Exodus 12 30

Exodus 12:30 kjv

And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

Exodus 12:30 nkjv

So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

Exodus 12:30 niv

Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.

Exodus 12:30 esv

And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead.

Exodus 12:30 nlt

Pharaoh and all his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died.

Exodus 12 verses

Exodus 12 30 Meaning

Exodus 12:30 powerfully depicts the immediate aftermath of the tenth plague upon Egypt: the death of the firstborn. It highlights the profound and sudden distress that struck Pharaoh and every household in Egypt, revealing the comprehensive and devastating nature of the LORD's judgment. The universal lamentation across the land signifies the complete breakdown of order and the crushing reality of God's absolute power over life and death, culminating in Egypt's capitulation and the imminent liberation of Israel.

Exodus 12 30 Context

Exodus 12:30 describes the dramatic outcome of the tenth and final plague, prophesied since the earliest interactions between Moses and Pharaoh. Following nine increasingly severe plagues, Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, leading to this ultimate divine judgment. The verses immediately preceding (Ex 12:29) state the precise moment the plague occurred – "at midnight" – where the LORD struck down every firstborn in Egypt, from Pharaoh's heir to the firstborn of the lowest servant and even the firstborn of livestock. This verse, Ex 12:30, vividly portrays the immediate human response: chaos, terror, and immense grief. Historically, the firstborn son held immense cultural and religious significance in ancient Egypt, being the heir and representative of the family's strength and future, sometimes even deified or connected to the divine. The widespread death across all social strata, specifically impacting the firstborn, was a direct and devastating challenge to Egyptian pantheon and Pharaoh's supposed divine authority, compelling him and his people to finally concede Israel's freedom. This act culminates the direct confrontation between the LORD, the God of Israel, and the gods of Egypt, decisively proving the LORD's unrivaled power.

Exodus 12 30 Word analysis

• And Pharaoh (וַיָּקָם פַּרְעֹה - vayyāqām par‘ōh - and Pharaoh rose up):

  • Pharaoh: The absolute ruler of Egypt, often regarded as a divine figure, a living god. His rising "in the night" from sleep is a significant inversion of power; it shows him not in command, but in panic and distress, forced into action by God's judgment, rather than by his own will.
  • rose up: Denotes sudden, immediate action born of urgency and alarm. This is a dramatic shift from his previous hardened resistance, a literal and symbolic rising from a state of stubborn defiance.

• in the night (בַּלַּיְלָה - ballaylāh):

  • night: The typical time for rest and darkness is now filled with terror and the clear, sudden execution of divine judgment. This emphasizes the swift, unavoidable, and pervasive nature of the plague. It also signifies the absence of any warning for most Egyptians, making the terror even more immediate and unexpected.

• he and all his servants (הוּא וְכָל־עֲבָדָיו - hū’ wəḵāl-‘ăḇādāw):

  • He and all his servants: This emphasizes the widespread impact beginning at the very top of Egyptian society, including Pharaoh's closest advisors and officials. The judgment reached the ruling elite directly.

• and all Egypt (וְכָל־מִצְרַיִם - wəḵāl-miṣrāyim):

  • All Egypt: This phrase stresses the universality of the catastrophe. It was not localized; it struck every stratum of Egyptian society, demonstrating the comprehensive reach of God's hand, leaving no one unaffected, from the highest to the lowest.

• and there was a great cry in Egypt (וַתְּהִי צְעָקָה גְדֹלָה בְּמִצְרָיִם - wattəhī ṣə‘āqāh gəḏōlāh bəmiṣrāyim):

  • great cry: The Hebrew word tze'aqah often denotes a loud wail, a cry of deep distress, lamentation, or even a plea for justice. Here, it represents a nationwide howl of grief and agony. It contrasts starkly with Israel's prior "cry" from oppression that the LORD heard (Ex 2:23), indicating God's justice in hearing His people's cry and delivering their oppressors to their own cry of anguish.

• for there was not a house where there was not one dead (כִּי־אֵין בַּיִת אֲשֶׁר אֵין־שָׁם מֵת - kî-’ên bayit ’ăšer ’ên-šām mēṯ):

  • not a house where there was not one dead: This hyperbolic statement powerfully conveys the unimaginable scope and impact of the plague. While not necessarily meaning every single household literally had one dead person, it communicates that death pervaded the land so completely that practically no Egyptian family escaped mourning. It highlights the thoroughness of God's judgment and underscores the divine distinction between protected Israel and struck Egypt, whose homes were without exception visited by death unless saved by the Passover blood.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Pharaoh rose up in the night... and all Egypt; and there was a great cry in Egypt": This sequence reveals a complete reversal. The defiant ruler, accustomed to luxury and command, is thrown into panicked action during what should be a time of rest. His kingdom, typically strong and ordered, is engulfed in chaos and widespread lamentation, testifying to the immediate and devastating nature of God's judgment on the entire nation.
  • "for there was not a house where there was not one dead": This concluding phrase acts as a terrifying explanation for the "great cry." It underscores the comprehensive and personal impact of the plague, demonstrating the absolute reach of God's judgment into the very fabric of every Egyptian family unit, contrasting sharply with the Passover protection granted to the Israelites.

Exodus 12 30 Bonus section

• This verse starkly contrasts human stubbornness with divine omnipotence, showcasing God's ability to humble even the most powerful of human rulers and empires.
• The "great cry" highlights the shift in focus from material destruction (e.g., hailstones, locusts) to personal tragedy, hitting the very core of human identity and family lineage.
• The emphasis on "night" signifies divine swiftness and precision, the judgment not being prolonged but instantaneously and universally enacted.
• The fulfillment of this prophecy emphasizes the faithfulness of God's word (Ex 4:22-23; 11:4-6) and the consequence of resisting divine will.

Exodus 12 30 Commentary

Exodus 12:30 encapsulates the cataclysmic climax of the plagues against Egypt. Pharaoh, the seemingly unyielding and divine monarch, is rendered helpless, roused from his bed in utter dismay by a plague that touches his own house and sweeps through every household in his dominion. The sudden "great cry" reverberating throughout Egypt is a national lament, marking the complete humiliation of Egyptian power and the public defeat of their gods. This profound collective grief contrasts sharply with the earlier cry of Israel in their bondage, which the LORD had heard. Here, there is no one for Egypt to cry to for salvation. The descriptive force, "not a house where there was not one dead," though possibly hyperbole, powerfully conveys the unimaginable devastation, ensuring no family was untouched by loss unless they observed the Passover. This forced realization shattered Egypt's will, compelling Pharaoh to finally demand Israel's immediate departure. The verse serves as a powerful testament to the LORD's absolute sovereignty over all creation, nations, and even death itself, securing the ultimate deliverance of His people.