The Plague on the Firstborn

11 Now the Lord had said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go(A) from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely.(B) Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.”(C) (The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed(D) toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded(E) in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.)

So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight(F) I will go throughout Egypt.(G) Every firstborn(H) son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill,(I) and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. There will be loud wailing(J) throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction(K) between Egypt and Israel. All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, ‘Go,(L) you and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will leave.”(M) Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh.

The Lord had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen(N) to you—so that my wonders(O) may be multiplied in Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart,(P) and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country.

11 And the Lord said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.

Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver and jewels of gold.

And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover 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 saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:

And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.

And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.

But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.

And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.

10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

Warning of the Death of the Firstborn

11 Then the Lord told Moses, “I’ll bring one more plague on Pharaoh and Egypt. After that he’ll let you leave from here, and when he lets you go, he will certainly drive you out from here. Tell[a] the people that each man is to ask his neighbor and each woman her neighbor for articles of silver and gold.”

The Lord made the Egyptians look on the people with favor. Also the man Moses was highly regarded[b] in the land of Egypt, both in the opinion[c] of Pharaoh’s officials[d] and in the opinion[e] of the people.

So Moses announced to Pharaoh,[f] “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I’m going throughout Egypt, and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the slave girl who operates[g] the hand mill, along with the firstborn of the animals. There will be a great cry throughout the land of Egypt, like there has never been and never will be again. But among the Israelis, from people to animals, not even a dog will bark,[h] so you may know that the Lord is distinguishing between the Egyptians and the Israelis.’ All these officials[i] of yours will come down to me, prostrate themselves to me, and say, ‘Get out, you and all the people following[j] you!’ After that I’ll go out.” Then Moses[k] angrily left Pharaoh.

The Lord told Moses, “Pharaoh won’t listen to you. As a result, my wonders will increase throughout the land of Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders in front of Pharaoh, but the Lord made Pharaoh’s heart stubborn,[l] and he would not let the Israelis go out from his land.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 11:2 Lit. Say in the ears of
  2. Exodus 11:3 Lit. very great
  3. Exodus 11:3 Lit. sight
  4. Exodus 11:3 Or servants
  5. Exodus 11:3 Lit. sight
  6. Exodus 11:4 The Heb. lacks to Pharaoh
  7. Exodus 11:5 Lit. is behind
  8. Exodus 11:7 Lit. will sharpen its tongue
  9. Exodus 11:8 Or servants
  10. Exodus 11:8 Lit. at your feet
  11. Exodus 11:8 Lit. he
  12. Exodus 11:10 Lit. strong