No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one left his place. Yet all the Israelites had light in their dwellings.
Parallel translations
- WEB They 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.
- KJV They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
- NKJV They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
- NASB They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings.
- NLT During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Egyptians could not see or move for three days, but Israel had light in their homes. God again distinguishes and blesses his people.
Overview
The contrast between Egypt's paralyzing darkness and Israel's light vividly marks God's distinction between the two peoples. While Egypt is immobilized, God's people dwell in light, picturing his favor. This separation of light and darkness echoes throughout Scripture as an image of salvation and judgment. It foreshadows Christ, the light of the world, in whom God's people walk.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Exod 8:22But on that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen, where My people live; no swarms of flies will be found there. In this way you will know that I, the LORD, am in the land.
- Exod 9:4But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’”
- 1 Pet 2:9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Isa 42:16I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.
- Isa 65:13–14Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.
- Isa 60:1–3Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
- Exod 9:26The only place where it did not hail was in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived.
- Col 1:13He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,
- Exod 14:20so that it came between the camps of Egypt and Israel. The cloud was there in the darkness, but it lit up the night. So all night long neither camp went near the other.
- Mal 3:18So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
- Josh 24:7So your fathers cried out to the LORD, and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, over whom He brought the sea and engulfed them. Your very eyes saw what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 10:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.