Exodus 12:38 kjv
And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
Exodus 12:38 nkjv
A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds?a great deal of livestock.
Exodus 12:38 niv
Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.
Exodus 12:38 esv
A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds.
Exodus 12:38 nlt
A rabble of non-Israelites went with them, along with great flocks and herds of livestock.
Exodus 12 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:3 | "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." | God's universal blessing through Abraham. |
| Gen 15:14 | "But I will bring judgment on the nation... Afterward they shall come out with great possessions." | Fulfillment of Abrahamic covenant; material wealth gained. |
| Lev 24:10-12 | "Now an Israelite woman's son, whose father was an Egyptian... the son of the Israelite woman blasphemed..." | Illustrates an offspring of the mixed multitude among Israel. |
| Num 11:4 | "Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, 'Oh that we had meat to eat!'" | The "rabble" (mixed multitude) initiates rebellion/murmuring. |
| Deut 23:7-8 | "You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother; you shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were a sojourner in his land." | Future instruction for welcoming certain non-Israelites. |
| Isa 2:2-4 | "All the nations shall stream to it... and many peoples shall come..." | Prophecy of nations flowing to Jerusalem in the last days. |
| Isa 56:3, 6-7 | "Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, 'The Lord will surely separate me... I will bring them to my holy mountain.'" | God's welcoming of foreigners who cleave to Him. |
| Zech 8:20-23 | "Peoples shall yet come... 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'" | Many peoples desiring to seek God through Judah. |
| Eph 2:11-13 | "Remember that you were at one time Gentiles... But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." | Gentiles (the far-off) brought near through Christ. |
| Eph 2:19 | "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." | Christian inclusion, negating distinction between Jew and Gentile. |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." | Unity and equality for all in Christ. |
| Rom 10:12 | "For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him." | God's indiscriminate grace to all who call upon Him. |
| Rev 7:9 | "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages..." | The multi-ethnic multitude worshiping God in eternity. |
| Jer 12:16 | "And if they will diligently learn the ways of my people... then they shall be built up in the midst of my people." | Foreign nations able to be integrated into God's people. |
| Isa 19:24-25 | "In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth..." | Egypt, once enemy, being blessed alongside Israel. |
| Ezra 6:21 | "The people of Israel who had returned from exile, and all who had joined them and separated themselves from the uncleanliness of the peoples..." | Illustrates later integration of non-Israelites post-exile. |
| Psa 22:27-28 | "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you." | Prophecy of universal worship. |
| John 10:16 | "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd." | Jesus gathering both Jews and Gentiles into one church. |
| Acts 2:39 | "For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." | The call of God extending to those "far off." |
| Acts 17:26-27 | "He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth... that they should seek God..." | All humanity shares a common origin and purpose of seeking God. |
| Col 3:11 | "Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all." | Christ transcending all previous human distinctions. |
Exodus 12 verses
Exodus 12 38 Meaning
Exodus 12:38 describes an immediate aftermath of the Passover and the departure from Egypt. It reveals that as the Israelites left, they were accompanied by a significant number of non-Israelites, referred to as a "mixed multitude," along with a vast amount of livestock. This verse highlights the universal scope of God's redemptive work, which, from its earliest manifestation, drew people beyond the bloodline of Abraham into His saving acts and journey.
Exodus 12 38 Context
Exodus 12:38 is positioned immediately after the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn, and the first Passover. Pharaoh and all of Egypt have been humbled, compelled to release Israel. This verse captures the chaos and urgency of the departure itself. Having secured the material wealth predicted in the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 15:14) from their Egyptian neighbors, the Israelites set out. The "mixed multitude" joining them signifies a crucial, albeit often overlooked, detail of this foundational moment in Israel's history, setting the stage for dynamics that would play out throughout their wilderness journey and beyond. It highlights God's power in drawing not only His covenant people but also others to Himself and out of bondage.
Exodus 12 38 Word analysis
- And much (וְגַם֙, wə-ḡam): The conjunction "and" links this group to the Israelites, suggesting they are a direct part of the exodus event. "Much" emphasizes the significant number of these individuals, indicating they were not a negligible few but a substantial cohort.
- mixed multitude (עֶ֣רֶב רַ֔ב, ‘erev rav):
- ’erev (עֶרֶב): From a root meaning "to mix" or "to mingle," it denotes a "mixed company," "rabble," or "promiscuous crowd." This term contrasts with "Israel," signifying they were not ethnically Israelite.
- rav (רַב): Meaning "great" or "numerous." Thus, a "great mixed multitude."
- Significance: This term is crucial. It points to individuals from various ethnic and social backgrounds—likely native Egyptians who had witnessed Yahweh's power, perhaps former slaves from other nations held in Egypt, or even Semitic peoples who had settled in Goshen alongside Israel. Their inclusion indicates a "proselyte-like" element at the very dawn of Israel's national identity, showing God's salvation extends beyond a specific lineage. This act was a powerful polemic against the ethnocentric, polytheistic religion of Egypt, demonstrating that Yahweh could draw adherents from the very heart of Egyptian society. Their departure challenged the Egyptian worldview that their gods were supreme and confined to their land.
- went up also with them (עָלָ֥ה אִתָּ֖ם גַּם־): "Went up" (עָלָה, ʿalāh) signifies a literal ascent from the lower land of Egypt to a higher destination, implying a spiritual elevation from slavery to freedom, but also their active participation. The "also with them" indicates their deliberate choice to join the Israelites, aligning their fate with the God of Israel.
- and flocks (וְצֹ֣אן, wə-ṣo’n): Refers to smaller livestock like sheep and goats. These were essential for sacrifice and sustenance.
- and herds (וּבָקָ֖ר, ū-ḇāqār): Refers to larger cattle.
- very much cattle (וּמִקְנֶ֖ה רָבָ֥ה מְאֹֽד, ū-miqneh rābāh mə’ōḏ):
- miqneh (מִקְנֶה): General term for possessions or property, usually referring to livestock.
- rābāh mə’ōḏ: "very great" or "exceedingly numerous." This emphasizes the sheer quantity of animals taken.
- Significance: This massive wealth in livestock was a direct fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham (Gen 15:14) that his descendants would "come out with great possessions." It served as an act of divine judgment and restitution from Egypt, demonstrating God's provision and power to dispossess a nation for the benefit of His people. The inclusion of this detail further validates the Exodus account as an act orchestrated by Yahweh, ensuring resources for their wilderness journey.
Exodus 12 38 Bonus section
The presence of the "mixed multitude" from the very start of the Exodus narrative signifies that the promise to Abraham, "in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Gen 12:3), began to find expression far earlier than often assumed. It shows God's intent for a multi-ethnic people, rather than an exclusively ethno-centric nation. This group's involvement means that the early formative experiences of Israel—the Red Sea crossing, the giving of the Law, the manna, and the wilderness journey—were witnessed and participated in by non-Israelites who made a decision to follow Yahweh. This concept of non-Israelites joining God's people due to divine revelation or the actions of Israel also serves as an early example of spiritual migration and conversion, laying a foundation for understanding the inclusion of Gentiles in later biblical history and ultimately in the New Covenant church.
Exodus 12 38 Commentary
Exodus 12:38 paints a vivid picture of the dramatic and universal implications of the Exodus event. The departure was not exclusively an Israelite affair; a diverse "mixed multitude"—people not of Israelite descent but profoundly impacted by God's judgment upon Egypt and His power revealed through the plagues—joined the redeemed. Their presence highlights several theological truths: firstly, that God's salvific work transcends ethnic boundaries from the outset. He demonstrates His power not only to save His chosen people but also to draw others to Himself who respond to His manifest greatness. This inclusion prefigures the New Covenant, where all nations are invited into the household of God through faith.
However, the "mixed multitude" was not uniformly positive. Later, they often acted as a source of discontent and idolatry, stirring up trouble among the Israelites (Num 11:4). This duality reveals a core truth: God extends His grace universally, but acceptance of that grace, especially without full commitment, can bring both blessing and challenge. Their participation signifies God's broad call and the beginning of His purpose to be known among the nations, a purpose that would culminate in Christ's global church. The immense wealth in livestock underscores God's sovereignty over earthly possessions and His faithfulness to His covenant promises, providing abundant resources for a people embarking on a divinely guided, perilous journey.