And 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.
EXODUS 11:8KJVWhat does Exodus 11:8 mean?
Exodus 11:8 describes Moses telling Pharaoh that all of Pharaoh’s officials will come to Moses, bow down, and beg him and the Israelites to leave Egypt, and that Moses will leave after this happens. The verse ends by noting that Moses leaves Pharaoh’s presence in great anger.
In this moment, Moses is delivering God’s final warning before the last plague—the death of the firstborn. Moses is speaking directly to Pharaoh, predicting that even Pharaoh’s highest servants will plead for the Israelites to go. The verse highlights Moses’ strong emotion, showing the tension and seriousness of the confrontation.
The Hebrew behind Exodus 11:8
- "Servants" (עֶבֶד, ʿeved): This word refers to Pharaoh’s officials or attendants, not slaves. It shows that those with authority under Pharaoh will be the ones to plead with Moses.
- "Bow down" (שָׁחָה, shachah): This term often means to prostrate oneself in respect or submission. Here, it emphasizes the reversal of power—Egyptian leaders will humble themselves before Moses.
- "Anger" (אַף, af): This word literally means "nose" or "face," but is used to describe strong anger or wrath. The verse stresses the intensity of Moses’ feelings as he leaves Pharaoh.
Why Exodus 11:8 matters
- The verse clarifies that the coming events will force even Egypt’s elite to recognize God’s power and plead for Israel’s departure, not just Pharaoh himself.
- It highlights a dramatic shift: Moses, once pleading with Pharaoh, will soon be begged by Pharaoh’s own people to leave.
- The detail about Moses’ anger shows the deep frustration and seriousness of the situation, underlining how far Pharaoh’s stubbornness has pushed Moses.