Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only.

EXODUS 10:17KJV
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Exodus 10:17 (KJV)

What does Exodus 10:17 mean?

Exodus 10:17 shows Pharaoh urgently asking Moses to forgive his sin just this one time and to plead with the LORD God to remove the deadly plague from Egypt. Pharaoh is desperate for relief and admits his wrongdoing, but his request is focused on ending the immediate crisis.

Pharaoh is speaking to Moses after Egypt has been devastated by a plague of locusts, one of the disasters God sent because Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go. Pharaoh’s words reveal that he recognizes his actions as sin and seeks forgiveness, but his main concern is escaping the consequences (“this death”) rather than a true change of heart. The verse highlights Pharaoh’s pattern of temporary repentance under pressure.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 10:17

  • "forgive" (נָשָׂא, nāśā’): This word often means to lift or carry away, so Pharaoh is asking Moses to “lift away” his guilt, not just overlook it. It shows he wants the burden of his wrongdoing removed.
  • "sin" (חַטָּאָה, ḥaṭṭā’āh): This word refers to missing the mark or wrongdoing. Pharaoh admits he has done wrong, but only asks forgiveness for “this once,” hinting at a limited or reluctant confession.
  • "intreat" (עָתַר, ‘āṯar): This word means to plead or intercede earnestly. Pharaoh is asking Moses to act as a go-between with God, showing he feels unable or unworthy to approach God himself.
  • "death" (מָוֶת, māweṯ): Here, “death” refers to the deadly threat of the locusts destroying Egypt’s food supply, not just physical death. Pharaoh calls the plague “this death,” showing how severe and life-threatening it is.

Why Exodus 10:17 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that Pharaoh’s repentance was deep or lasting; his request is focused on immediate relief, not real change.
  • The language shows Pharaoh recognizes Moses’ unique relationship with God, since he asks Moses to intercede rather than praying himself.
  • Exodus 10:17 connects to the wider story by showing a repeated cycle: Pharaoh admits fault when suffering, but his heart remains unchanged once the crisis passes.

Where else these words appear

“intreat” Hebrew H6279 · used in 19 verses

  • Genesis 25:21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
  • Exodus 9:28 Intreat the LORD(for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
  • 2 Chronicles 33:13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

“once” Hebrew H6471 · used in 108 verses

  • Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
  • Deuteronomy 10:10 And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also, and the LORD would not destroy thee.
  • 2 Kings 5:14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.