Exodus 10:7 kjv
And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?
Exodus 10:7 nkjv
Then Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?"
Exodus 10:7 niv
Pharaoh's officials said to him, "How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?"
Exodus 10:7 esv
Then Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?"
Exodus 10:7 nlt
Pharaoh's officials now came to Pharaoh and appealed to him. "How long will you let this man hold us hostage? Let the men go to worship the LORD their God! Don't you realize that Egypt lies in ruins?"
Exodus 10 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 4:21 | "...I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go." | God's foreknowledge and purpose in Pharaoh's hardening. |
| Ex 7:3 | "...I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs..." | Divine agency in the hardening of Pharaoh's heart. |
| Ex 8:19 | "...This is the finger of God!" But Pharaoh's heart was hardened..." | Magicians acknowledge God's hand; Pharaoh remains unyielding. |
| Ex 9:14 | "...I will send all My plagues on your heart and on your servants and on your people, so that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth." | God's purpose in the plagues: His self-revelation. |
| Ex 9:16 | "...Indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you..." | Pharaoh's role in demonstrating God's power. |
| Ex 9:27-28 | "Then Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, 'I have sinned this time...entreat the Lord, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail.'" | Pharaoh's fleeting confession after the hail, contrasting with his renewed hardness. |
| Deut 4:34-35 | "...Or has God tried to go and take for Himself a nation...to show you that the Lord, He is God; there is no other besides Him." | God demonstrates His sovereignty and uniqueness through Israel's deliverance. |
| Deut 6:21 | "...We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand." | Israel's remembering their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. |
| Judg 2:3 | "...They shall be a snare to you, and their gods shall be a snare to you." | Disobedience to God brings destructive snares. |
| 1 Sam 2:30 | "...For those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." | Principle of honoring God; despising leads to dishonor/ruin. |
| 2 Chr 12:8 | "...they may know My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries." | Contrasting service to God versus service to earthly powers/ruin. |
| Neh 9:10-11 | "...You showed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his servants, and against all the people of his land...for You knew that they acted proudly against them. So You made a name for Yourself as it is this day." | God's vindication of His people against prideful enemies. |
| Ps 76:10 | "Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; with the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself." | Even human resistance ultimately serves God's purposes. |
| Ps 105:27-28 | "...They performed His signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. He sent darkness, and made it dark...He turned their waters into blood." | God's wonders in Egypt are a testimony to His power. |
| Prov 28:15 | "Like a roaring lion and a raging bear is a wicked ruler over poor people." | Consequences of a tyrannical ruler who disregards suffering. |
| Isa 1:7 | "Your country is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire; Strangers devour your land in your presence..." | Picture of national desolation due to judgment, similar to Egypt's state. |
| Isa 19:2-4 | "...I will set Egyptians against Egyptians...Then I will give the Egyptians into the hand of a cruel master..." | Prophecy of future internal strife and tyranny in Egypt, God's judgment. |
| Jer 12:4 | "How long will the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither?" | Similar expression of despair and question of 'how long' in relation to divine judgment. |
| Rom 1:28 | "...God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting." | Consequences of persistent rejection of God: given over to folly. |
| Rom 9:17-18 | "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you...So then He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.'" | Paul's theological explanation of Pharaoh's hardened heart for God's glory. |
| 2 Th 2:10-11 | "...because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie..." | Those who reject truth will be given over to delusion. |
| Heb 3:7-11 | "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: 'Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion...So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'" | Warning against hardening hearts against God, drawing from Israel's example, applicable to Pharaoh. |
Exodus 10 verses
Exodus 10 7 Meaning
Exodus 10:7 records the desperate plea of Pharaoh's servants to their king. They, having witnessed the devastating impact of seven plagues on Egypt, implore Pharaoh to release the Israelites so they can serve their God. Their rhetorical question, "Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?" underscores the kingdom's complete devastation and their bewilderment at Pharaoh's persistent refusal, emphasizing the dire consequences of his prolonged stubbornness against the God of Israel.
Exodus 10 7 Context
Exodus 10:7 occurs during the middle phase of the plagues, just before the eighth plague of locusts is inflicted. Pharaoh's hardened heart, a recurring theme, has already brought seven devastating plagues upon Egypt: blood, frogs, gnats (lice), flies, pestilence on livestock, boils, and a destructive hail storm that obliterated crops and people. Egypt, once a powerful and fertile empire, is facing ruin. The specific cultural and historical context includes Pharaoh's claim to divinity, making his resistance a direct defiance of Yahweh, and the polytheistic nature of Egyptian religion, where the plagues systematically challenged and mocked various Egyptian deities. This verse signals a turning point in the court, as Pharaoh's own advisors, facing widespread desolation and economic collapse, now prioritize their kingdom's survival over their ruler's stubborn pride.
Exodus 10 7 Word analysis
- Pharaoh's servants came to him: This indicates a significant shift in the internal dynamics of Pharaoh's court. These are not common citizens, but the highest-ranking officials and advisors, likely the ones responsible for the functioning of the kingdom. Their coming directly to Pharaoh signals urgent alarm and a break from unified support for their ruler's defiance.
- and said: They are speaking on behalf of the kingdom, perhaps even reflecting growing unrest among the general populace.
- How long (עַד־מָתַי - `‘ad-matay`): This Hebrew idiom expresses impatience, exasperation, and despair. It's a lament-like question, frequently found in the Psalms (e.g., Psa 6:3, 13:1-2) or prophetic warnings (e.g., Jer 47:6), conveying intense frustration and a plea for relief. Here, it underscores their agony at the unending suffering.
- will this man (הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה - `ha’ish hazzeh`): Referring to Moses, often used somewhat contemptuously, but in this context, it could also convey a grudging acknowledgment of his unshakeable influence and the power behind him. It's interesting they frame it around "this man" rather than directly challenging God, though the implications are clear.
- be a snare (לְמוֹקֵשׁ - `lemoqesh`): A "snare" or "trap" implies something designed to cause ruin or entanglement. The plagues are no longer seen merely as annoyances but as a deliberate and successful tactic of destruction. This terminology often has negative connotations in the Old Testament, denoting moral or spiritual traps that lead to destruction or judgment (e.g., Ex 23:33, Deut 7:16, Ps 69:22). Here, Moses, as God's instrument, is literally a snare bringing the ruin of Egypt.
- to us?: This highlights the personal and national impact. It is not just affecting common Egyptians but the ruling elite and the very stability of the nation.
- Let the men go (שַׁלַּח אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁים - `shalaḥ ‘et-ha’anashim`): This is a direct command or desperate plea from the servants to Pharaoh. It mirrors God's original command through Moses to Pharaoh ("Let my people go"), showing that even the pagan court now grasps the necessity of obeying the demand.
- that they may serve the LORD, your God: The servants acknowledge YHWH (`Yehovah`), the distinct God of Israel. Crucially, they refer to Him as "your God" (meaning Israel's God), not their own gods, highlighting their understanding of His specific demand and immense power. Their concern is primarily to appease this powerful deity. The Hebrew word `‘avad` means "to serve" or "to worship," underscoring the purpose of Israel's freedom as serving God.
- Do you not yet understand (הֲטֶרֶם תֵּדַע - `haterem teda‘`): This is a powerful rhetorical question expressing exasperation, disbelief, and a plea for Pharaoh to see the undeniable truth. `Terem teda` ("not yet know") suggests an obstinate refusal to acknowledge the obvious. It implies Pharaoh's foolishness and spiritual blindness.
- that Egypt is ruined? (כִּי אָבְדָה מִצְרָיִם - `ki avdah Mitsrayim`): The verb `‘avad` (`אָבַד`) means "to be lost," "perish," "be destroyed," or "ruined." This is not a future warning, but a present declaration. The land, economy, social order, and perhaps even morale, are already utterly devastated. It speaks to a deep, profound destruction. This destruction serves as an active polemic against the Egyptian deities who were supposed to protect the land and ensure its fertility and prosperity. It demonstrates the complete inability of Egypt's gods to save their people from the God of Israel.
Words-group analysis
- "How long will this man be a snare to us?": This phrase captures the advisors' deep fatigue and the feeling of being trapped by Pharaoh's stubborness, mediated through Moses. They view Moses as the visible instrument of their torment, but their real plea is for Pharaoh to change course to save the kingdom from the ongoing divine judgment.
- "Let the men go that they may serve the LORD, your God.": This direct demand shows the complete breakdown of Pharaoh's authority. His closest advisors are now echoing God's very words, revealing their desperation to appease this powerful "foreign" God, implicitly acknowledging His supremacy over Egypt's deities. They believe that only by complying can their nation be saved from total collapse.
- "Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?": This culminating rhetorical question is a declaration of calamity and an indictment of Pharaoh's wilful blindness. It speaks to a complete economic, social, and psychological breakdown within Egypt. The cumulative impact of the plagues has led to a state of irreversible damage, making the need for compliance overtly apparent even to Pharaoh's pagan servants. The destruction served as a clear message from Yahweh about His power and judgment.
Exodus 10 7 Bonus section
The desperate plea of Pharaoh's servants highlights the external recognition of YHWH's overwhelming power, even among those who did not worship Him. Their motivation was not faith or repentance, but rather a pragmatic fear for their kingdom's survival, demonstrating the severe material consequences of Pharaoh's theological and political rebellion. This plea implicitly served as a polemic against the Pharaoh's divinity and the efficacy of Egyptian gods, as these deities had failed spectacularly to protect the land and its people from the God of Israel. Pharaoh's continued resistance after this point, despite his court's counsel, showcases the extent of his "hardened heart"—an act both divinely influenced and personally chosen, which further glorified God's power through ultimate judgment.
Exodus 10 7 Commentary
Exodus 10:7 marks a crucial juncture in the plague narrative. The shift in perspective from Pharaoh's servants indicates the profound impact of God's escalating judgments. Pharaoh, having dismissed and endured numerous devastating plagues, now finds himself isolated in his obstinacy. His own advisors, whose primary loyalty is to the prosperity and stability of Egypt, can no longer tolerate his defiant stance. Their "How long" question conveys utter despair, highlighting Pharaoh's catastrophic leadership that has brought his empire to the brink of utter ruin. They acknowledge the Israelites' God as the source of this destruction and explicitly state the immediate and devastating reality: Egypt "is ruined." This phrase isn't a prediction; it's an assessment of present reality—the economy broken, the land ravaged, and their traditional gods proven powerless. It demonstrates that God's judgment is so overwhelming that even His enemies acknowledge His superior power and the absolute necessity of compliance. The scene serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of hardening one's heart against divine will.