The Torah · Old Testament

Exodus 11

The final plague is announced before departure

General context

The Lord tells Moses that one more plague will bring Pharaoh to drive the people out. The people are instructed to obtain silver and gold from their neighbors, and the account describes the favor they receive among the Egyptians and Moses' standing among Pharaoh's servants and the people. Moses announces the Lord's coming through Egypt about midnight and the death of the firstborn, from Pharaoh's household to the maidservant at the mill, including the firstborn of animals. A great cry is foretold, while Israel is promised a distinction from the Egyptians. Moses says that Pharaoh's servants will ask him and the people following him to leave, and he goes out from Pharaoh in great anger. The chapter closes by restating Pharaoh's refusal and the Lord's hardening of his heart. The announced deaths and the people's departure have not yet been narrated here.

Cited passages: Exodus 11:1, Exodus 11:2, Exodus 11:3, Exodus 11:4, Exodus 11:5, Exodus 11:6, Exodus 11:7, Exodus 11:8, Exodus 11:9, Exodus 11:10

Exodus 11 (KJV)

¹And 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.

²Speak 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.

³And 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.

⁴And Moses said, Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:

⁵And 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.

⁶And 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.

⁷But 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.

⁸And 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.

⁹And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.

¹⁰And 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.

This page shows the King James Version. In the app, reading opens in the Berean Standard Bible unless you have chosen another translation. The reader includes five translations: the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), the King James Version (KJV), the World English Bible (WEB), the Bible in Basic English (BBE), and the American Standard Version (ASV). Search covers three of them: Berean Standard, King James, and World English. Basic English and American Standard readers search the King James words.

Historical context

The warning spans contrasting positions in Egyptian society: the royal throne and the maidservant working at the mill. It includes animals as well as people. Neither the king nor the maidservant is personally named. The instructions concerning silver and gold use 'borrow' in the King James text and 'ask' in the American Standard Version; the chapter supplies no repayment terms. The promise that not even a dog will move its tongue against Israel is explicitly connected with the Lord's distinction between Israel and Egypt. The passage reports Moses leaving Pharaoh in anger without explaining every detail of how this audience relates to the preceding chapter's closing words.

Cited passages: Exodus 11:1, Exodus 11:2, Exodus 11:3, Exodus 11:4, Exodus 11:5, Exodus 11:6, Exodus 11:7, Exodus 11:8, Exodus 11:9, Exodus 11:10

Literary context

The opening promise of one remaining plague gives the confrontation a stated endpoint, while the ending still records refusal. Between them, the warning reaches from the throne to the mill and contrasts Egypt's foretold cry with Israel's promised security. Moses' prediction that the servants will urge departure reverses the present situation in which Pharaoh withholds permission. His angry exit is followed by a summary of the wonders and hardening, leaving the reader waiting for the announced final event.

Cited passages: Exodus 11:1, Exodus 11:4, Exodus 11:5, Exodus 11:6, Exodus 11:7, Exodus 11:8, Exodus 11:9, Exodus 11:10

Key moments

One more plague is announced (Exodus 11:1). The Lord says that Pharaoh will drive the people out after the remaining plague.
The warning reaches across Egypt (Exodus 11:5). Moses announces firstborn deaths from the royal household to the maidservant at the mill, including animals.
A distinction is promised for Israel (Exodus 11:7). The Lord’s distinction between Israel and the Egyptians is part of the warning.
Moses leaves in anger (Exodus 11:8). After predicting that Pharaoh’s servants will urge departure, Moses leaves Pharaoh in great anger.