Moses and Aaron": This phrase shows Pharaoh's sudden shift from obstinacy to urgent action, demonstrating the immediate, overwhelming nature of the locust plague. His pride is momentarily broken under the weight of divine judgment.
- "I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you": This statement, though a confession, reveals the superficiality of Pharaoh's "repentance." It is born out of duress and fear of further destruction, rather than a genuine change of heart. The phrasing "your God" maintains a theological distance, implying that he acknowledges God's power but not His personal sovereignty over himself. The admission of sin against Moses and Aaron confirms his awareness that his actions were not merely political defiance but opposition to divine will channeled through God's chosen servants.
Exodus 10 16 Bonus section
- This verse contributes to the overarching theme of God hardening Pharaoh's heart. Although Pharaoh makes a verbal confession here, his heart remains unrepentant, allowing God to continue the sequence of plagues that reveals His glory to Israel and Egypt.
- Pharaoh's confession, along with others (Ex 9:27), stands as a significant admission from a highly proud and self-proclaimed divine ruler. It is a powerful polemic against the divinity of Pharaoh and the weakness of Egyptian gods compared to the singular power of Yahweh.
- The immediate urgency Pharaoh displays contrasts with God's patient yet resolute unfolding of judgment. It highlights the divine attribute of long-suffering that aims to bring humanity to repentance, even as Pharaoh persistently rejects it.
- Pharaoh's recognition of sin "against you" (Moses and Aaron) underscores the biblical principle that rejecting God's messengers is equivalent to rejecting God Himself (cf. Lk 10:16).
Exodus 10 16 Commentary
Exodus 10:16 marks another pivot in Pharaoh's pattern of temporary surrender and subsequent hardened resistance. His confession, "I have sinned," while seemingly a moment of humility, is functionally an act of desperation driven by severe, tangible consequences, not internal spiritual conviction. It lacks the core components of genuine repentance: sorrow over sin itself, a turning away from wicked ways, and true submission to God's will. Pharaoh's acknowledgment of "the LORD your God" reveals a significant theological distinction: he recognizes Yahweh's immense power, especially in connection with Israel, but crucially, he does not yet claim Yahweh as his God. This nuanced phrasing points to a continued underlying spiritual resistance, setting the stage for his subsequent re-hardening of heart. The verse therefore illustrates the contrast between pragmatic, crisis-induced admission of guilt and true, saving repentance which involves a fundamental change of disposition toward God. This fleeting admission is a precursor to a pattern seen elsewhere, where fear of judgment prompts superficial apologies, but fails to cultivate a lasting relationship with the divine.