Exodus 10:18 kjv
And he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the LORD.
Exodus 10:18 nkjv
So he went out from Pharaoh and entreated the LORD.
Exodus 10:18 niv
Moses then left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD.
Exodus 10:18 esv
So he went out from Pharaoh and pleaded with the LORD.
Exodus 10:18 nlt
So Moses left Pharaoh's court and pleaded with the LORD.
Exodus 10 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 8:12 | So Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the LORD | Moses intercedes for frogs |
| Exo 8:28 | Pharaoh said, “I will let you go…plead for me.” | Pharaoh asks Moses to plead |
| Exo 9:28-29 | Send entreaties to the LORD, for there has been enough of God's thunder... | Pharaoh asks Moses to intercede for hail |
| Exo 9:33 | So Moses went out...and he spread out his hands to the LORD; and the thunder ceased. | Moses intercedes for hail's cessation |
| Num 11:2 | When the people cried out to Moses, Moses prayed to the LORD | Moses intercedes for rebellious people |
| Num 21:7 | So the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned...pray to the LORD." | Moses intercedes for serpent bite victims |
| Deut 9:20 | "And with Aaron the LORD was so angry...So I prayed for Aaron also at that time." | Moses intercedes for Aaron |
| 1 Sam 7:5 | Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will pray to the LORD." | Prophet as intercessor |
| 1 Kin 18:37 | "Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know..." | Elijah's prayer answered |
| Psa 50:15 | "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you..." | God answers prayers in distress |
| Psa 145:18 | The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. | God's proximity to prayer |
| Jer 29:12 | "Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen..." | God listens to prayer |
| Job 22:27 | "You will pray to Him, and He will hear you..." | God hears prayer |
| Joel 2:20 | "I will remove the northern army far from you..." | God removing a locust plague in a prophecy |
| Joel 2:25 | "Then I will compensate you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten..." | God restores after locust plague |
| Jon 3:8-10 | "Let everyone call on God earnestly...and God relented..." | God relenting after sincere prayer |
| Isa 55:6-7 | "Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near." | Call to seek and pray to the LORD |
| Lam 3:55-57 | "I called on Your name, O LORD...You drew near when I called on You." | Prayer in affliction |
| Job 33:23-24 | "If there is an angel, an intercessor...then He is gracious to him." | Intercession through a mediator |
| 1 Tim 2:5 | For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men...Christ Jesus | Jesus as the ultimate mediator |
| Heb 7:25 | "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God...since He always lives to make intercession for them." | Christ's eternal intercession |
| Jas 5:16 | The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. | Power of righteous prayer |
| Gen 1:30 | And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to everything... | God's sovereignty over creation, including insects |
Exodus 10 verses
Exodus 10 18 Meaning
Exodus 10:18 describes Moses' immediate action after Pharaoh requested that the devastating locust plague be removed. Moses departed from Pharaoh's presence and earnestly prayed to the LORD, demonstrating his swift obedience to the plea and his role as mediator before God.
Exodus 10 18 Context
Exodus chapter 10 recounts the eighth (locusts) and ninth (darkness) plagues God brought upon Egypt. This verse occurs immediately after the locust plague, which was incredibly devastating, consuming every green thing left after the hail, thus fulfilling the Lord's warning. Pharaoh, faced with unprecedented agricultural ruin and public pressure from his officials (v.7), again concedes and begs Moses to intercede for him (v.17). This desperate plea is not a sign of true repentance but a temporary breaking under divine pressure.
Historically and culturally, ancient Egypt's economy was fundamentally agrarian, heavily dependent on the Nile and the fertility of its fields. Crops like wheat, barley, flax, and fruits were vital. Egyptian deities such as Min (god of fertility, crops, and rain), Seth (who, despite being associated with chaos, could be appeased for protection from destructive natural forces), and various localized gods of the harvest were worshipped to ensure bountiful yields and protect against calamities like locusts. This plague, therefore, was a direct and devastating blow to the very fabric of Egyptian life and a profound theological polemic. YHWH, the God of Israel, demonstrates His supreme power by controlling and reversing the forces of nature, completely rendering the Egyptian gods powerless to protect their land or their people's food supply. Pharaoh's request for Moses to intercede highlights his implicit acknowledgement of YHWH's overwhelming authority and the impotence of his own gods.
Exodus 10 18 Word analysis
- And (וַיֵּצֵא, wa-): A common conjunction that serves to connect this action directly to Pharaoh's request in the preceding verse. It indicates immediate succession and consequence, showing Moses' promptness.
- he went out (וַיֵּצֵא, wayyēṣēʾ): From the verb יָצָא (yatsaʾ), "to go out, come forth." This signifies Moses' physical departure from the royal presence of Pharaoh. It indicates an immediate and decisive movement away from human authority to approach divine authority. There's no negotiation or further discussion; Moses simply acts.
- from Pharaoh (מֵאֵת פַּרְעֹה, mēʾēt parʿōh): Explicitly states the source from which Moses departed. This transition from Pharaoh's court emphasizes that Moses is moving from human entreaty to divine communion. His intercession is not performed in the king's presence as a performance, but as a private and sacred act directed towards God.
- and entreated (וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל, wayyitpallel): From the Hithpael stem of the root פָּלַל (palal), meaning "to judge," which in the Hithpael form means "to pray, intercede." This form implies self-examination, reflective petition, and earnest, intense prayer, often involving bowing or prostration. It denotes a humble, supplicatory act of appealing directly to a higher power, in this case, God. This highlights Moses' profound role as an intercessor, standing between a sinning people/ruler and a holy God.
- the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): The unpronounceable tetragrammaton, the personal covenant name of the God of Israel. Moses directs his prayer to the one true God, distinct from the myriad of Egyptian deities. It underscores that it is YHWH who wields absolute power over nature and life, and to Him alone does Moses appeal. It emphasizes the unique relationship between YHWH and His chosen servant, Moses.
Words-group analysis:
- "And he went out from Pharaoh": This phrase underlines Moses' obedient and swift execution of Pharaoh's request. He doesn't question or hesitate; he acts directly upon the need. It illustrates a clear transition: from the realm of human power and demand to the sphere of divine communication.
- "and entreated the LORD": This climactic phrase describes the heart of Moses' function. It is a powerful demonstration of prayer's significance as the conduit through which divine power is accessed and manifest in the physical world. It emphasizes Moses' posture as a faithful servant and intercessor who lays the requests before the ultimate sovereign. This isn't just speaking, but pleading earnestly, highlighting the urgency and seriousness of the situation.
Exodus 10 18 Bonus section
- The rapid succession of Moses' actions (going out, praying) highlights the urgency of Pharaoh's plea and Moses' consistent readiness to act as God's instrument, irrespective of Pharaoh's past deceptions.
- This act of leaving Pharaoh's presence before praying implies that intimate prayer requires separation or focus, unhindered by external pressures or human witnesses, to achieve pure communion with the Divine.
- Moses' prayer is for Pharaoh, the oppressor, showcasing the breadth of God's patience and the scope of a righteous intercessor's compassion, even towards enemies, when requested.
- The repetition of Moses interceding after each of Pharaoh's temporary admissions (as seen in Exodus 8:12, 8:28, 9:28) underscores a key biblical principle: prayer is often the direct means by which God's miraculous power is invoked and His will unfolded in human affairs.
Exodus 10 18 Commentary
Exodus 10:18 is a concise yet pivotal verse, demonstrating the immediate effectiveness of prayer through Moses and highlighting the contrasting responses of divine mercy and human obstinacy. Moses, having just been implored by a desperate Pharaoh, exhibits prompt obedience not to the human ruler, but to his divine calling. He withdraws from the compromised royal court, signifying a necessary separation for true spiritual communion. The act of "entreating the LORD" (YHWH) underscores Moses' privileged relationship with God, enabling him to intercede on behalf of even Pharaoh, despite the ongoing divine hardening of Pharaoh's heart. This wasn't a casual request but a fervent plea, an appeal to the sovereign God who controls all creation, even down to the winds that bring and take away locusts. The verse sets the stage for God's merciful act of removing the plague, emphasizing that the resolution comes from YHWH alone, in response to prayer, and not due to any inherent power of Pharaoh or his gods. It subtly points towards the pattern of intercession exemplified by greater mediators like Jesus Christ.