Exodus 10: Locusts and darkness
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Yahweh tells Moses that he has hardened Pharaoh's heart so that he can show his signs, and Moses and Aaron warn Pharaoh about locusts. The locusts strip the land, Pharaoh says, "I have sinned," and asks for forgiveness, and then Yahweh hardens his heart again. A thick darkness covers Egypt for three days, and Pharaoh tells Moses never to see his face again.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. God's own words are in 4 of the 29 verses: his words to Moses in verses 1 and 2, 12 and 21. In verses 3 to 6 Moses and Aaron are repeating Yahweh's message to Pharaoh, so those verses are not in gold. Pharaoh, his servants and Moses also speak. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Yahweh said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs among them;God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, because I have hardened (literally: made heavy) his heart and the hearts of his servants, so that I can show these signs of mine among them,
The Hebrew word: "Hardened" is kaved again, the word for heavy. In , and Pharaoh is the one who makes his heart heavy. Here Yahweh says that he has done it.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
2and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your son’s son, what things I have done to Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that you may know that I am Yahweh.”God speaks
In plain English: and so that you can tell your son and your son's son what I did to Egypt (or: how I dealt harshly with Egypt) and the signs I did among them, and so that you will know that I am Yahweh."
The Hebrew word: "What I did to" is the verb alal. The dictionary gives it as "to effect thoroughly", and in a bad sense "to overdo, i.e. maltreat".
How it is translated: In its 18 verses this Bible says "glean" in 4, "abuse" in 3, "done" in 3, "mock" in 2 and "wonderfully" in 1. The last is , which uses the same word for what God did in Egypt: "worked wonderfully among them".
What changes: Read with its harsher meaning, God says he dealt harshly with Egypt.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
3Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and said to him, “This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.
In plain English: Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, "This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they can serve me.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
4Or else, if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country,
In plain English: If you refuse to let my people go, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
5and they shall cover the surface of the earth, so that one won’t be able to see the earth. They shall eat the residue of that which has escaped, which remains to you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which grows for you out of the field.
In plain English: and they will cover the surface of the land, so that no one will be able to see the ground. They will eat what is left over from the hail, and they will eat every tree that grows for you in the field.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
6Your houses shall be filled, and the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians, as neither your fathers nor your fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth to this day.’” He turned, and went out from Pharaoh.
In plain English: Your houses will be filled with them, and the houses of all your servants and of all the Egyptians, as neither your fathers nor your fathers' fathers have seen from the day they were on the earth until today.'" He turned and went out from Pharaoh.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
7Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve Yahweh, their God. Don’t you yet know that Egypt is destroyed?”
In plain English: Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long will this man be a snare (a trap) to us? Let the men go, so that they can serve Yahweh their God. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?"
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
8Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve Yahweh your God; but who are those who will go?”
In plain English: Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, "Go, serve Yahweh your God. But who exactly will go?"
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
9Moses said, “We will go with our young and with our old. We will go with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds; for we must hold a feast to Yahweh.”
In plain English: Moses said, "We will go with our young and our old. We will go with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds, because we must hold a feast to Yahweh."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
10He said to them, “Yahweh be with you if I let you go with your little ones! See, evil is clearly before your faces.
In plain English: He said to them, "May Yahweh be with you if I let you go with your little ones! Look, evil (or: trouble) is right in front of you.
The Hebrew word: "Evil" is ra, a word for evil, harm, or trouble. The Hebrew says it is "before your faces".
What changes: That can be read two ways. Pharaoh may be saying that Moses and Aaron have a bad purpose in mind, or he may be warning that trouble is ahead of them. The Hebrew does not say which.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
11Not so! Go now you who are men, and serve Yahweh; for that is what you desire!” Then they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.
In plain English: No! You men can go and serve Yahweh, because that is what you are asking for." Then they were driven out of Pharaoh's presence.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
12Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up on the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail has left.”God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they come up on the land of Egypt and eat every plant of the land, everything the hail has left."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
13Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and Yahweh brought an east wind on the land all that day, and all night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
In plain English: Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and Yahweh drove an east wind over the land all that day and all that night. When morning came, the east wind had brought the locusts.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
14The locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the borders of Egypt. They were very grievous. Before them there were no such locusts as they, nor will there ever be again.
In plain English: The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled in all the territory of Egypt. They were very severe (literally: very heavy). There had never been locusts like them before, and there never will be again.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
15For they covered the surface of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened, and they ate every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. There remained nothing green, either tree or herb of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
In plain English: They covered the surface of the whole land, so that the land was darkened. They ate every plant of the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Nothing green was left on tree or plant of the field in all the land of Egypt.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
16Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and he said, “I have sinned against Yahweh your God, and against you.
In plain English: Pharaoh quickly called for Moses and Aaron and said, "I have sinned against Yahweh your God and against you.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
17Now therefore please forgive my sin again, and pray to Yahweh your God, that he may also take away from me this death.”
In plain English: Now please forgive my sin just this once (or: once more), and pray to Yahweh your God to take this death away from me."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
18Moses went out from Pharaoh, and prayed to Yahweh.
In plain English: Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to Yahweh.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
19Yahweh sent an exceedingly strong west wind, which took up the locusts, and drove them into the Red Sea. There remained not one locust in all the borders of Egypt.
In plain English: Yahweh turned the wind into a very strong west wind, which picked up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea (literally: the Sea of Reeds). Not one locust was left in all the territory of Egypt.
The Hebrew words: "Red Sea" is yam suf, which means "sea of reeds". Suf is the word for reeds, like the reeds where the baby Moses was laid ().
How it is translated: This Bible says "Red Sea" in 24 of the 28 verses that use suf. In the other 4 it says "reeds", "flags" or "weeds": , , and .
What changes: Read as "sea of reeds", the name describes a water with reeds, where "Red Sea" names a color. The same name is used in for the water where Pharaoh's army sinks.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
20But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go.
In plain English: But Yahweh hardened (literally: made strong) Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the Israelites go.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
21Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.”God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, so that there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be felt (or: in which people grope)."
The Hebrew word: "Felt" is mashash, a verb for feeling with the hands, or groping.
How it is translated: In its 8 verses this Bible says "felt" in 4, "grope" in 3 and "touches" in 1. Three of them use it for groping in darkness: , and .
What changes: Read as "in which people grope", the darkness is so thick that people feel their way around. says they could not see one another.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
22Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.
In plain English: Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
23They didn’t see one another, and nobody rose from his place for three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
In plain English: They could not see one another, and no one got up from his place for three days. But all the Israelites had light where they lived.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
24Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, “Go, serve Yahweh. Only let your flocks and your herds stay behind. Let your little ones also go with you.”
In plain English: Pharaoh called to Moses and said, "Go, serve Yahweh. Only leave your flocks and your herds behind. Your little ones may also go with you."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
25Moses said, “You must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to Yahweh our God.
In plain English: Moses said, "You must also put sacrifices and burnt offerings in our hands, so that we can offer them to Yahweh our God.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
26Our livestock also shall go with us. Not a hoof shall be left behind, for of it we must take to serve Yahweh our God; and we don’t know with what we must serve Yahweh, until we come there.”
In plain English: Our livestock must go with us too. Not a hoof will be left behind, because we must take some of them to serve Yahweh our God. We do not know what we must use to serve Yahweh until we get there."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
27But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let them go.
In plain English: But Yahweh hardened (literally: made strong) Pharaoh's heart, and he was not willing to let them go.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
28Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Be careful to see my face no more; for in the day you see my face you shall die!”
In plain English: Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me! Be careful never to see my face again, because on the day you see my face, you will die!"
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
29Moses said, “You have spoken well. I will see your face again no more.”
In plain English: Moses said, "You have spoken well. I will never see your face again."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.