Exodus 10
1 Yahweh said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs among them, 2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your son’s son, what things I have done to Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that you may know that I am Yahweh.”
3 Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and said to him, “This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me. 4 Or else, if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country, 5 and they shall cover the surface of the earth, so that one won’t be able to see the earth. They shall eat the residue of that which has escaped, which remains to you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which grows for you out of the field. 6 Your houses shall be filled, and the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; as neither your fathers nor your fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth to this day.’” He turned, and went out from Pharaoh.
7 Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve Yahweh their God. Don’t you yet know that Egypt is destroyed?”
8 Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve Yahweh your God; but who are those who shall go?”
9 Moses said, “We will go with our young and with our old. We will go with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds; for we must hold a feast to Yahweh.”
10 He said to them, “So be Yahweh with you, if I let you go with your little ones! See, evil is clearly before your faces. 11 Not so! Go now you who are men, and serve Yahweh; for that is what you desire!” They were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.
12 Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up on the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail has left.” 13 Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and Yahweh brought an east wind on the land all that day, and all the night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. 14 The locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the borders of Egypt, very grievous; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such. 15 For they covered the surface of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. There remained nothing green, either tree or herb of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and he said, “I have sinned against Yahweh your God, and against you. 17 Now therefore please forgive my sin again, and pray to Yahweh your God, that he may take away from me this death only.”
18 He went out from Pharaoh, and prayed to Yahweh. 19 Yahweh turned an exceeding strong west wind, which took up the locusts, and drove them into the Red Sea. There remained not one locust in all the borders of Egypt. 20 But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go.
21 Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.” 22 Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23 They didn’t see one another, neither did anyone rise from his place for three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
24 Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, “Go, serve Yahweh. Only let your flocks and your herds be stayed. Let your little ones also go with you.”
25 Moses said, “You must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to Yahweh our God. 26 Our livestock also shall go with us. There shall not a hoof be left behind; for of it must we take to serve Yahweh our God; and we don’t know with what we must serve Yahweh, until we come there.”
27 But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let them go. 28 Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Be careful to see my face no more; for in the day you see my face you shall die!”
29 Moses said, “You have spoken well. I will see your face again no more.”
Commentary
Overview
Exodus 10 records the eighth and ninth plagues: an overwhelming invasion of locusts and three days of thick darkness. Egypt has already suffered through blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock disease, boils, and hail, yet Pharaoh continues to resist God’s command. The chapter shows that his stubbornness is not merely a political strategy. It is a refusal to humble himself before Yahweh, the true King whose authority reaches over creation, nations, families, and worship.
At the beginning of the chapter, God explains that the signs in Egypt are meant to be remembered and retold. Israel is to recount them to children and grandchildren so that future generations will know that He is Yahweh. The plagues therefore serve more than the immediate purpose of freeing slaves. They create a testimony that will shape Israel’s identity. God’s saving acts are to become part of the community’s memory, worship, and instruction.
The statement that God has hardened Pharaoh and his servants must be read alongside the repeated descriptions of Pharaoh’s own stubborn refusal. Pharaoh has continually rejected clear commands, broken promises, and used relief as an opportunity to resume rebellion. God’s hardening confirms and directs that chosen resistance within His larger purpose. Pharaoh remains morally responsible, while his opposition cannot prevent God from revealing His name or delivering His people.
Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh with a direct question: “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?” Pride lies at the center of Pharaoh’s rebellion. He has seen that Egypt cannot withstand Yahweh, and even his advisers recognize that the nation is ruined, but he still attempts to control the terms of obedience. He is willing to negotiate limited concessions, not to submit to God’s full command.
Pharaoh first offers to let only the men go. Moses refuses because the feast belongs to the entire covenant community. Young and old, sons and daughters, flocks and herds must all go. Worship is not Pharaoh’s possession to define, and Israel cannot obey God by accepting a compromise that leaves families and resources under Egypt’s control. Moses’ answer makes clear that deliverance is comprehensive: God claims the people, their households, and what they will use in His service.
Pharaoh hurriedly confesses that he has sinned against Yahweh and against Moses and Aaron. He asks forgiveness and requests that “this death” be removed. Moses prays, and God sends a strong west wind that carries every locust into the sea. The complete removal again demonstrates God’s control, but Pharaoh’s response remains unchanged. His confession seeks escape from consequences rather than surrender to God, and once relief comes, Israel is still not released.
The ninth plague arrives without a recorded warning to Pharaoh. Moses stretches out his hand, and a darkness that can be felt covers Egypt for three days. People cannot see one another or rise from their places, while the Israelites have light in their dwellings. The contrast reveals both judgment and protection. Egypt, which has rejected the word of Yahweh, is immobilized in darkness; God’s covenant people receive light.
The darkness also strikes at Egypt’s confidence in order, power, and the regular course of the heavens. The text does not name a specific Egyptian deity, but the plague unmistakably demonstrates that light itself is under Yahweh’s authority. The sun does not guarantee Egypt’s security, and Pharaoh cannot command the world around him. The Creator who spoke light into existence can withhold it and can preserve light wherever He chooses.
Pharaoh now offers another compromise: the people, including the children, may go, but the livestock must remain. Moses again refuses. Israel does not yet know exactly what animals God will require for sacrifice, so not even a hoof can be left behind. Complete obedience cannot be built from conditions imposed by the oppressor. What belongs to God must be available for God’s service.
The chapter ends with Pharaoh threatening Moses with death if he appears again. The ruler who has repeatedly been warned now rejects the messenger and closes the door to further negotiation. Moses accepts the finality of the statement. Pharaoh’s apparent assertion of power actually moves the story closer to the final judgment God has already announced. Human threats do not reverse God’s purpose; they reveal how completely Pharaoh has committed himself to resistance.
Key Themes
Notable Verses
Exodus 10:1–2 explains that God’s signs are to be told to children and grandchildren so that future generations may know that He is Yahweh.
Exodus 10:3 identifies Pharaoh’s rebellion as a refusal to humble himself before God and repeats the command to let Israel serve Him.
Exodus 10:7 records Pharaoh’s servants asking whether he understands that Egypt has been destroyed, revealing the growing cost of his pride.
Exodus 10:8–11 presents Pharaoh’s attempt to release only the men and Moses’ insistence that the entire community must participate in the feast.
Exodus 10:12–15 describes the locusts consuming every green thing the hail had left throughout Egypt.
Exodus 10:16–20 records Pharaoh’s urgent confession, Moses’ intercession, the complete removal of the locusts, and Pharaoh’s continued refusal.
Exodus 10:21–23 describes three days of thick darkness in Egypt while the Israelites have light in their dwellings.
Exodus 10:24–26 records Pharaoh’s proposal to keep the livestock and Moses’ declaration that not a hoof will be left behind.
Exodus 10:27 again states that Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, showing that Pharaoh’s resistance now serves the unfolding divine judgment.
Exodus 10:28–29 ends the chapter with Pharaoh’s death threat and Moses’ acknowledgment that their confrontations have reached their conclusion.
Reflection and Application
Exodus 10 calls believers to make God’s works part of the memory of the next generation. Israel was not merely to preserve facts about Egypt; parents and grandparents were to tell what God had done so that children would know His character. Faith communities weaken when testimony is assumed rather than taught. We should speak clearly about God’s truth, His saving work, and His faithfulness, connecting biblical history to the worship and obedience of those who come after us.
Pharaoh’s compromises provide a searching picture of partial obedience. He offers to let some people go, then later to let everyone go while retaining the livestock. Each proposal sounds like progress, but each changes God’s command and keeps part of Israel under Pharaoh’s power. We can make similar bargains by obeying God in visible areas while protecting a habit, relationship, ambition, possession, or private corner of life from His authority. Genuine obedience does not ask how much can remain under the old master.
Moses’ insistence that young and old, sons and daughters must go reminds us that worship is not only an individual activity. God forms and calls a people. Children are not obstacles to spiritual life, and older believers are not unnecessary to it. Healthy worship includes generations together, with each learning to recognize that life belongs to God.
Pharaoh’s confession warns against confusing regret with repentance. He acknowledges sin and asks forgiveness, but his goal is the removal of “this death.” Once the danger is gone, his behavior does not change. True repentance certainly includes sorrow and confession, but it also turns toward obedience. We should examine whether our prayers in crisis are producing a new direction or merely seeking relief.
The contrast between darkness in Egypt and light in Israel’s dwellings offers hope without promising an easy life. God is able to preserve His people and make distinctions according to His purpose even while judgment surrounds them. Their light comes from His provision, not from their control of circumstances. In dark seasons, believers can trust that God sees His people and is not limited by the conditions that immobilize others.
Finally, Pharaoh’s threat demonstrates that rejecting a messenger cannot silence the truth. People may dismiss Scripture, avoid faithful counsel, or intimidate those who speak honestly, but God’s word remains active. Moses does not need Pharaoh’s permission for God’s promise to succeed. Faithfulness means speaking and obeying with courage, trusting that the Lord—not the resistance of powerful people—determines the outcome.