Exodus 12 29

Exodus 12:29 kjv

And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

Exodus 12:29 nkjv

And it came to pass at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock.

Exodus 12:29 niv

At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well.

Exodus 12:29 esv

At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock.

Exodus 12:29 nlt

And that night at midnight, the LORD struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed.

Exodus 12 verses

Exodus 12 29 Meaning

This verse records the climactic tenth plague, where at a specific divine moment, the LORD sovereignly struck down every firstborn son and firstborn of livestock across Egypt. This act of judgment demonstrated Yahweh's absolute power over life and death, targeting all levels of Egyptian society from the royal heir to the lowest prisoner, and even their economic and religious pillars through their animals. It was a direct fulfillment of God's declared intent and the definitive act that compelled Pharaoh to release Israel, signifying God's deliverance and justice.

Exodus 12 29 Context

Exodus 12:29 stands as the devastating culmination of God's series of ten plagues upon Egypt. It is positioned immediately following the detailed instructions for the Passover sacrifice and the marking of Israelite homes with blood (Exod 12:1-28), which ensured their divine protection. This verse directly precedes Pharaoh's complete surrender and the Israelites' hurried departure from Egypt (Exod 12:30-34). Historically and culturally, the firstborn held immense significance in ancient Near Eastern societies, representing the prime strength, continuity of lineage, and heir to power and inheritance. For Egypt, striking the firstborn, especially the Pharaoh's heir, was an assault on the very foundation of their society, succession, and divine kingship. The act also served as a direct polemic against numerous Egyptian deities associated with creation, fertility, and life, such as Ra (often considered the first god), Min (god of procreation and fertility), and various goddesses of childbirth. By executing this universal judgment, Yahweh explicitly demonstrated His supreme sovereignty over all aspects of life and death, over all human authority, and over every claimed deity of Egypt, proving that He alone is God.

Exodus 12 29 Word analysis

• At midnight (חֲצֹ֣י הַלָּ֔יְלָה - chatsi ha'laila): This specifies the exact, predetermined timing of God's judgment. It implies both a sudden, inescapable terror in the stillness of the night and a fulfillment of God's word ("about midnight" in Exod 11:4). It emphasizes divine precision and the complete control Yahweh has over events, shattering the illusion of human control.
• the LORD (יְהוָ֑ה - Yahweh): Identifies the active agent. This is the personal covenant God of Israel, not an impersonal force. It highlights His unique and unmatched power as the one true God, distinct from any Egyptian deity. This specific divine name emphasizes His absolute self-existence and sovereign will.
• struck down (הִכָּ֞ה - hikkah): From the root נָכָה (nakah), meaning "to strike, smite, kill, wound." This powerful verb denotes a decisive, forceful, and fatal blow, indicating a direct, intentional act of judgment by God Himself. It conveys completeness and finality.
• all (כָּל־ - kol): This pervasive Hebrew word signifies absolute totality and universality. Its repeated use emphasizes the sweeping, comprehensive nature of the judgment, leaving no one untouched across the specified categories.
• the firstborn (בְּכ֜וֹר - bekhor): Refers to the firstborn of any birth, often carrying a connotation of strength, pre-eminence, and the heir. In ancient cultures, the firstborn typically held special status and inheritance rights. This attack was against the "strength" and future of Egypt, as paralleled in Psa 78:51.
• in Egypt (בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם - b’eretz Mitzrayim): Defines the geographical scope of the judgment, specifically targeting the nation that oppressed Israel. It delineates the boundary of divine judgment, which spares Israel within that land.
• from... to: This phrase constructs a comprehensive range, indicating no exceptions to the judgment across societal strata.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon: This phrase vividly describes the spectrum of the judgment. It spans the highest echelons of society (Pharaoh's heir, destined for ultimate power, literally "the one sitting on his throne" - ישֵׁב עַל כִּסְאֹו - yoshev al kis'o) to the absolute lowest, most vulnerable, and forgotten (the "captive" - though the Hebrew שפחה (shiphkhah) often refers to a female slave, the context here with "dungeon" בְּבֵ֣ית הַבּ֔וֹר - b'veit ha'bor which literally means "in the house of the pit/dungeon", strongly indicates a male or female prisoner/slave). This stark contrast underscores God's impartial justice and the inescapability of His wrath, proving no rank or status offered protection outside of the covenant sign. It also served to utterly humble the self-exalting power of Pharaoh and Egypt.
• and all the firstborn of the livestock (וְכֹ֖ל בְּכֹ֥ור בְּהֵמָֽה - v’khol b’khor behemah): This inclusion shows the judgment extended beyond humans, impacting Egypt's economic stability (livestock as essential assets) and also striking a blow against various animal-headed or animal-associated Egyptian deities (e.g., the bull god Apis, ram-headed god Khnum, crocodile god Sobek). This demonstrated Yahweh's dominion over all creation and revealed the impotence of the false gods worshiped in Egypt. The comprehensive nature signified a complete collapse of Egyptian resilience.

Exodus 12 29 Bonus section

• The severity of this plague, compared to previous ones which were mostly nuisance or destruction, was death, the ultimate consequence for rebellion against God. This highlighted the sanctity of life in God's eyes and the gravity of holding His chosen people in bondage.
• The selective nature of the judgment (passing over Israelite homes) further magnified Yahweh's discriminatory power, proving His ability to protect His covenant people while bringing calamity upon their enemies. It served to separate Israel from Egypt definitively, not just physically but spiritually.
• This plague also set the stage for the redemption price and concept of substitution. Israel's firstborn were spared by the blood of a lamb, a profound picture that later points to Christ, the true Passover Lamb. This divine transaction establishes the principle that deliverance from wrath comes through an appointed substitute.
• The "great cry" throughout Egypt (Exod 12:30) is the ultimate sound of despair, a stark contrast to the Passover quiet within Israelite homes. This emphasizes the magnitude of the loss and the fear instilled by God's judgment, serving as a powerful deterrent against future defiance of God.
• This specific judgment was God’s response to Pharaoh hardening his heart multiple times against Yahweh's clear commands, culminating in God's demonstration that He alone has ultimate authority over life and death.

Exodus 12 29 Commentary

Exodus 12:29 marks the ultimate demonstration of God's power over human stubbornness and false gods. The plague of the firstborn was not random devastation, but a targeted, decisive judgment rooted in divine justice—a direct response to Pharaoh's refusal to release God's "firstborn" Israel (Exod 4:22-23). The precision of "at midnight" highlights God's sovereignty and meticulous execution of His plan, fulfilling earlier prophecies. The judgment's comprehensive sweep—from the most powerful to the most vulnerable in human society, and encompassing their animals—underscores the universal reach of God's dominion and the utter devastation of a nation defying Him. This plague broke the spiritual and physical chains on Israel, leading directly to the Exodus and cementing the foundational truth for Israel: Yahweh alone is God, powerful to judge and to deliver. The event laid the groundwork for Israel's unique status as God's redeemed people and established the memorial of Passover as a perpetual reminder of His saving work through the sacrifice of the unblemished lamb. It shows that ultimate salvation from judgment requires divine intervention and a substitutionary act, foreshadowing the sacrifice of the ultimate "Firstborn" Lamb, Christ, for the world's redemption.