Exodus 12 12

Exodus 12:12 kjv

For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

Exodus 12:12 nkjv

'For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

Exodus 12:12 niv

"On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.

Exodus 12:12 esv

For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.

Exodus 12:12 nlt

On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the LORD!

Exodus 12 verses

Exodus 12 12 Meaning

Exodus 12:12 proclaims the LORD God's direct, imminent, and absolute judgment upon all of Egypt – its inhabitants, its livestock, and most significantly, its myriad of deities. This verse outlines the climactic tenth plague, detailing God's intentional destruction of the firstborn (both human and animal) as a definitive demonstration of His supreme authority and unique power, directly challenging and overthrowing the false gods of Egypt. It underscores God's sovereignty over creation, life, death, and all spiritual powers, executed in divine justice.

Exodus 12 12 Context

Exodus 12:12 is positioned at the climax of the narrative concerning the Ten Plagues brought upon Egypt. This verse describes the decisive tenth plague, which directly leads to Israel's release from slavery. Prior plagues demonstrated YHWH's control over creation, life, and the natural order, progressively escalating in severity. Pharaoh's hardened heart, a recurring theme throughout the preceding chapters (Ex 7-11), prompts this ultimate act of divine judgment. This particular judgment targets not only the very source of Egyptian life and future (the firstborn) but also explicitly the foundational spiritual and religious system of Egypt, embodied in its countless deities. It immediately precedes the institution of the Passover feast, which serves as a perpetual memorial of this redemptive judgment and God's faithfulness to His covenant people.

Exodus 12 12 Word analysis

• "For I will pass through" (וְעָבַרְתִּי, vəʿavarti): The verb ʿavar (to pass through/over) here denotes an active, decisive movement of God into Egypt. It is distinct from pasach (to pass over/spare), which describes God's action regarding Israel's houses (Ex 12:13). Here, it signifies God's direct, personal, and inescapable involvement in executing judgment. God's presence guarantees the outcome.
• "the land of Egypt" (אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, eretz Miṣrayim): Emphasizes the universal scope of the judgment within the Egyptian dominion, leaving no part untouched.
• "this night": Highlights the specific, imminent, and unyielding timing of the judgment. It occurred at "midnight" (Ex 11:4), a time typically associated with deep sleep and vulnerability, emphasizing the unexpected and pervasive nature of the strike.
• "and will strike" (וְהִכֵּיתִי, vəhikkeiti): From the verb nakah (to strike, smite, kill). It signifies a forceful, fatal blow, indicating a destructive, targeted action of God.
• "all the firstborn" (כָּל בְּכוֹר, kol bəḵor): "Firstborn" (bəḵor) refers to the first issue of any womb. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the firstborn held a special, honored status as the strength of the family and heir. This judgment directly attacked the essence of Egyptian society, their legacy, and future. It was a precise reversal of Pharaoh's earlier decree to kill Israelite male firstborn (Ex 1:16, 22). Pharaoh himself, as a god-king, was considered the "firstborn" of the gods, making this plague a direct strike against his person and lineage.
• "in the land of Egypt": Reiteration for emphasis on the complete geographic scope of the plague.
• "both man and beast": Broadens the scope of judgment beyond humanity to all living creatures in Egypt. This element has multiple significances: it further illustrates the comprehensiveness of the divine judgment and specifically targets Egyptian animal worship (e.g., the bull god Apis, the cat goddess Bastet, the crocodile god Sobek, the cow goddess Hathor), demonstrating God's dominion over these supposed deities.
• "and against all the gods of Egypt" (וּבְכָל אֱלֹהֵי מִצְרַיִם, uvəḵol ʾelōhēi Miṣrayim): This phrase is profoundly significant. It clarifies that the physical plague on the firstborn was not merely a random act of destruction, but a direct, theological confrontation. The word elohim here refers to the false gods or deities worshipped by the Egyptians. Every plague could be seen as targeting a specific Egyptian deity or aspect of their religious system, but this one is explicitly stated as a judgment on all their gods. The killing of the firstborn undermined the very deities associated with fertility, protection, and the succession of kings (like Ra, Osiris, Hapi). Pharaoh, as the living embodiment of Horus and son of Ra, was himself a god; thus, the judgment was also upon his perceived divine status. This was YHWH proving His singular supremacy.
• "I will execute judgment" (אֶעֱשֶׂה שְׁפָטִים, eʿeseh shəfāṭîm): To "make judgments" indicates a formal, judicial, and authoritative act. This was not chaos, but divine justice being meted out against an oppressive nation and its powerless idols. It speaks to God's righteous rule and absolute authority to intervene and pass sentence.
• "I am the LORD" (אֲנִי יְהוָה, ʾanî YHWH): This concluding declaration is a quintessential formula in the book of Exodus and the Old Testament. It uses God's personal covenant name, YHWH (often translated as "LORD"). It serves as an emphatic assertion of His identity, self-existence, absolute power, and unchallengeable authority. In this context, it confirms that the preceding judgments are the work of the one true God, Israel's deliverer, setting Him apart from and above all Egyptian deities, solidifying His exclusive claim to deity and sovereign power.

Exodus 12 12 Bonus section

• Divine Tit-for-Tat: The judgment on Egypt's firstborn is a direct response and perfect justice for Pharaoh's decree to slay Israelite male children (Ex 1:16, 22), whom God calls "My firstborn son, Israel" (Ex 4:22). God's warning was "If you refuse to let [Israel] go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son" (Ex 4:23), and Ex 12:12 shows this warning coming to its horrifying culmination.
• Climax of Conflict: Each of the previous nine plagues undermined specific Egyptian deities or aspects of their cosmology. This tenth plague, however, targeted the entire pantheon, proving them all powerless. The killing of the firstborn, a society's very future and essence, attacked gods of procreation (e.g., Min, Isis, Hathor), protection, and even Ra (the sun god, from whom Pharaoh claimed divine descent). The dead firstborn symbolized dead gods.
• Exaltation of YHWH: This plague, and the Exodus as a whole, profoundly impacted Israel's understanding of God. It moved them from merely knowing about God to experiencing His mighty power and faithfulness firsthand, cementing His unique identity as the "I AM" (YHWH) who keeps His promises and executes justice. This event forms a foundational truth for their identity as a nation.
• Setting apart Israel: The contrast between judgment for Egypt and deliverance for Israel, symbolized by the blood on the doorposts (Ex 12:13), distinctly marks the special covenant relationship God had with His people, underscoring His holiness and selective mercy.

Exodus 12 12 Commentary

Exodus 12:12 articulates the theological core of the final plague. It’s more than just a historical event; it's a divine verdict. The verse reveals God's meticulousness, specifying the time, target, and intent of the judgment. The striking of the firstborn—both human and animal—was a direct assault on the economic, social, and spiritual fabric of Egypt. This action precisely fulfilled the warning given to Pharaoh at the outset of the plagues, creating a symmetrical judgment for Pharaoh's attempts to kill Israel's firstborn. Crucially, the judgment explicitly extended to "all the gods of Egypt." This highlights the polemic nature of the plagues, systematically dismantling the perceived power of Egyptian deities associated with nature, fertility, life, and royalty. YHWH was demonstrating His singular, unparalleled sovereignty over every aspect of existence, leaving no doubt about the impotence of false gods and establishing His own identity as the one true LORD. This decisive act not only secured Israel's release but permanently established YHWH's reputation as the supreme deliverer and judge to both the enslaved Israelites and the defeated Egyptians.