A Final Plague Threatened
Exodus 11:1-10
Exo.11.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עוד: ADV
- נגע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- אביא: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- על: PREP
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אחרי: PREP
- כן: ADV
- ישלח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- מזה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כשלחו: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,_,pl
- כלה: ADV
- גרש: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- יגרש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- מזה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 12:29-32 (structural): Direct narrative continuation: describes the final plague (death of the firstborn) and Pharaoh's immediate expulsion of Israel—the event promised in Exod 11:1.
- Exodus 3:19-20 (verbal): Earlier promise that God will stretch out His hand and bring judgments on Egypt so Pharaoh will let Israel go—echoes the language and purpose of the forthcoming plague in Exod 11:1.
- Exodus 4:21 (thematic): God warns Moses that He will harden Pharaoh's heart so he will not let the people go—connects to the dynamic of resistance and eventual release described in Exod 11:1.
- Psalm 105:29-36 (thematic): A poetical retelling of the plagues on Egypt and Israel’s release; recalls the final strike and Pharaoh’s yielding as recounted in Exod 11:1–12.
Alternative generated candidates
- And YHWH said to Moses, 'Yet one more plague I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; after that he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out from here altogether.'
- And YHWH said to Moses, 'One more plague will I bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; after that he will send you from here; when he sends, he will surely drive you out from here altogether.'
Exo.11.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נא: PART
- באזני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cstr
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וישאלו: VERB,qal,imf,3,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מאת: PREP
- רעהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- ואשה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מאת: PREP
- רעותה: NOUN,f,sg,cstr,3,f,sg
- כלי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- כסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכלי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- זהב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exod.3:21-22 (verbal): Nearly identical instruction earlier in the narrative: God promises favor with the Egyptians so that 'every woman shall ask of her neighbor… jewels of silver, jewels of gold'—same wording and intent as Exod 11:2.
- Exod.12:35-36 (quotation): Narrative fulfillment of the instruction: the Israelites 'borrowed' and plundered the Egyptians, taking silver, gold, and garments as they departed Egypt.
- Ps.105:37 (thematic): Poetic retelling of the Exodus that echoes the motif of Israel leaving Egypt 'with silver and gold'—a liturgical/thematic reflection on the same event described in Exod 11:2.
- Gen.15:14 (allusion): God's earlier promise to Abraham that his descendants would be delivered 'and shall come out with great substance' provides a theological backdrop and prophetic anticipation of the Israelites leaving Egypt with valuables.
Alternative generated candidates
- Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let each man ask from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor articles of silver and articles of gold.
- Speak, please, in the ears of the people, and let each man ask from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor articles of silver and articles of gold.
Exo.11.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- חן: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- גם: ADV
- האיש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גדול: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- מאד: ADV
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- בעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- עבדי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ובעיני: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cstr
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Exodus 12:36 (verbal): Repeats the formula 'the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians' and continues the narrative of Israel receiving wealth and esteem as they depart Egypt.
- Exodus 3:21 (allusion): God's earlier promise that He would 'give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians' anticipates the fulfillment described in Exod 11:3; linguistic and thematic continuity in the deliverance motif.
- Genesis 39:21-23 (thematic): Joseph likewise 'found favor' in the sight of his Egyptian keepers and prospered; parallels the motif of Yahweh granting favor to Hebrews in Egypt and their advantageous standing before Egyptians.
- Deuteronomy 34:10 (thematic): Affirms Moses' singular status among Israelite leaders ('no prophet like Moses'), echoing the claim in Exod 11:3 that Moses was 'very great' in Egypt and highlighting his unique authority and reputation.
Alternative generated candidates
- And YHWH gave the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians; also, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the eyes of Pharaoh’s servants and in the eyes of the people.
- And YHWH gave the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians; moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the eyes of Pharaoh's servants and in the eyes of the people.
Exo.11.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- כחצת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הלילה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- יוצא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בתוך: PREP
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Exod.12.12 (verbal): Uses similar language about the LORD passing through Egypt 'this night' and links the midnight action to judgment on Egypt's gods — closely related phrasing and purpose to Exod 11:4.
- Exod.12.29 (structural): Narrative fulfillment of Moses’ declaration: 'at midnight the LORD struck all the firstborn...' — the immediate event that follows the announcement in 11:4.
- Exod.11.5 (verbal): The very next verse in the same speech foretells the nationwide cry and death in every house; it amplifies and parallels the midnight strike announced in 11:4.
- Num.33.4 (thematic): Later retrospective summary of the Exodus events: 'the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt' — repeats the central consequence of the midnight action.
- Ps.78:51 (allusion): Poetic retelling of the plague tradition: 'He smote all the firstborn in Egypt' — liturgical/poetic allusion to the same midnight judgment announced in Exod 11:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses said, 'Thus says YHWH: About midnight I am going out in the midst of Egypt,
- And Moses said, 'Thus says YHWH: About midnight I am going out in the midst of Egypt,
Exo.11.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ומת: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כל: DET
- בכור: NOUN,m,sg,const
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- מבכור: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הישב: PART,qal,ptcp,m,sg,def
- על: PREP
- כסאו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m
- עד: PREP
- בכור: NOUN,m,sg,const
- השפחה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אחר: PREP
- הרחים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- בכור: NOUN,m,sg,const
- בהמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 12:12 (verbal): God declares He will pass through Egypt and strike down all the firstborn — same threat and phrasing as in Exod 11:5 establishing the purpose of the Passover blood sign.
- Exodus 12:29 (quotation): Narrative fulfillment of Exod 11:5: at midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, both man and beast.
- Psalm 78:51 (verbal): Poetically retells the plague, stating that God 'slew all the firstborn' in Egypt — a direct recounting of the same event.
- Psalm 105:36 (verbal): Another poetic summary: 'He smote all the firstborn in Egypt,' echoing the language and theological memory of the tenth plague.
- Hebrews 11:28 (allusion): Speaks of keeping the Passover 'by faith,' so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel — alludes to God's act of striking Egypt's firstborn described in Exod 11:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the slave-woman who is behind the millstones, and every firstborn of livestock.
- and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the maidservant who is behind the millstones, and every firstborn of the livestock.
Exo.11.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- והיתה: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- צעקה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גדלה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- כמהו: PRON,sim,3,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- נהיתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- וכמהו: CONJ+ADV
- לא: PART_NEG
- תסף: VERB,qal,imperfect,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod.12.29 (structural): Describes the actual slaying of the firstborn that brings about the great cry foretold in 11:6 — the immediate event producing the nationwide lament.
- Exod.12.30 (verbal): Repeats and fulfills the language and motif of 11:6: 'a great cry in Egypt' and emphasizes there was no house without death — a direct narrative echo/fulfillment.
- Num.33.4 (thematic): Retells the same climax of the Exodus sequence: the LORD 'smiting all the firstborn in the land of Egypt,' linking to the nationwide catastrophe and resultant outcry.
- Ps.78:49-51 (allusion): Canonical poetic retelling of the plagues that explicitly records God striking the firstborn, echoing the calamity that provoked 'a great cry' across Egypt.
- Ps.105:36 (thematic): Another liturgical recounting of the Exodus plagues — 'He struck all the firstborn in their land' — thematically parallel to 11:6's depiction of unparalleled national mourning.
Alternative generated candidates
- And there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as has not been, and such as shall not be again.
- And there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as has not been before, and such as shall not be again.
Exo.11.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ולכל: CONJ+PREP
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- יחרץ: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- כלב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לשנו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRSUF,3,m,sg
- למאיש: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועד: CONJ+PREP
- בהמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- למען: PREP
- תדעון: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יפלה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בין: PREP
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ובין: CONJ+PREP
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exod.8:22-23 (verbal): God promises to 'put a division' between My people and your people and spares the land of Goshen — language and the idea of a divinely effected distinction parallel Exod.11:7.
- Exod.9:4-6 (verbal): Earlier plague promise that the LORD will 'make a distinction' between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, using similar phrasing and the theme of selective judgment.
- Exod.12:29-30 (thematic): The narrative fulfillment: the death of the Egyptian firstborn while Israel is spared in their homes — the concrete event that Exod.11:7 announces and anticipates.
- Ps.78:51 (allusion): Retells Israel's deliverance by describing God striking Egypt's firstborn and distinguishing Israel from Egypt, reflecting the Exodus tradition and the theme of divine separation in Exod.11:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- But among all the Israelites not a dog will growl—not against man or beast—so that you may know that YHWH makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.'
- But to all the Israelites not even a dog shall bark at man or beast, so that you may know that YHWH makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.'
Exo.11.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וירדו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- כל: DET
- עבדיך: NOUN,m,pl,abs,2ms
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- והשתחוו: VERB,hithpael,perf,3,m,pl
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- צא: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ברגליך: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+2ms
- ואחרי: CONJ
- כן: ADV
- אצא: VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- מעם: PREP
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בחרי: PREP+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- אף: ADV
Parallels
- Exod.12:31-32 (quotation): Pharaoh (and his court) finally tell Moses and Israel to 'Get out'—a direct verbal parallel to the predicted command to depart.
- Exod.10:7 (thematic): Earlier in the plague sequence Pharaoh's servants urge him to let the people go (they recognize Egypt's ruin), the same motif of servants pressing release that Exodus 11:8 predicts.
- Exod.12:33-36 (structural): Narrative continuation in which the Egyptians urge the Israelites to leave quickly and give them silver and gold—fulfillment of the pressure and expulsion anticipated in 11:8.
- Exod.14:5-8 (structural): The Egyptians are again urgent that Israel be sent out quickly (14:5) and Pharaoh then pursues—shows the narrative movement from Egyptian insistence to subsequent reversal and pursuit.
- Psalm 105:36-37 (allusion): The psalm recounts the plagues and that Israel left Egypt with silver and gold—liturgical retelling that echoes and alludes to the Exodus events described around 11:8–12:36.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, “Go out, you and all the people who are at your feet.” And after that I will go out.' And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.
- 'And all these your servants will come down to me and bow themselves to me, saying, "Go out, you and all the people who follow you." And after that I will go out.' And he went out from Pharaoh in burning anger.
Exo.11.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- ישמע: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אליכם: PREP+PRON,2,pl
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- למען: PREP
- רבות: ADJ,f,pl,abs
- מופתי: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 3:19-20 (thematic): God tells Moses that the king of Egypt will not let the people go and that God will stretch out his hand and bring wonders—anticipates the refusal of Pharaoh and the purpose of divine signs.
- Exodus 4:21 (verbal): The LORD warns Moses that he will harden Pharaoh's heart and that Moses must perform the wonders given to him—closely parallels the reason that Pharaoh will not heed.
- Exodus 7:3-4 (verbal): God declares he will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply his signs and wonders in Egypt—nearly identical language and purpose to Exod. 11:9.
- Exodus 10:1-2 (verbal): The LORD tells Moses he has hardened Pharaoh so that his mighty acts may be declared to future generations—repeats the motive that Pharaoh's obstinacy will display God's wonders.
- Romans 9:17 (allusion): Paul cites God's action toward Pharaoh ('I raised you up') to show that Pharaoh's resistance served God's purpose of manifesting divine power—New Testament echo of the Exodus theme.
Alternative generated candidates
- And YHWH said to Moses, 'Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.'
- And YHWH said to Moses, 'Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that my signs may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.'
Exo.11.10 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ומשה: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואהרן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- המפתים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
- לפני: PREP
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויחזק: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- לב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ולא: CONJ
- שלח: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מארצו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod.4:21 (verbal): God tells Moses he will harden Pharaoh's heart — an earlier statement of the same divine action that occurs in 11:10.
- Exod.7:3 (thematic): God announces his intention to harden Pharaoh so that signs and wonders may multiply in the land of Egypt, framing the plagues narrative.
- Exod.9:12 (verbal): A near-verbatim report that 'the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart,' showing the recurring formula that explains Pharaoh's refusal to release Israel.
- Exod.14:4 (thematic): God again declares he will harden Pharaoh's heart in order to pursue and destroy Pharaoh and his host at the Red Sea — the hardening leads to deliverance.
- Rom.9:17-18 (thematic): Paul cites Pharaoh as an example of God hardening a heart to display divine sovereignty and mercy/justice — a theological reflection on the Exodus hardening motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and YHWH hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not send the Israelites out of his land.
- And Moses and Aaron did all these signs before Pharaoh; and YHWH hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not send the Israelites out from his land.
And YHWH said to Moses, 'Yet one plague more will I bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; after that he will send you from here. When he sends you away, he will surely drive you out from here altogether.'
'Speak, now, in the ears of the people, and let each man ask from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor articles of silver and articles of gold.' And YHWH gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; also the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people. And Moses said, 'Thus says YHWH: About midnight I am going out in the midst of Egypt;
and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the slavewoman who is behind the millstones, and all the firstborn of livestock;
and there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as has not been and such as will not be again. But among all the Israelites not even a dog will bark, at man or beast, so that you may know that YHWH distinguishes between Egypt and Israel;
and all these your servants will come down to me and bow down to me, saying, "Go out, you and all the people who are at your feet"; and after that I will go out.' And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. And YHWH said to Moses, 'Pharaoh will not listen to you, in order that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.' And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and YHWH hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not send the Israelites out of his land.