So Moses declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt,
Parallel translations
- WEB Moses said, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘About midnight I will go out into the middle of Egypt,
- KJV And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
- NKJV Then Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt;
- NASB Then Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt,
- NLT Moses had announced to Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord says: At midnight tonight I will pass through the heart of Egypt.
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
Moses announces that at midnight Yahweh will go out into Egypt. The final, climactic plague is declared.
Overview
Moses delivers God's word that he himself will move through Egypt in judgment at midnight. The directness of 'I will go out' stresses that this is God's own decisive act. The solemn timing heightens the gravity of the coming judgment on the firstborn. It sets the stage for the Passover deliverance that defines Israel's redemption.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Exod 12:29Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock.
- Amos 4:10“I sent plagues among you like those of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camp, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.
- Exod 12:12On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
- Job 34:20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
- Ps 60:10Have You not rejected us, O God? Will You no longer march out, O God, with our armies?
- 2 Sam 5:24As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has marched out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
- Isa 42:13The LORD goes forth like a mighty one; He stirs up His zeal like a warrior. He shouts; yes, He roars in triumph over His enemies:
- Mic 2:13One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate, and go out by it. Their King will pass through before them, the LORD as their leader.
- Matt 25:6At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
- Amos 5:17There will be wailing in all the vineyards, for I will pass through your midst,” says the LORD.
- Exod 12:23When the LORD passes through to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway; so He will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.
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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 11:4 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
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