Exodus 9:28 kjv

Entreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.

Exodus 9:28 nkjv

Entreat the LORD, that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer."

Exodus 9:28 niv

Pray to the LORD, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don't have to stay any longer."

Exodus 9:28 esv

Plead with the LORD, for there has been enough of God's thunder and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer."

Exodus 9:28 nlt

Please beg the LORD to end this terrifying thunder and hail. We've had enough. I will let you go; you don't need to stay any longer."

Exodus 9 verses

Exodus 9 28 Meaning

Exodus 9:28 presents Pharaoh's desperate appeal to Moses during the devastating seventh plague of thunder and hail. He pleads for Moses to intercede with the LORD to cease the judgment, momentarily acknowledging the overwhelming power of Israel's God. In exchange, Pharaoh promises to finally release the Israelites, indicating a fleeting surrender under intense divine pressure and a desire for an immediate end to the suffering. This is a hallmark moment of his insincere, coerced 'repentance'.

Exodus 9 28 Context

Exodus 9:28 is nestled within the biblical account of the Plagues of Egypt, specifically detailing the seventh plague: the unprecedented and catastrophic hail, mingled with fire. This plague directly targeted the very foundations of Egypt's agriculture, its livestock, and its people, proving itself far beyond any natural occurrence and clearly beyond the control of any Egyptian deity. Egyptian polytheism revered gods associated with the sky (like Nut), air (Shu), and storms (Seth), and Pharaoh himself was considered a divine figure. This plague served as a direct polemic, decisively demonstrating the LORD's absolute sovereignty over all creation, exposing the utter impotence of Egypt's gods and Pharaoh himself. The verse marks a crucial point in the escalating divine judgment where Pharaoh's defiant will temporarily cracks under the immense, tangible weight of God's power, prompting a desperate but ultimately insincere request for intervention.

Exodus 9 28 Word analysis

• "Entreat" (Hebrew: עתר, `athar`): This verb signifies to pray, supplicate, or intercede, often with earnestness. Pharaoh, in his desperation, acknowledges Moses as one who has a direct, powerful connection with the LORD, implying that only through Moses's intervention can the suffering cease. It underscores Moses's divinely appointed role as an intermediary.
• "the LORD" (Hebrew: יהוה, YHWH): The use of God's covenant name is profoundly significant. Earlier, Pharaoh dismissively asked, "Who is the LORD?" (Ex 5:2). Here, under duress, he explicitly uses YHWH, the specific personal name of Israel's God. This marks a forced, temporary recognition of YHWH's unparalleled power and distinct identity over and above all Egyptian deities.
• "for there has been enough" (Hebrew: רב, rav): Literally meaning "much," "many," or "abundant," but in this context, it carries the force of "too much," or "sufficient" to the point of unbearable excess. It expresses Pharaoh's utter despair and overwhelming distress caused by the plague's destructive force. It's an admission that the plague has surpassed all tolerance.
• "of God's thunder" (Hebrew: קֹל אֱלֹהִים, qol 'Elohim): Literally, "voice of God." In biblical language, thunder is frequently described as the audible manifestation of God's majestic and awesome voice (e.g., Ps 29, Job 37). This emphasizes the divine, supernatural origin and the terrifying power of the storm, leaving no doubt that it was a direct act of the Almighty, striking fear and overwhelming dread into Pharaoh. This also serves as a direct challenge to Egyptian storm and sky deities.
• "and hail" (Hebrew: ברד, barad): This refers to the massive, destructive ice that accompanied the thunder and lightning, mixed with fire. It was a tangible, destructive force that laid waste to everything unprotected, making the plague distinct and undeniable evidence of divine judgment. Its severity (Ex 9:24) ensures Pharaoh's desperate plea.
• "and I will let you go" (Hebrew: שלח, shalach): "Let go" means to release, dismiss, or send away. This is Pharaoh's conditional promise, offered under extreme pressure, echoing previous half-measures and demonstrating his readiness to make a temporary concession to alleviate his immediate suffering. It's a pragmatic response, not a heartfelt repentance.
• "and you shall stay no longer" (Hebrew: לא אוֹסִיף לַעֲמֹד, lo' osif le-ʻāmoḏ): Literally "I will not add to stand." This emphatic phrasing underscores Pharaoh's desperate desire for the Israelites to leave immediately and permanently. It shows he is at a breaking point, willing to agree to their departure definitively, just to make the terrifying judgment cease. It implies a sense of finality to the detention.

• "Entreat the LORD": This phrase signals a remarkable shift in Pharaoh's posture, forced by divine judgment. From defiance and ignorance of the LORD, he now recognizes the specific God of Israel and seeks intercession through Moses, highlighting Moses's unique, authoritative role. It implies that only the LORD can stop this plague.
• "enough of God's thunder and hail": This conveys Pharaoh's overwhelmed state. The severity and destructive power of the combined phenomena (thunder, hail, fire) have brought him to a point of physical and psychological breaking, admitting the plague is an unbearable burden inflicted directly by "God's voice."
• "I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer": This promise signifies Pharaoh's desperate attempt at a bargain. It represents a temporary capitulation where he is willing to completely release the Israelites in exchange for immediate relief from the devastating plague, demonstrating a promise born out of duress rather than true change of heart or recognition of divine justice.

Exodus 9 28 Bonus section

• This verse follows Pharaoh's partial and deceitful admissions during previous plagues, confirming his established pattern of seeking temporary relief rather than genuine repentance or obedience to God's command (compare with Ex 8:8, 8:28).
• The severity of this plague (hail and fire simultaneously, devastating all but Goshen) served as a direct demonstration of God's unique power over nature, explicitly refuting the power of Egyptian deities like Nut (sky), Shu (atmosphere), Seth (storm), and even Ra (sun, though indirect through the fire with hail).
• Moses's action of "spreading out his hands to the LORD" (Ex 9:29), as requested by Pharaoh, visually represented the bridge between God and the suffering Egyptians, highlighting Moses's mediatory role that prefigures Christ.

Exodus 9 28 Commentary

Exodus 9:28 is a pivotal verse showcasing the relentless pattern of Pharaoh's heart hardening against God, even in the face of overwhelming divine judgment. His plea to Moses to "Entreat the LORD" signifies a coerced acknowledgment of YHWH's supremacy and Moses's unparalleled access to Him. Pharaoh's use of "LORD" (YHWH), previously unknown or dismissed by him, underscores that the plague was clearly identified with the God of Israel, not his own impotent deities. The declaration that there has been "enough" of "God's thunder and hail" reveals his breaking point; the suffering is unbearable, and he perceives no other way out than immediate cessation by Moses's intercession. His desperate promise, "I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer," is a momentary, pragmatic concession driven solely by self-preservation. This capitulation is temporary, as demonstrated by his subsequent actions, yet it fulfills God's purpose to display His power.