Exodus 11:4 kjv
And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
Exodus 11:4 nkjv
Then Moses said, "Thus says the LORD: 'About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt;
Exodus 11:4 niv
So Moses said, "This is what the LORD says: 'About midnight I will go throughout Egypt.
Exodus 11:4 esv
So Moses said, "Thus says the LORD: 'About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt,
Exodus 11:4 nlt
Moses had announced to Pharaoh, "This is what the LORD says: At midnight tonight I will pass through the heart of Egypt.
Exodus 11 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 4:22-23 | "Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son...Let my son go..." | God's initial declaration of Israel as His "firstborn." |
| Exo 12:12 | "For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and will strike all the firstborn..." | Fulfillment of the prophecy, detailing God's execution of the judgment. |
| Exo 12:29-30 | "At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt..." | The precise fulfillment of "about midnight" and the result. |
| Exo 13:15 | "When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn..." | Recounts the reason for the death of the firstborn – Pharaoh's hardened heart. |
| Psa 78:51 | "He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of all their strength..." | A historical recounting of the plague's devastating impact. |
| Psa 105:36 | "He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength." | Another Psalm recalling God's powerful judgment in Egypt. |
| Isa 19:1 | "An oracle concerning Egypt...the Lord rides on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt..." | Foreshadows future divine judgment on Egypt. |
| Jer 32:20-21 | "...you have done signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, to this day...you brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders..." | Acknowledges the miraculous acts of God in Egypt. |
| Joel 2:1-2 | "A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness!..." | Prophetic language for God's impending, pervasive judgment. |
| Zec 14:1-2 | "A day of the Lord is coming...I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle..." | Eschatological judgment parallels, divine invasion and devastation. |
| Rom 9:17 | "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.'" | Theological explanation of God's sovereignty over Pharaoh and the plagues. |
| Heb 11:28 | "By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them." | Highlights faith in Moses' actions in preparation for this plague. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession..." | Reflects the special status God gave Israel through this deliverance. |
| Rev 11:13 | "...and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven." | Response to God's judgments in a different context, but parallels. |
| Rev 16:1-21 | Descriptions of the Bowls of Wrath | Later divine judgments showcasing God's direct agency and specific targets. |
| 1 Chr 16:12 | "Remember the wondrous works that he has done..." | Encouragement to recall God's mighty acts, including the plagues. |
| Exo 7:3-5 | "But I will harden Pharaoh's heart...then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord..." | God's purpose behind the plagues – to make His identity known. |
| Gen 7:21 | "And all flesh died that moved on the earth...every person." | Parallel to universal destruction (Noahic flood). |
| Num 3:13 | "For all the firstborn are Mine; on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt..." | Establishes the consecration of firstborn to God due to this event. |
| Deu 6:21 | "Then you shall say to your son, 'We were slaves in Pharaoh's Egypt, and the Lord brought us out...'" | The importance of remembering the deliverance rooted in the plagues. |
| Judg 4:21 | "...and Sisera sank down and died." | A different type of judgment and death in the night. |
Exodus 11 verses
Exodus 11 4 Meaning
Exodus 11:4 announces the tenth and final plague to Pharaoh, detailing God's impending act of judgment. Moses, speaking by divine revelation, declares that around midnight, God Himself will "go out" and pass through the land of Egypt. This divine action will result in the death of every firstborn in the land, from the firstborn of Pharaoh on his throne to the firstborn of the lowest servant and even the firstborn of livestock. This statement underscores God's absolute sovereignty over life and death and sets the stage for Israel's deliverance.Exodus 11 4 Context
Exodus chapter 11 concludes the cycle of ten plagues, acting as a pivotal transition between the prolonged divine judgments and Israel's dramatic exodus. Leading up to this verse, Pharaoh has persistently refused to release Israel despite numerous escalating plagues, each demonstrating the Lord's power over specific aspects of Egyptian life and, implicitly, over specific Egyptian deities. Moses has just delivered the final, climactic warning about the death of the firstborn. The verse occurs directly after Pharaoh's outburst of anger, threatening Moses with death if he sees his face again. It represents God's unchangeable decree, declared with absolute certainty by Moses. The historical context is ancient Egypt, where the firstborn held significant status and property rights, and various gods (like Ptah, the creator god, or various fertility deities) were revered as givers of life and protection. This final plague, targeting the most prized individuals and affecting the entire nation (human and animal), served as a direct polemic against Pharaoh himself (often seen as a divine figure, the son of Ra) and the very essence of Egyptian life and religion, asserting the Lord's absolute supremacy over all.Exodus 11 4 Word analysis
And Moses said, "Thus says the Lord: (וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, Vayo'mer Moshe Koh amar Adonai)
- וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה (Vayo'mer Moshe, "And Moses said"): Highlights Moses' role as the divine messenger. His words are not his own, but God's.
- כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה (Koh amar Adonai, "Thus says the Lord"): A powerful formula signaling an authoritative, direct word from God. It asserts the divine origin and incontrovertible truth of the following statement. It bypasses any human authority or wisdom, making the message an unchallengeable divine decree.
'About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt, (כַּחֲצוֹת הַלַּיְלָה אֲנִי יֹצֵא בְּתוֹךְ מִצְרָיִם, ka-chatzot ha-lailah ani yotzei b'tokh Mitzraim)
- כַּחֲצוֹת הַלַּיְלָה (ka-chatzot ha-lailah, "about midnight"): The prefix ka- indicates approximation, "about" or "at." This specific, yet slightly flexible, timing adds dramatic tension and a sense of impending certainty. Midnight is often associated with the deep of night, a time of vulnerability and symbolic death, making the judgment more profound. It points to an event that is precise but also within God's chosen window.
- אֲנִי יֹצֵא (ani yotzei, "I Myself go out"): The first-person pronoun "I" (אָנֹכִי, anochi) emphatically signifies God's direct and personal agency. It's not through an intermediary like an angel (though the "destroyer" is mentioned in Exo 12), but the Lord Himself performing this act of judgment. This underscores His ultimate power and righteous involvement.
- בְּתוֹךְ מִצְרָיִם (b'tokh Mitzraim, "into the midst of Egypt"): Signifies the pervasiveness of the judgment. It will affect the entire nation, leaving no place untouched, no family exempt unless specifically marked by God.
and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, (וּמֵת כָּל בְּכוֹר בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, u'met kol b'khor b'eretz Mitzrayim)
- וּמֵת (u'met, "and shall die"): A simple, direct, and unsparing verb. No escape from this fate for the doomed firstborn.
- כָּל בְּכוֹר (kol b'khor, "every firstborn"): Kol means "all" or "every," indicating the universality of the judgment. B'khor refers to the "firstborn." In ancient cultures, the firstborn was considered the strength and inheritance of the family, particularly significant in terms of succession and societal standing.
from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. (מִבְּכוֹר פַּרְעֹה הַיֹּשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאוֹ עַד בְּכוֹר הַשִּׁפְחָה אֲשֶׁר עַל הָרֵחַיִם וְכֹל בְּכוֹר בְּהֵמָה, mi'b'khor Par'oh hayoshev al kis'o ad b'khor ha'shifcha asher al ha'reichayim v'chol b'khor b'hemah)
- מִבְּכוֹר פַּרְעֹה הַיֹּשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאוֹ (mi'b'khor Par'oh hayoshev al kis'o, "from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne"): Emphasizes the highest in society will be affected, showcasing the complete reach of God's judgment over the ultimate authority in Egypt. Pharaoh himself, seen as divine, is not exempt from the impact of this judgment.
- עַד בְּכוֹר הַשִּׁפְחָה אֲשֶׁר עַל הָרֵחַיִם (ad b'khor ha'shifcha asher al ha'reichayim, "even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill"): Depicts the lowest social standing, signifying that the judgment is indiscriminate in its human victims, extending to every strata of Egyptian society. The handmill represents laborious and humble work, further highlighting the extent of the plague's reach.
- וְכֹל בְּכוֹר בְּהֵמָה (v'chol b'khor b'hemah, "and all the firstborn of the cattle"): This inclusion reinforces the comprehensiveness of the judgment, showing God's dominion over all creation, not just humanity. It also directly targeted a significant part of Egypt's wealth and agricultural sustenance, as animals were crucial for food, labor, and often, worship.
Words-group Analysis:
- "Thus says the Lord...I will go out into the midst of Egypt": This phrase highlights God's ultimate authority and personal involvement in judgment. It's a declaration of divine decree that sets the scene for a unique and inescapable act of judgment.
- "every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh...to the firstborn of the slave girl...and all the firstborn of the cattle": This emphasizes the absolute comprehensiveness and indiscriminating nature of the impending judgment. It underscores God's total dominion over all aspects of Egyptian society and economy, demonstrating that no one, regardless of status or wealth, is beyond His reach or the effects of His judgment.