Exodus 10 24

Exodus 10:24 kjv

And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.

Exodus 10:24 nkjv

Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, "Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you."

Exodus 10:24 niv

Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, "Go, worship the LORD. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind."

Exodus 10:24 esv

Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, "Go, serve the LORD; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind."

Exodus 10:24 nlt

Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses. "Go and worship the LORD," he said. "But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you."

Exodus 10 verses

Exodus 10 24 Meaning

Exodus 10:24 describes Pharaoh's third major concession during the plagues, offered after the overwhelming plague of darkness. Previously, Pharaoh tried to allow only the men to go. Here, he permits the men, women, and children ("little ones") to depart and serve the LORD, a significant step towards God's full demand. However, his concession remains incomplete and a clear negotiation tactic; he insists that the Israelites' flocks and herds must stay behind in Egypt. This refusal to release the livestock reveals Pharaoh's continued desire to maintain control over Israel, specifically over their economic resources and a key element necessary for their worship, as sacrificial animals were essential for offerings to the LORD. This partial release signifies Pharaoh's desperate attempt to retain some power and influence over the people of God, illustrating his ongoing struggle against the sovereign will of the LORD.

Exodus 10 24 Context

Exodus 10:24 is situated within the dramatic sequence of the ten plagues brought upon Egypt by the LORD, demonstrating His supreme power over Pharaoh and all Egyptian deities. Immediately preceding this verse is the ninth plague, the terrifying and unprecedented three days of thick darkness that only affected the Egyptians, while the Israelites had light in their dwellings (Ex 10:21-23). This plague was particularly potent, as it struck directly at the heart of Egyptian worship, assaulting their most prominent deity, the sun god Ra. Following such an overwhelming display of divine power, Pharaoh's will briefly softened.

Before this concession in Ex 10:24, Pharaoh had repeatedly tried to negotiate terms, consistently resisting God's command for Israel's complete freedom. He first suggested they worship within Egypt (Ex 8:25), then that they not go "very far" (Ex 8:28), and in the last exchange before the plague of darkness, he agreed to let men go, but not their families or livestock (Ex 10:8-9), which Moses firmly rejected. Pharaoh's current offer, allowing women and children to go but retaining the livestock, represents his most extensive concession yet, driven by the pressure of the successive devastating plagues. However, it still falls short of God's non-negotiable demand for the full and unfettered release of His people and all their possessions required for worship in the wilderness.

Exodus 10 24 Word analysis

• Then Pharaoh called Moses and said: (וַיִּקְרָא פַרְעֹה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyiqra Par'oh el-Mosheh vayyomer)

  • Pharaoh (פַּרְעֹה, Par'oh): The title for the Egyptian monarch, who considered himself a living deity, a son of Ra. His action here highlights the tension between his supposed divine authority and the true divine authority of YHWH. He retains the initiative of "calling," still seeing himself in control.
  • called (וַיִּקְרָא, vayyiqra): Implies an imperative summoning, yet it's born out of desperation. It shows a softening in Pharaoh's stubbornness, as the previous plagues force him to initiate communication, a sign of his decreasing power.

• “Go, serve the LORD; (לְכוּ עִבְדוּ אֶת־יְהוָה - lekchu ivdu et-YHWH)

  • Go, serve (לְכוּ עִבְדוּ, lekchu ivdu): An imperative command, Pharaoh is granting permission, yet it's still conditional and manipulative. It acknowledges the Israelite God, YHWH, but Pharaoh still tries to dictate the terms of worship. The phrase 'ivdu et-YHWH' is central to God's initial command for His people, emphasizing their purpose in freedom.
  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): The covenant name of the God of Israel. Pharaoh here refers to Him, indicating a forced recognition of His power, though not yet full submission to His will. This term sets up the clash of ultimate authority.

• only let your flocks and your herds remain. (רַק צֹאנְכֶם וּבְקַרְכֶם יִצָּג - rak tso'ankhem uv'qarkhem yitzag)

  • only (רַק, rak): This highly restrictive particle reveals the conditional and incomplete nature of Pharaoh's concession. It sets a boundary, maintaining his leverage.
  • flocks (צֹאנְכֶם, tso'ankhem): Refers to small livestock, like sheep and goats.
  • herds (בְּקַרְכֶם, uv'qarkhem): Refers to large livestock, like cattle and oxen. These were essential for the Israelites' economic sustenance and, critically, for their sacrificial worship to YHWH in the wilderness.
  • remain (יִצָּג, yitzag): Means "to be stationed," "to stand." Pharaoh intends these animals to stay in Egypt as a surety or collateral, ensuring the Israelites' return, or perhaps as an economic asset he could exploit. It prevents total independence. This term highlights Pharaoh's strategic thinking to maintain control.

• Let your little ones also go with you.” (טַפְּכֶם גַּם־הֵם יֵלְכוּ עִמָּכֶם - tappekhem gam-hem yeilku immakhem)

  • little ones (טַפְּכֶם, tappekhem): Refers to children or dependents. This is Pharaoh's major new concession, having previously attempted to prevent their departure. This makes the offer more plausible for Moses and the Israelites, as no family would willingly abandon their children. It signifies his increasing desperation.
  • also (גַּם־הֵם, gam-hem): "even they." Emphasizes this as an additional point of negotiation from the previous one, where he sought to keep only the men (Ex 10:8-9). This indicates Pharaoh's growing desperation and the efficacy of the plagues.

Words-group analysis

• "Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds remain.": This phrase encapsulates Pharaoh's central strategic maneuver. He acknowledges Israel's religious purpose but attempts to separate it from their material needs for worship. By holding their livestock, he not only weakens their economic viability in the wilderness but also renders them unable to perform proper sacrifices, which were central to their service of the LORD. This implies that true worship cannot be compartmentalized or stripped of its necessary resources; it requires full commitment and the ability to fulfill its requirements.
• "only let your flocks and your herds remain. Let your little ones also go with you.": This reveals Pharaoh's manipulative approach. He concedes the highly emotional point of allowing children to leave, hoping to soften Moses and secure at least the collateral of the livestock. Pharaoh still clings to the notion that he can negotiate with YHWH's absolute demand for freedom. The livestock were critical for a viable nomadic life and for sacrificial worship, and Pharaoh attempts to exert control over these elements.

Exodus 10 24 Bonus section

The concept of Pharaoh attempting to keep the livestock points to an underlying spiritual truth: when God calls us to serve Him, it is often a call to wholehearted commitment, where no aspect of our lives or resources remains tied to the systems or controls of the world. Pharaoh represents a power structure that always seeks to retain some hold, some claim on what God requires. His specific focus on "flocks and herds" is not accidental; ancient Near Eastern cultures often viewed such wealth as central to power and tribute. Pharaoh, the ultimate symbol of a tyrannical worldly ruler, attempts to compromise God's demand, subtly trying to maintain a pledge from Israel, even if he must relinquish control over their persons. This also demonstrates the complete incompatibility between the worship of YHWH and any lingering connection to Egyptian idolatry or power, symbolizing that God's people must be fully free to worship Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and possessions.

Exodus 10 24 Commentary

Exodus 10:24 marks a pivotal point in Pharaoh's hardening resistance to God's will. After enduring the terror of three days of absolute darkness, Pharaoh is pushed to his most significant concession yet. He finally agrees to release the entire Israelite population—men, women, and children—to go and "serve the LORD." This is a profound shift from his earlier attempts to permit only the men to leave. However, his concession is deeply flawed by a crucial caveat: the livestock must remain in Egypt.

Pharaoh's offer to retain the flocks and herds serves multiple purposes. Economically, these animals represented wealth and a vital part of the Israelite economy. By keeping them, Pharaoh could ensure a form of continued economic tribute or secure collateral, intending to force the Israelites' return to retrieve their assets. Spiritually, and perhaps unknown to Pharaoh in its full depth, he would also effectively cripple Israel's ability to offer the necessary sacrifices and worship demanded by the LORD in the wilderness. Without their animals, they could not fully obey God's command for proper worship. Thus, this was not merely an economic ploy but also a strategic move to prevent true religious freedom and dependence on God alone.

This verse starkly portrays the nature of partial obedience or concession versus God's demand for total surrender. Pharaoh attempts to dictate terms to the Creator, seeking to impose boundaries on where, how, and with what resources God's people can worship Him. However, God's call for Israel's liberation was absolute; they were to leave with everything they possessed because it all belonged to God and was necessary for His worship and for their complete separation from Egypt's control. Moses's response to this (Ex 10:25-26) will firmly reject this compromise, illustrating that God's work cannot be done by half measures, nor can His people be partially beholden to worldly powers.