Exodus 10 8

Exodus 10:8 kjv

And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God: but who are they that shall go?

Exodus 10:8 nkjv

So Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, and he said to them, "Go, serve the LORD your God. Who are the ones that are going?"

Exodus 10:8 niv

Then Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. "Go, worship the LORD your God," he said. "But tell me who will be going."

Exodus 10:8 esv

So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. And he said to them, "Go, serve the LORD your God. But which ones are to go?"

Exodus 10:8 nlt

So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. "All right," he told them, "go and worship the LORD your God. But who exactly will be going with you?"

Exodus 10 verses

Exodus 10 8 Meaning

Exodus 10:8 portrays a pivotal moment where Pharaoh, under duress from the looming locust plague, seemingly offers a concession to Moses and Aaron. However, this apparent willingness to release the Israelites to worship the Lord their God is immediately undermined by a manipulative query: "But who are the ones who are going?" This reveals Pharaoh's continued defiance and his strategic attempt to limit the scope of the exodus, specifically targeting the departure of women and children, thereby ensuring a means to control the Israelites and force their return. It underscores the ongoing clash between God's absolute demand for complete freedom to worship Him and Pharaoh's tenacious pursuit of partial, self-serving compromise.

Exodus 10 8 Context

Exodus chapter 10 is situated immediately after the severe hail plague and before the devastating plague of locusts. Pharaoh's advisors are urging him to relent, fearing utter ruin. The historical context reflects a showdown between Yahweh, the God of Israel, and the mighty polytheistic gods of Egypt, with Pharaoh considered a divine embodiment himself. The negotiations are a theological and political battle, demonstrating Yahweh's supreme power over all of Egypt and its gods, directly challenging their authority and Pharaoh's perceived divinity. Each partial concession from Pharaoh (as seen in Exodus 8:25 and 8:28) has been insufficient, and his strategy in verse 8 marks his third attempt at a limited release, reflecting his hardening heart and desire to maintain control even amidst increasing pressure. This verse sets the stage for Moses' absolute refusal of anything less than complete freedom for every Israelite and all their possessions.

Exodus 10 8 Word analysis

• So Moses and Aaron: The names are specifically mentioned as the divinely appointed intermediaries. Their constant re-summoning underscores God's persistent message through them to Pharaoh, and Pharaoh's unwillingness to fully acknowledge God's authority by sending for His messengers rather than fully submitting.

• were brought back (הוּשָׁב): The passive Hophal stem of the verb שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to return" or "bring back." This phrasing emphasizes that Moses and Aaron did not voluntarily return but were made to come, indicating Pharaoh's perceived control over the situation, even as his kingdom crumbled. It highlights his continuing attempt to dictate the terms, rather than truly humbling himself.

• to Pharaoh (פַּרְעֹה - Par‘ōh): The king of Egypt, presented throughout the narrative as the embodiment of hardened, oppressive human will against the divine. His continued engagement, though unwillingly, serves to demonstrate Yahweh's ultimate power over all human rulers and structures. The ongoing back-and-forth illustrates a divine polemic against the supposed absolute power of Pharaoh and the gods he represented.

• and he said to them (וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם - Vayomer aleihem): Signals a new statement, seemingly a concession. The phrasing emphasizes Pharaoh's initiative in summoning them for this dialogue.

• “Go, serve (לְכוּ עִבְדוּ - Lekhu ivdu) the Lord (יְהוָה - YHVH) your God (אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - Eloheikhem)!":

  • "Go, serve": An imperative, a command or permission. It appears to be a step towards obedience. However, this is one of several deceptive "compromises" Pharaoh offers, designed to seem agreeable but always withholding full liberty.
  • "the Lord (YHVH)": Pharaoh uses the personal covenant name of Israel's God, but does not yet fully acknowledge YHVH's universal supremacy, only His relationship to Israel.
  • "your God (Eloheikhem)": Pharaoh emphasizes "your" God, thereby limiting God's sphere of influence to the Israelites alone, implying that he (Pharaoh) and his gods remain sovereign in Egypt. This is a subtle attempt to compartmentalize deities and prevent a full, unqualified worship of the true God. It stands in direct contrast to God's revelation that He is the God of all the earth.

• But who are the ones who are going? (מִי וָמִי הַהֹלְכִים - Mi va-mi ha-holkhim?):

  • "But": Indicates a critical turning point or a condition.
  • "who are the ones who are going?": This seemingly innocent question is the core of Pharaoh's strategic maneuver. The repetition (מִי וָמִי - mi va-mi) could indicate an emphatic "Who exactly?" or "Which ones are definitely going?". It reveals Pharaoh's manipulative intention: he wants to limit the exodus. He specifically aimed to hold the women, children, and possessions, knowing that by retaining the families and livelihood of the Israelites, he would ensure their return or severely weaken their resolve, thus maintaining his power over them. This challenges God's demand for the entire community and all their possessions to be dedicated to Him.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh": Highlights Pharaoh's diminishing power and God's unwavering control over the unfolding events, as Pharaoh is increasingly forced to engage with God's demands despite his pride. It also emphasizes that this is not a genuine repentance but a coerced negotiation.
  • "Go, serve the Lord your God! But who are the ones who are going?": This complete statement showcases Pharaoh's deep-seated pride and cunning. He offers an illusion of compliance, using pious language ("serve the Lord your God") to cloak his insidious attempt to impose limits on divine command. The immediate follow-up question ("But who...") strips away the facade, revealing his true intention to negotiate, compromise, and ultimately frustrate God's plan for complete liberation. This pattern illustrates Pharaoh's, and human nature's, resistance to complete surrender to God.

Exodus 10 8 Bonus section

The "who are the ones who are going?" question from Pharaoh is a key moment that sets the stage for Moses' uncompromising stand in Exo 10:9 and Exo 10:26, emphasizing the necessity of all belonging to God – "not a hoof shall be left behind." This wasn't merely a strategic negotiating point for Moses, but a fundamental theological truth about Israel's identity as a covenant people where everyone, including the young and old, and their entire possessions, were consecrated to Yahweh for worship and service. Pharaoh's attempt to divide and conquer the Israelites' unity and purpose for their service to God foreshadows the challenges faced by believers in all ages when world systems try to dictate the boundaries of faith and worship. His manipulative "compromise" serves as a polemic against limited or half-hearted service to God. It shows that God does not negotiate the terms of His glory or the freedom of His people.

Exodus 10 8 Commentary

Exodus 10:8 is a profound illustration of spiritual conflict, revealing the unyielding nature of both divine demand and human defiance. Pharaoh, at his wits' end due to the intensifying plagues and the distress of his people and officials, appears to make a concession. His words, "Go, serve the Lord your God!", mimic previous, more direct divine commands. Yet, this is not true submission, but a strategic feint. His follow-up question, "But who are the ones who are going?", exposes his real objective: to limit the exodus to only the men, likely aiming to keep the women and children as hostages to guarantee the men's return or to maintain a labor force. This pattern is crucial: Pharaoh repeatedly attempts to negotiate the terms of obedience to God, always seeking partial compliance over complete surrender. This verse, therefore, highlights God's demand for uncompromised, holistic devotion—an "all-or-nothing" scenario—versus the world's persistent offering of convenient, limited terms. It reveals that any concession that falls short of total obedience to God's will is, in essence, defiance, preventing true worship and liberation.