Exodus 10 29

Exodus 10:29 kjv

And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.

Exodus 10:29 nkjv

So Moses said, "You have spoken well. I will never see your face again."

Exodus 10:29 niv

"Just as you say," Moses replied. "I will never appear before you again."

Exodus 10:29 esv

Moses said, "As you say! I will not see your face again."

Exodus 10:29 nlt

"Very well," Moses replied. "I will never see your face again."

Exodus 10 verses

Exodus 10 29 Meaning

Exodus 10:29 captures the decisive, final verbal exchange between Moses and Pharaoh regarding the release of the Israelites from bondage. Moses affirms Pharaoh's previous declaration that he should never again see his face. This statement by Moses signals the complete cessation of negotiations and warnings, setting the stage for the definitive and catastrophic judgment upon Egypt and the ultimate deliverance of God's people. It underscores the culmination of Pharaoh's hard-hearted resistance to the Lord.

Exodus 10 29 Context

Exodus 10:29 is situated at the climax of the confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh, following the nine devastating plagues. Specifically, it directly follows Pharaoh's furious and absolute decree in Ex 10:28: "Get away from me; take heed to yourself, never see my face again, for in the day you see my face, you shall die!" This verse marks the tenth and final face-to-face interaction recorded before the tenth plague (death of the firstborn). Up to this point, Moses and Aaron have continually returned to Pharaoh with God's demands, and Pharaoh has repeatedly hardened his heart, sometimes appearing to yield slightly before relapsing. Pharaoh, as the living embodiment of Egyptian divinity and power, had presumed absolute authority. Moses' calm and concise response confirms the cessation of negotiations. The historical context is that of a powerful ancient empire whose ruler considers himself above all, directly challenging the sovereign power of Yahweh. This final exchange is a decisive moment, paving the way for God's ultimate act of judgment and salvation.

Exodus 10 29 Word analysis

• And Moses said (וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה, vayyo'mer Moshe):

  • Vayyo'mer: "and he said." The waw consecutive imperfect indicates a direct consequence or continuation in narrative sequence, following Pharaoh's preceding declaration.
  • Moshe: Moses, the appointed deliverer and prophet of the Lord. His speaking here is as a messenger bearing divine authority.

• You have spoken well (כֵּן דִּבַּרְתָּ, Ken dibbarta):

  • Ken: "so," "thus," "rightly," "correctly," "it is so." This word signifies agreement, confirmation, or affirmation. It is not necessarily an endorsement of the goodness of Pharaoh's statement but rather a recognition of its factual truth or inevitability from God's perspective. It can be understood as, "You have spoken accurately regarding what will transpire."
  • Dibbarta: From the root dabar (דָּבַר), meaning "to speak," "to say," "to command." This is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action: Pharaoh has spoken.
  • This phrase signals Moses' recognition of the finality inherent in Pharaoh's threat and the impending divine judgment. It marks the end of diplomatic dialogue.

• I will not see (לֹא־עוֹד אֶרְאֶה, lo'-'od 'er'eh):

  • Lo'-'od: "no more," "never again." A strong negation signifying absolute finality.
  • 'er'eh: From the root ra'ah (רָאָה), "to see," "to perceive," "to observe," "to experience." This is an imperfect tense, signifying an action that will not be repeated.
  • This declares a definitive break in their encounters. Moses confirms that Pharaoh's wish for Moses' absence will be granted, but under terms far different than Pharaoh imagines. It means there will be no more opportunities for Pharaoh to yield through negotiation.

• your face (פָּנֶיךָ, paneyka):

  • Panim (פָּנִים): "face," "presence," "countenance." It represents the person and their direct encounter or presence. "Seeing someone's face" often implies a direct, personal audience or confrontation, especially with a sovereign.
  • Moses' declaration is specific: the end of all direct interaction with Pharaoh. Pharaoh desired Moses' removal, and Moses agrees that there will be no more encounters, not because he fears Pharaoh's threat, but because God is moving to direct, decisive action. This marks a significant shift from negotiation to execution of judgment.

Exodus 10 29 Bonus section

The Hebrew phrasing "You have spoken well" (Ken dibbarta) is powerful in its subtlety. It carries a sense of ironic agreement, where Moses affirms not Pharaoh's wisdom, but the factual outcome his prideful words have sealed. Pharaoh unknowingly decreed his own final exclusion from further opportunities to heed the Lord. This also implicitly establishes the veracity of all previous prophetic warnings given by Moses. This verse functions as an immediate prelude to the declaration of the tenth plague in Ex 11, reinforcing the notion that this particular encounter between Moses and Pharaoh marked the end of an era of diplomatic back-and-forth and ushered in a period of divine, irretractable action. The parting of Moses and Pharaoh here is the final, pivotal human interaction before God's mighty arm is fully revealed in Egypt.

Exodus 10 29 Commentary

Exodus 10:29 serves as the turning point in the Exodus narrative where God's patient yet persistent calls for Pharaoh to "let My people go" conclude. Pharaoh's declaration in verse 28 was an act of extreme hubris, a self-defeating decree from a monarch who believed himself absolute. By agreeing "You have spoken well" or "You have spoken correctly," Moses doesn't commend Pharaoh but confirms the prophetic certainty of his own words. It signals that all appeals, warnings, and demonstrations of divine power through the nine plagues have been exhausted. There will be no further negotiation; the next action will be the final and devastating judgment directly from the Lord. Moses' calm affirmation, despite a direct death threat, highlights his unshakeable trust in God's sovereignty. It signifies that God is no longer seeking Pharaoh's compliance but is preparing to execute a climactic act of deliverance, for which Pharaoh’s persistent hard-heartedness has prepared him. This also demonstrates God's judicial hardening of Pharaoh's heart reaching its crescendo, making way for the ultimate demonstration of God's power and justice.

• Example 1: Just as there comes a point where an individual's persistent rejection of God's invitation for repentance leads to a hardened heart and divine judgment.
• Example 2: This finality illustrates that God is long-suffering but not perpetually so; there are limits to defiance against His divine will.