Exodus / Chapter 11

Exodus 11

10 verses • Westminster Leningrad Codex 1 tradition available

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

God announces the final plague: at midnight He will go through Egypt, and every firstborn will die, from Pharaoh's heir to the slave woman's child. A great cry will rise from Egypt, but Israel will be untouched. Moses departs from Pharaoh in fierce anger.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

The measure-for-measure theology reaches its climax: the cry (tse'aqah gedolah) that will rise from Egypt uses the same word for Israel's cry under slavery (3:7, 9). The oppressor's grief mirrors the grief they inflicted. God Himself walks through Egypt at midnight ('I will go out,' ani yotse, v4) — this is direct divine action at the most liminal hour, not delegated judgment. The chapter also reveals that Moses had become 'very great' (gadol me'od) in Egypt, an ironic reversal of Pharaoh's attempt to crush Israel's leaders.

Translation Friction

The Hebrew bekhor ('firstborn') carries weight that no single English word captures — it denotes inheritance rights, succession, family identity, and the father's primary claim. We retained 'firstborn' but relied on the translator notes to unpack the theological freight, especially the connection to God's declaration in 4:22 ('Israel is My firstborn'). The verb garesh yegaresh ('he will surely drive you out,' v1) uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis; we rendered this as 'drive you out completely.'

Connections

The firstborn-for-firstborn logic fulfills the warning of 4:22-23. The great cry echoes 3:7 and 9. The plundering of Egyptian gold and silver (v2) was promised in 3:21-22 and will supply the tabernacle in chapters 25-31. The phrase 'not a dog shall growl' (v7) expresses the totality of God's protective distinction. **Tradition comparisons:** The Samaritan Pentateuch shows 1 moderate variant(s) in this chapter. See the [Samaritan Pentateuch](/samaritan-pentateuch/exodus).

Exodus 11:1

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה ע֣וֹד נֶ֤גַע אֶחָד֙ אָבִ֤יא עַל־פַּרְעֹה֙ וְעַל־מִצְרַ֔יִם אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֕ן יְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִזֶּ֑ה כְּשַׁ֨לְּח֔וֹ כָּלָ֕ה גָּרֵ֛שׁ יְגָרֵ֥שׁ אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִזֶּֽה׃

The LORD said to Moses, "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 drive you out completely.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'One more plague' (nega echad od) — God numbers the remaining judgment: exactly one. The finality is deliberate. After this, Pharaoh will not merely release Israel; he will 'drive them out completely' (garesh yegaresh, infinitive absolute for emphasis). The oppressor will become the expeller.
Exodus 11:2

דַּבֶּר־נָ֖א בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם וְיִשְׁאֲל֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ ׀ מֵאֵ֣ת רֵעֵ֗הוּ וְאִשָּׁה֙ מֵאֵ֣ת רְעוּתָ֔הּ כְּלֵי־כֶ֖סֶף וּכְלֵ֥י זָהָֽב׃

Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let each man ask of his neighbor and each woman of her neighbor for articles of silver and articles of gold."

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The instruction to 'ask' (sha'al) of Egyptian neighbors for silver and gold is the same verb used when Israel 'asked' Pharaoh for permission to worship. What Pharaoh refused, the Egyptians will grant. The slave-wages of centuries will be collected in a single night.
Exodus 11:3

וַיִּתֵּ֧ן יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־חֵ֥ן הָעָ֖ם בְּעֵינֵ֣י מִצְרָ֑יִם גַּ֣ם ׀ הָאִ֣ישׁ מֹשֶׁ֗ה גָּד֤וֹל מְאֹד֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בְּעֵינֵ֥י עַבְדֵֽי־פַרְעֹ֖ה וּבְעֵינֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃ {ס}

The LORD caused the Egyptians to regard the people favorably. Moses himself had become a figure of great prominence throughout Egypt, respected by Pharaoh's officials and by the common people alike.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'The LORD gave the people favor' (vayyitten YHWH et-chen ha'am) — chen ('favor, grace') is divinely granted, not humanly earned. Even Moses's reputation is noted: 'very great' (gadol me'od) in Egypt's eyes. The deliverer whom Pharaoh dismissed has become the most significant figure in the land.
Exodus 11:4

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֔ה כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה כַּחֲצֹ֣ת הַלַּ֔יְלָה אֲנִ֥י יוֹצֵ֖א בְּת֥וֹךְ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

Moses said, "Thus says the LORD: About midnight I will go out through the midst of Egypt,

KJV And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'About midnight I will go out through the midst of Egypt' (kachatsi hallailah ani yotse betokh Mitsrayim) — God Himself walks through Egypt. The verb yotse ('go out') is first person: I will go out. This is not delegated to an angel or a plague mechanism; it is direct divine action at the most liminal hour.

Samaritan Pentateuch (4th c. BCE divergence)moderate

"(SP expands Moses' departure and adds transitional material)"

The final plague announcement receives the most elaborate SP expansion, befitting its climactic position.

Exodus 11:5

וּמֵ֣ת כׇּל־בְּכוֹר֮ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֒יִם֒ מִבְּכ֤וֹר פַּרְעֹה֙ הַיֹּשֵׁ֣ב עַל־כִּסְא֔וֹ עַ֚ד בְּכ֣וֹר הַשִּׁפְחָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר אַחַ֣ר הָרֵחָ֑יִם וְכֹ֖ל בְּכ֥וֹר בְּהֵמָֽה׃

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 handmill, and all the firstborn of the livestock.

KJV And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn 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.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

בְּכוֹר bekhor
"firstborn" — firstborn, eldest son, one who opens the womb

Firstborn status carries the weight of inheritance, succession, and family identity. The death of the firstborn strikes at the future of every Egyptian household — and directly answers God's declaration that 'Israel is My firstborn son' (4:22). Pharaoh refused to release God's firstborn; now Pharaoh's firstborn — and every Egyptian firstborn — will die.

Translator Notes

  1. The scope of the tenth plague is comprehensive: from the throne to the slave quarters, from royal heir to the captive's child. The firstborn represents the future of every household — and every future in Egypt is forfeit. The livestock firstborn are included, extending judgment to Egypt's economic and religious symbols.

Samaritan Pentateuch (4th c. BCE divergence)moderate

"(SP expands Moses' departure and adds transitional material)"

The final plague announcement receives the most elaborate SP expansion, befitting its climactic position.

Exodus 11:6

וְהָ֥יְתָ֛ה צְעָקָ֥ה גְדֹלָ֖ה בְּכׇל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲשֶׁ֤ר כָּמֹ֙הוּ֙ לֹ֣א נִהְיָ֔תָה וְכָמֹ֖הוּ לֹ֥א תֹסִֽף׃

There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been and such as there shall never be again.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'A great cry' (tse'aqah gedolah) — the same word used for Israel's cry under slavery (3:7, 9). The oppressor will now cry with the same anguish they inflicted. The echo is measure-for-measure: the cry of the enslaved becomes the cry of the bereaved.

Samaritan Pentateuch (4th c. BCE divergence)moderate

"(SP expands Moses' departure and adds transitional material)"

The final plague announcement receives the most elaborate SP expansion, befitting its climactic position.

Exodus 11:7

וּלְכֹ֣ל ׀ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לֹ֤א יֶֽחֱרַץ־כֶּ֙לֶב֙ לְשֹׁנ֔וֹ לְמֵאִ֖ישׁ וְעַד־בְּהֵמָ֑ה לְמַ֙עַן֙ תֵּֽדְע֔וּן אֲשֶׁר֙ יַפְלֶ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה בֵּ֥ין מִצְרַ֖יִם וּבֵ֥ין יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

But against any of the sons of Israel not even a dog shall growl, against neither man nor beast, so that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

יַפְלֶה yafleh
"makes a distinction" — distinguish, separate, set apart, make wonderful

From palah — the same verb used in 8:18 and 9:4. God's judgment is not a blunt instrument; it distinguishes precisely between those under covenant protection and those under judgment. The distinction is the core theological claim of the plague narrative.

Translator Notes

  1. 'Not even a dog shall growl' (lo yecherats kelev leshono) — an idiom for absolute peace and safety. While Egypt screams in grief, Israel will experience undisturbed quiet. The contrast could not be sharper. The verb palah ('make a distinction') returns from 8:18 and 9:4 — God's judgments are discriminating, not indiscriminate.

Samaritan Pentateuch (4th c. BCE divergence)moderate

"(SP expands Moses' departure and adds transitional material)"

The final plague announcement receives the most elaborate SP expansion, befitting its climactic position.

Exodus 11:8

וְיָרְד֣וּ כׇל־עֲבָדֶ֩יךָ֩ אֵ֨לֶּה אֵלַ֜י וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־לִ֣י לֵאמֹ֗ר צֵ֤א אַתָּה֙ וְכׇל־הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־בְּרַגְלֶ֔יךָ וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵ֖ן אֵצֵ֑א וַיֵּצֵ֥א מֵֽעִם־פַּרְעֹ֖ה בׇּחֳרִי־אָֽף׃ {ס}

All these servants of yours shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, 'Go out, you and all the people who follow you.' After that I will go out." And he went out from Pharaoh in fierce anger.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Moses predicts that Pharaoh's own servants will come bowing to him, begging Israel to leave. The power dynamic that opened Exodus (Israel bowing to Pharaoh) will be completely reversed. Moses leaves 'in fierce anger' (bachari-af) — the only time Moses's personal anger at Pharaoh is recorded.

Samaritan Pentateuch (4th c. BCE divergence)moderate

"(SP expands Moses' departure and adds transitional material)"

The final plague announcement receives the most elaborate SP expansion, befitting its climactic position.

Exodus 11:9

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה לֹא־יִשְׁמַ֥ע אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם פַּרְעֹ֑ה לְמַ֛עַן רְב֥וֹת מוֹפְתַ֖י בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

The LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt."

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

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. God reframes Pharaoh's stubbornness as serving divine purpose: 'so that My wonders may be multiplied.' Every refusal has extended the revelation. The plagues are not merely punitive but pedagogical — each one teaches Egypt and Israel who YHWH is.
Exodus 11:10

וּמֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאַהֲרֹ֗ן עָשׂ֛וּ אֶת־כׇּל־הַמֹּפְתִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לִפְנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה וַיְחַזֵּ֤ק יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְלֹֽא־שִׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאַרְצֽוֹ׃ {ס}

Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The summary verse closes the plague cycle with the fulfillment formula. Moses and Aaron obeyed; God hardened; Pharaoh refused. The three actors have played their appointed roles. The stage is now set for the Passover.
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