Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.
EXODUS 12:32KJVWhat does Exodus 12:32 mean?
Exodus 12:32 records Pharaoh telling Moses and the Israelites to take their flocks and herds and leave Egypt, just as they had asked, and then requesting that they bless him as they go. Pharaoh is not only permitting the Israelites to leave with all their possessions but also seeking a blessing from them, showing a dramatic change in his attitude.
Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, is speaking to Moses after the final plague—the death of the firstborn—has struck Egypt. In desperation, Pharaoh urges the Israelites to leave quickly, allowing them to take everything they own, including their animals. His request for a blessing shows a recognition of the power of Israel’s God, and perhaps a desire for relief from further suffering.
The Hebrew behind Exodus 12:32
- "Take" (לָקַח, laqach): This word means to take, receive, or seize. Pharaoh is giving full permission for the Israelites to take all their possessions, not holding anything back.
- "Bless" (בָּרַךְ, barakh): This word means to bless or invoke favor. Pharaoh’s request for a blessing from Moses is striking, as it shows he now seeks goodwill from the very people he had oppressed.
Why Exodus 12:32 matters
- This verse highlights Pharaoh’s complete reversal—from refusing to let the Israelites go to urgently sending them out and even asking for their blessing.
- Pharaoh’s request for a blessing underlines how deeply he has been affected by the plagues and how he now recognizes the power of Israel’s God.
- The verse connects to the larger story of the Exodus by marking the moment when the Israelites are finally released, with Pharaoh’s words emphasizing the totality of their freedom.