Exodus 12 31

Exodus 12:31 kjv

And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.

Exodus 12:31 nkjv

Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, "Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the LORD as you have said.

Exodus 12:31 niv

During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested.

Exodus 12:31 esv

Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, "Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said.

Exodus 12:31 nlt

Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron during the night. "Get out!" he ordered. "Leave my people ? and take the rest of the Israelites with you! Go and worship the LORD as you have requested.

Exodus 12 verses

Exodus 12 31 Meaning

Exodus 12:31 narrates the immediate and urgent summons by Pharaoh to Moses and Aaron, compelling them to depart from Egypt with all the people of Israel, allowing them to fulfill their declared purpose of serving the Lord. This command came abruptly at night, following the devastating Tenth Plague which took the life of every firstborn in Egypt, including Pharaoh’s own. It signifies a profound shift from Pharaoh's adamant refusal to a desperate capitulation, marking the divine victory and the commencement of Israel's long-awaited exodus from bondage.

Exodus 12 31 Context

Exodus 12:31 stands as the climactic point of God's confrontation with Pharaoh and the Egyptian pantheon through the ten plagues. Prior to this verse, Pharaoh had progressively hardened his heart against Yahweh's repeated command to "Let my people go" (Exod 5:1). Each of the preceding nine plagues, escalating in severity, was a demonstration of Yahweh's supreme power over Egyptian deities associated with nature and life itself. The Passover instructions and the ritual's precise timing immediately precede this verse, emphasizing divine protection for Israel amidst judgment. The verse directly follows the most devastating and personal plague—the death of every firstborn in Egypt (Exod 12:29-30)—a blow so profound that it utterly broke Pharaoh's defiance and resistance, forcing his hand. This dramatic nocturnal expulsion underscores the urgency and finality of God's act of liberation, moving from Pharaoh's arrogant refusal to his complete surrender under the weight of divine judgment.

Exodus 12 31 Word analysis

• Then he called (וַיִּקְרָא - vayyiqra') Moses and Aaron by night (לַיְלָה - laylah):

  • וַיִּקְרָא (vayyiqra'): The Hebrew vav consecutive imperfect creates a strong narrative flow, emphasizing immediacy and consequence. It means "and he called" or "then he called." This is a stark reversal of Pharaoh's earlier indifference. The calling is sudden and imperative, revealing the terror that has gripped Pharaoh's heart. It highlights Pharaoh's helplessness and total dependence on Moses and Aaron to stop the ongoing calamity.
  • לַיְלָה (laylah): "By night." This emphasizes the extreme urgency and panic of Pharaoh. The plague had just struck at "midnight" (Exod 12:29), meaning Pharaoh acted without delay, unable to wait for morning. This unexpected nighttime summons underscores the overwhelming terror Pharaoh and his court felt. It also contrasts with Moses' earlier demand to go out to worship in the "wilderness" which could be taken by day (Exod 3:18).

• 'Rise up (קוּמוּ - qūmū), go out (צְאוּ - tzē'ū) from among my people:

  • קוּמוּ (qūmū): An imperative verb, "Rise up!" or "Get up!" It conveys extreme urgency and command for immediate action. Pharaoh, who earlier tried to restrict Israel's movements and time, is now practically driving them out.
  • צְאוּ (tzē'ū): Another imperative verb, "Go out!" or "Depart!" This is the culmination of Yahweh's repeated demand to "Let My people go" throughout the plague narrative. Pharaoh is no longer negotiating; he is pleading for their swift departure. This fulfills Yahweh’s initial promise to Abraham that his descendants would come out with great possessions (Gen 15:14).
  • מִתּוֹךְ עַמִּי (mittôḵ 'ammî): "From among my people." This specifies the complete separation and expulsion of Israel from Egypt. It implies Pharaoh’s fear that Israel's continued presence, even for a moment, would prolong or re-ignite divine judgment. It marks a clear division between God's chosen people and the people of Egypt.

• both you and the people of Israel:

  • Pharaoh, recognizing the leadership, specifically addresses Moses and Aaron, then includes the entire nation. This acknowledges the distinct identity of the "people of Israel" whom he had earlier treated merely as slaves and his property. This confirms their national and ethnic unity under God.

• and go, serve (וּלְכוּ עִבְדוּ - ūlḵū 'iḇḏū) the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH), as you have said!':

  • וּלְכוּ עִבְדוּ (ūlḵū 'iḇḏū): A compound imperative, "and go, serve!" Pharaoh grants full permission for the very purpose Moses had articulated from the beginning (Exod 3:18, 5:1, 7:16, etc.). This demonstrates his complete surrender and acceptance of Israel's divine purpose. The service to YHWH is the core reason for their departure. It is not freedom for freedom's sake, but freedom for the sake of worship and covenant relationship with God.
  • יְהוָה (YHWH): The covenant name of God. Pharaoh explicitly refers to Israel's God by His revealed name, acknowledging His sovereignty and the authority of Moses and Aaron's message, which he had so long resisted (Exod 5:2: "Who is the LORD...?"). This signifies the triumph of Yahweh's name over all Egyptian gods and Pharaoh himself.
  • כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתֶּם (ka'ăšer dibbartem): "As you have said." This phrase is pivotal. Pharaoh is not offering terms; he is fulfilling the exact terms dictated by Moses. This is a complete concession and vindication of Moses' persistent demands and the truth of his prophetic words. Pharaoh is forced to admit that everything Moses had declared would happen has indeed come to pass, and now he yields to Moses' every stated condition.

Exodus 12 31 Bonus section

• This verse signifies the turning point from a struggle for freedom to the reality of the process of freedom, the Exodus itself.
• Pharaoh's desperate plea for Moses and Aaron to bless him (Exod 12:32, though not directly in v.31) underscores his complete humiliation and acknowledgement of Yahweh's power over him.
• The immediate, nocturnal departure, prompted by terror, illustrates that human resistance to divine will ultimately yields to God's unfathomable power and predetermined plan.
• The phrase "as you have said" emphasizes God's faithfulness to His Word through His servant Moses, validating divine promises over human arrogance and unbelief.
• This act of expulsion is both an act of judgment for Egypt and a monumental act of redemption for Israel, initiating their journey towards the Promised Land.

Exodus 12 31 Commentary

Exodus 12:31 marks the profound, desperate culmination of divine judgment on Egypt and the victorious liberation of Israel. Pharaoh's abrupt, desperate command by night signifies total surrender. From the defiance of "Who is the Lord?" (Exod 5:2), he now implores Moses and Aaron to take all of Israel, including their herds and possessions (v.32), and critically, to go and serve Yahweh—even requesting a blessing from them. This absolute capitulation underscores Yahweh's triumph over Pharaoh and all Egyptian deities. The emphasis on "go, serve the Lord, as you have said" highlights that Israel's freedom was always purposeful: for worship and covenant relationship with God. This divine intervention establishes the foundation of Israel as a consecrated nation, destined to serve their deliverer. Practically, it teaches that God’s steadfast will cannot be ultimately resisted, and that true freedom is found in the divinely purposed service to Him.