Exodus 10:4 (KJV)

What does Exodus 10:4 mean?

Exodus 10:4 is a warning from God, delivered by Moses to Pharaoh, that if Pharaoh refuses to let the Israelites go, God will send a swarm of locusts into Egypt the next day. This verse sets up the threat of a new plague as a consequence for Pharaoh’s continued stubbornness.

In this moment, Moses is speaking directly to Pharaoh on God’s behalf. The situation is tense: Pharaoh has already resisted several earlier plagues, and God is now threatening another disaster. The verse makes clear that the coming plague—locusts—will be a direct response to Pharaoh’s refusal to release the Israelites from slavery.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 10:4

• "Refuse" (מָאֵן, māʾēn): This word carries the sense of a deliberate, stubborn refusal. It highlights Pharaoh’s ongoing resistance, not just a casual “no.”
• "Locusts" (אַרְבֶּה, arbeh): This is a specific term for the kind of insect that can devastate crops. The threat is not just annoyance but real economic and food disaster.
• "Coast" (גְּבוּל, gevul): This word means border or territory. The warning is that the locusts will invade all the land of Egypt, not just a small part.

Why Exodus 10:4 matters

• The verse clarifies that God’s actions are responses to Pharaoh’s choices, emphasizing the cause-and-effect relationship between Pharaoh’s refusal and the coming plague.
• By specifying “to morrow,” the verse shows God’s control over timing and events, not just the plagues themselves.
• The use of “coast” or “territory” makes it clear that the threat is nationwide, not limited to a single area, underscoring the seriousness of the warning.