Exodus 8:29 kjv
And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.
Exodus 8:29 nkjv
Then Moses said, "Indeed I am going out from you, and I will entreat the LORD, that the swarms of flies may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. But let Pharaoh not deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD."
Exodus 8:29 niv
Moses answered, "As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD, and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people. Only let Pharaoh be sure that he does not act deceitfully again by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD."
Exodus 8:29 esv
Then Moses said, "Behold, I am going out from you and I will plead with the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh cheat again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD."
Exodus 8:29 nlt
Moses answered, "As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD, and tomorrow the swarms of flies will disappear from you and your officials and all your people. But I am warning you, Pharaoh, don't lie to us again and refuse to let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD."
Exodus 8 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 8:1 | The Lord said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh...Let My people go, that they may serve Me." | Purpose of Israel's freedom |
| Exo 8:8 | Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, "Entreat the Lord...I will let the people go." | Pharaoh's initial request for prayer |
| Exo 8:12 | So Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the Lord concerning the flies. | Moses' intercession begins |
| Exo 8:15 | But when Pharaoh saw that there was a relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen... | Pharaoh's immediate deceit post-relief |
| Exo 8:32 | But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and would not let the people go. | Pharaoh's continued obstinacy |
| Exo 9:28 | "Entreat the Lord...I will let you go..." | Pharaoh again asks for prayer, makes promise |
| Exo 9:34-35 | But when Pharaoh saw...he sinned yet more and hardened his heart... | Another instance of Pharaoh's deceit |
| Exo 10:1 | Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart... | God's role in Pharaoh's hardening |
| Exo 10:20 | But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart... | Further hardening by God |
| Exo 14:4 | "And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them..." | God hardening Pharaoh's heart for ultimate glory |
| Psa 78:12 | In the sight of their fathers He performed wonders... | God's mighty acts and plagues |
| Psa 78:36 | But they flattered Him with their mouth and lied to Him with their tongue. | Pattern of human deceit towards God |
| Psa 105:27-31 | He performed His signs among them...He spoke, and there came swarms of flies... | God's sovereignty over the plagues |
| Rom 9:17-18 | For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up..." | God's sovereign use of Pharaoh's resistance |
| 2 Sam 15:11 | ...but they did not know anything. | Deceit by pretense or ignorance |
| Psa 34:13 | Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. | Against deceit in speech |
| Prov 12:22 | Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal faithfully are His delight. | God hates deceit, values integrity |
| Isa 30:9 | For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear... | Warning against chronic deceit/rebellion |
| Jer 9:8 | Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully; one speaks peaceably... | Danger of deceitful speech |
| Mat 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters..." | Warning against double-mindedness or disloyalty |
| Jms 1:8 | He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. | On being double-minded (relevant to deceit) |
| Jms 4:7 | Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. | Contrast to resisting God (like Pharaoh) |
| Eph 4:25 | Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth... | New Testament command to abandon deceit |
| Tit 1:2 | In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began. | God's truthfulness contrasts human deceit |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would approach God... | Importance of sincere faith vs. deceitful promises |
Exodus 8 verses
Exodus 8 29 Meaning
Exodus 8:29 records Moses' direct response to Pharaoh's plea to remove the plague of flies. Moses agrees to immediately leave Pharaoh's presence and pray to the Lord for the departure of the flies by the next day, affirming God's precise control. However, he delivers a stern warning to Pharaoh, cautioning him against repeated deceit, specifically against withholding the Israelite people from their sacred obligation to sacrifice to the Lord. This verse highlights the tension between divine mercy and human resistance, and God's demand for integrity in response to His commands.
Exodus 8 29 Context
Exodus chapter 8 details the second series of plagues, specifically the third (gnats) and fourth (flies). Pharaoh, under pressure from the severe plague of flies (הֶעָרֹב - he'arov, meaning mixed swarms of insects), had initially summoned Moses and Aaron, requesting their intercession with the Lord to remove the plague and promising to allow the Israelites to depart to sacrifice. Moses’ response in verse 29 comes immediately after Pharaoh's desperate plea. The preceding verses (Exo 8:20-24) established a new dimension to the plagues: the swarms of flies specifically affected the Egyptians, leaving the land of Goshen (where Israelites lived) untouched, demonstrating a clear distinction God made between His people and Pharaoh's. This divine separation amplified the plague's severity and confirmed its miraculous origin, putting greater onus on Pharaoh's subsequent promise. Pharaoh’s earlier promises to let the people go had been immediately broken after the relief from the frogs and gnats. Moses' warning here anticipates and confronts this recurring pattern of deceit and hardening of heart, which becomes a central theme throughout the plague narrative.
Exodus 8 29 Word analysis
- "Behold" (הִנֵּה - hinneh): This particle introduces a solemn or significant declaration, drawing immediate attention to what Moses is about to say. It implies a sense of certainty and consequence to his following actions and words.
- "I am going out from you" (אֲנִי יוֹצֵא מֵעִמָּךְ - ani yotse me'immach): This indicates Moses' prompt departure from Pharaoh's presence, highlighting his intention to fulfill his part of the agreement immediately. It underscores Moses' position as God's representative, not Pharoah's servant, demonstrating authority in his movements.
- "and I will entreat the Lord" (וְהַעְתַּרְתִּי אֶל-יְהוָה - v'ha'atartiy el-YHWH): The Hebrew verb for "entreat," `ātar (עָתַר), implies earnest, fervent prayer or supplication. It shows Moses' role as an intercessor and emphasizes that the relief comes not from Pharaoh's own gods or power, but solely from YHWH, the God of Israel.
- "that the swarms of flies" (הֶעָרֹב - he'arov): This refers to the specific fourth plague. The Hebrew term can denote a mixture of troublesome insects or possibly biting flies, distinguishing this plague from earlier insect infestations like gnats (Exo 8:16-17). The focus is on the plague that affects Pharaoh's kingdom directly.
- "may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people": This specifies the scope of the plague's removal, covering everyone and every aspect of Pharaoh's realm. It is a comprehensive removal, indicating divine control over every detail of creation.
- "tomorrow" (מָחָר - machar): The specified time for the plague's removal is critical. This precise timing rules out any natural occurrence or coincidence, undeniably demonstrating God's direct and immediate control over His creation and His judgments. It serves as irrefutable proof of God's power and Moses' authenticity as His messenger.
- "But let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully again" (רַק אַל-יֹסֵף פַּרְעֹה הָתֵל - raq al-yosef Par'oh hatel): This is a direct, emphatic warning. The phrase "deal deceitfully" (from הָתֵל - hatel) means to mock, trifle with, delude, or act perfidiously. It points to Pharaoh's pattern of making promises and then breaking them (e.g., after the frog plague in Exo 8:15). This is not just a warning against breaking a human agreement, but against mocking or deceiving the living God Himself and His explicit command. "Again" (yosef - יֹסֵף, implying 'add, continue to do') confirms this pattern.
- "by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord" (לְבִלְתִּי שַׁלַּח אֶת-הָעָם לִזְבֹּחַ לַיהוָה - levilti shallach et-ha'am lizbo'ach la'YHWH): This clearly states the ultimate demand from God and the core reason for Pharaoh's deception. The Israelites' purpose for leaving is divine worship. Pharaoh's continued refusal is an affront to YHWH's authority and a denial of His people's right and obligation to worship Him.
Exodus 8 29 Bonus section
The Hebrew word `arov (עָרֹב), often translated as "swarms of flies," has been a subject of scholarly discussion. Some suggest it refers specifically to dog-flies or biting insects that caused severe annoyance and potential disease. Its widespread impact, distinct from previous localized plagues, highlighted God's targeting of Egyptian society comprehensively, including humans and animals (Exo 8:21). The phrase "deal deceitfully" (hatel) in Hebrew can carry a nuance of "trifle with" or "make sport of." This indicates that Pharaoh's repeated broken promises were seen as not just dishonesty but a direct affront and mockery towards YHWH and His clear commands. It's a profound insult to God's holiness and power. This cycle of warning, plague, Pharaoh's promise, Moses' intercession, plague removal, and Pharaoh's relapse (hardening his heart) is central to understanding the escalating divine judgment and God's glory revealed through Pharaoh's unyielding resistance. The specific time "tomorrow" is consistently given as a marker of God's sovereign control in several plagues, reinforcing the miraculous nature and ruling out natural explanation.
Exodus 8 29 Commentary
Exodus 8:29 serves as a pivotal moment in the plague narrative, revealing Moses' authority and prophetic insight, while exposing Pharaoh's consistent duplicity. Moses’ promise to pray, even for an adversary who has repeatedly broken promises, demonstrates God's persistent grace and patience, offering Pharaoh yet another opportunity for repentance. The precision of "tomorrow" underscores the undeniable supernatural origin of the plagues and their removal, allowing no room for attributing them to chance or Egyptian deities.
The central warning to Pharaoh against "dealing deceitfully again" highlights a core theme: God’s demand for integrity. Pharaoh's pattern of broken promises isn't merely a political maneuver; it's depicted as a serious act of mocking God’s will. This foretells Pharaoh’s continued stubbornness and hardening, ultimately leading to greater judgment. The verse thus sets the stage for the escalating confrontation, emphasizing that the battle is fundamentally over YHWH's sovereign right to His people's worship and Pharaoh's will to resist divine authority.