Exodus 11:2 (KJV)

What does Exodus 11:2 mean?

Exodus 11:2 records God’s instruction to Moses to tell the Israelites to ask their Egyptian neighbors for silver and gold jewelry before leaving Egypt. This request was for both men and women to approach their neighbors and obtain these valuable items.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, who is then to relay the message to the Israelite people. The situation is just before the final plague in Egypt, and God is preparing the Israelites for their departure. The instruction to “borrow” (which can also mean “ask” or “request”) these items shows that the Israelites would leave Egypt not as empty-handed slaves, but with gifts from the Egyptians.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 11:2

• The word translated “borrow” is שָׁאַל (sha’al), which often means “to ask” or “request” rather than to borrow something with the intention of returning it. This suggests the Israelites were to ask for the items as gifts, not loans.
• The word for “neighbor” for men is רֵעַ (re’a), and for women it is שְׁכֵנָה (shekhenah), showing that both men and women were to participate, each approaching their own counterparts among the Egyptians.
• The word for “jewels” is כְּלִי (kli), which means “articles” or “vessels,” often referring to valuable items or implements, not just jewelry. This broadens the sense to include various precious objects, not only ornaments.

Why Exodus 11:2 matters

• This verse clarifies that the Israelites’ departure from Egypt was not just an escape but involved a transfer of wealth, fulfilling God’s earlier promise to Abraham that his descendants would leave their place of slavery with great possessions.
• The instruction to ask, not steal, shows the Israelites’ actions were open and sanctioned, not deceptive or dishonest.
• Understanding the original words helps clear up the common misunderstanding that the Israelites were “borrowing” with the intention of not returning, when the sense is more about requesting gifts as part of God’s plan.