Exodus 10:9 kjv
And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD.
Exodus 10:9 nkjv
And Moses said, "We will go with our young and our old; with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we will go, for we must hold a feast to the LORD."
Exodus 10:9 niv
Moses answered, "We will go with our young and our old, with our sons and our daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because we are to celebrate a festival to the LORD."
Exodus 10:9 esv
Moses said, "We will go with our young and our old. We will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the LORD."
Exodus 10:9 nlt
Moses replied, "We will all go ? young and old, our sons and daughters, and our flocks and herds. We must all join together in celebrating a festival to the LORD."
Exodus 10 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:1-3 | Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country... to the land that I will show you. | God calls for separation for His purpose. |
| Lev 23:2-4 | "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the LORD..." | Importance of communal feasts to the LORD. |
| Num 33:4 | The Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down... also on their gods the LORD executed judgments. | God's judgment over Egyptian gods. |
| Deut 6:5 | You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. | God demands total love and devotion. |
| Deut 12:11 | then to the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall bring... | Worship is focused in a designated place. |
| Jos 24:15 | "But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." | Decision for exclusive service to the LORD. |
| 1 Sam 7:3 | If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods... | Repentance includes removal of all idols. |
| Ps 24:1 | The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. | God's sovereignty over all creation and people. |
| Ps 78:19-20 | They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the wilderness?" | God's provision for all needs, including livestock. |
| Isa 43:6-7 | Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth... whom I created for my glory. | God claims all His people, created for His glory. |
| Jer 1:5 | Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you... | God has a purpose for every individual. |
| Dan 3:17-18 | Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us... But if not, we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image. | Uncompromising devotion even unto death. |
| Mal 3:10 | Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house... | All resources, including animals, for God's purposes. |
| Matt 10:37 | Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. | Demands exclusive allegiance to Christ over family. |
| Lk 14:26-27 | If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children... cannot be my disciple. | Radical discipleship requires relinquishing all rival allegiances. |
| Rom 6:11-13 | So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. | Freedom from bondage to serve God fully. |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | All are equal in God's eyes for salvation and service. |
| Col 3:11 | Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free; but Christ is all, and is in all. | All believers united in Christ, without social distinction. |
| Heb 10:25 | not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another... | Importance of corporate gathering for worship. |
| Heb 13:15 | Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. | Our worship is a continuous spiritual sacrifice. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession... | God's claim on His redeemed people. |
Exodus 10 verses
Exodus 10 9 Meaning
Exodus 10:9 states Moses' unwavering demand to Pharaoh: the entire Israelite community—all people, young and old, male and female, along with all their livestock—must depart from Egypt. This complete departure is necessary to observe a feast to the LORD, signifying total devotion and an undivided worship experience dedicated exclusively to the true God. It encapsulates a definitive refusal of any compromise on the part of the Israelites, asserting God's sovereignty over every aspect of His people's lives and possessions.
Exodus 10 9 Context
Exodus 10:9 is situated within the narrative of the ten plagues, specifically as Moses delivers the Divine demand to Pharaoh for the seventh time, concerning the locust plague. Prior to this, Pharaoh had attempted various compromises, seeking to limit Israel's departure (Ex 8:25-28, 10:8-11). First, Pharaoh permitted sacrifice "in the land," which Moses rejected due to potential offense to the Egyptians. Then he offered to let them go "not far off," also rejected. Immediately preceding this verse, after the devastation of hail and just before the locusts are threatened, Pharaoh had proposed only the men could go to worship, keeping women, children, and livestock behind as a pledge. Moses, responding to this latest cunning offer, asserts the Lord's absolute requirement: a complete and undifferentiated departure of every person and every possession essential for worship and survival. This exchange underscores the uncompromising nature of God's redemption and His absolute claim over His people and all their means. Historically, it demonstrates a spiritual battle where the true God asserts His power over Egyptian deities, who were often linked to specific aspects of nature and life that Pharaoh sought to control.
Exodus 10 9 Word analysis
- we will go: (Hebrew: nēlēkh - נֵלֵ֣ךְ) A strong declarative, expressing unwavering determination and the certainty of their departure, emphasizing Moses' consistent stance.
- with our young: (Hebrew: tappēnû - טַפֵּ֑נוּ) Refers to young children, often toddlers or those too young to walk easily. Signifies vulnerability, the future generation, and God's desire for the inclusion of all, particularly protecting children from Egyptian influence and ensuring they would learn and participate in the worship of the LORD. This challenges Pharaoh's attempt to keep the younger generation behind as hostages or future laborers.
- and with our old: (Hebrew: ūviziqēnēnû - וּבִזְקֵנֵ֨נוּ) Refers to elders, encompassing wisdom, experience, and the full continuum of generations. It implies an unbroken lineage of faith and corporate memory for worship.
- with our sons: (Hebrew: bānênû - בָּנֵ֙ינוּ) All male children, ensuring continuity of Israelite identity and male participation in rituals.
- and with our daughters: (Hebrew: ūvivnōthēnû - וּבִבְנֹתֵינוּ֙) All female children. Explicitly includes all genders, emphasizing that every individual within the community, regardless of age or gender, is part of the collective body designated for God's worship and redemption. Pharaoh wanted to retain the women and children.
- with our flocks: (Hebrew: bᵉṣōnēnû - בְּצֹאנֵ֣נוּ) Refers to sheep and goats. Essential for sacrifices to the LORD and a primary source of wealth and livelihood. Keeping them would prevent full obedience to God's command to offer sacrifices.
- and with our herds: (Hebrew: ūvivqārēnû - וּבְבְקָרֵ֔נוּ) Refers to cattle and oxen. Also vital for sacrifice and sustaining the community. By demanding both flocks and herds, Moses ensures Israel retains all the means necessary for their economic independence and religious rites, breaking Pharaoh's economic leverage.
- we must go: (Hebrew: nēlēkh - נֵלֵךְ) A repetition of the initial verb, reinforcing the non-negotiable nature of the departure for its stated purpose.
- for we must hold a feast: (Hebrew: kî-ḥag lanū - כִּי־חַג לָ֥נוּ) The conjunction 'kî' introduces the reason for the demand. 'Ḥag' (feast) specifically refers to a pilgrimage festival (like Passover, Unleavened Bread, Weeks, or Booths), which required communal participation and animal sacrifices. This purpose demanded complete freedom and full resources.
- to the LORD: (Hebrew: laYahweh - לַיהוָ֖ה) The definite article and the sacred covenant name of God (Yahweh), emphasizing the exclusive object of their worship and the ultimate authority behind Moses' demand. It distinguishes the Israelites' God from the multitude of Egyptian deities and asserts His supremacy.
- "we will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters": This comprehensive enumeration of people, from the youngest to the oldest, and including both genders, underscores the collective nature of God's chosen people and His intention for the entire community to experience liberation and participate in worship. Pharaoh's attempt to exclude children represented an effort to sever the covenant line and control future generations.
- "with our flocks and with our herds": These represent not only their livelihood but also their means of worship (sacrifices) and their economic independence from Egypt. Pharaoh sought to retain these as leverage or tribute. The demand for all livestock highlights God's sovereignty over their material resources as well as their lives.
- "for we must hold a feast to the LORD": This phrase clearly states the purpose of the departure. The "feast" (חַג, ḥag) is not a casual event but a commanded pilgrimage festival involving corporate worship and sacrifice. It necessitated the presence of the entire community and all necessary offerings, thereby demanding total separation and commitment.
Commentary
Exodus 10:9 is a pivotal statement in the struggle for Israel's liberation, encapsulating God's non-negotiable demand for total and unadulterated worship. It reveals God's rejection of all partial obedience and compromise. Pharaoh consistently offered half-measures: worship in Egypt, worship nearby, or allowing only men to go. Each compromise was a strategic ploy to maintain control, disrupt Israel's identity as a distinct people, and undermine their devotion to the LORD. Moses' steadfast refusal reflects the Lord's absolute claim over His people – every individual and every possession. The inclusion of children signifies the safeguarding of the covenant lineage and the instruction of future generations in God's ways, preventing them from being assimilated into pagan culture. The inclusion of livestock ensures Israel's economic and ritual autonomy, necessary for fulfilling God's commands of sacrifice. This verse ultimately portrays the spiritual truth that God demands not merely a portion of our lives or resources, but full, comprehensive devotion, unhindered by worldly allegiances or limitations. It stands as a profound reminder that true worship and service to God cannot be compartmentalized or diluted for convenience or worldly gain.Bonus section
The insistence on taking "all" people and "all" livestock highlights a comprehensive judgment on Egypt's pantheon. Egyptian deities were often associated with specific domains: crops, fertility, animals, specific social groups. By demanding that every segment of Israelite life depart with their every means of worship and sustenance, God was asserting His superiority over all Egyptian gods who seemingly had jurisdiction over children, livestock, or the land. This absolute requirement served as a public dismantling of the pagan worldview. Pharaoh's incremental concessions demonstrate the Adversary's tactic: not always outright denial, but an attempt to dilute or limit one's obedience and worship, hoping for a "little sin" to maintain a foothold. This historical instance sets a theological precedent that separation unto God must be complete for authentic fellowship and worship to flourish.