Exodus 8:29 (KJV)

What does Exodus 8:29 mean?

Exodus 8:29 records Moses telling Pharaoh that he will leave Pharaoh’s presence and pray to the LORD to remove the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people the next day, but warns Pharaoh not to deceive him again by refusing to let the Israelites go and sacrifice to the LORD. Moses is making it clear that he expects Pharaoh to keep his promise this time.

In this verse, Moses is speaking directly to Pharaoh during the plague of flies. Pharaoh had just asked Moses to pray for the flies to be removed, promising to let the Israelites go. Moses agrees to pray (using the word “intreat” for seeking God’s favor), but he also cautions Pharaoh not to act deceitfully (“deal deceitfully”) as he has before. The verse highlights the tension between Moses’ trust in God’s power and his distrust of Pharaoh’s honesty.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 8:29

• “Intreat” comes from the Hebrew פָּעַל (athar, H6279), which means to plead or intercede with God. Moses is not just making a casual request, but earnestly seeking God’s intervention.
• “Deal deceitfully” is from the Hebrew הָתֵל (hathêl, H2048), which often means to act with trickery or to cheat. Moses is directly confronting Pharaoh’s pattern of making promises he does not intend to keep.
• “Swarms” uses the Hebrew עָרוֹב (‘arov, H6157), which refers to a mixture or swarm, likely of biting insects. This word emphasizes the severity and nuisance of the plague.

Why Exodus 8:29 matters

• This verse clarifies that Moses is not acting on his own power, but must ask the LORD to remove the plague, showing Moses’ humility and dependence on God.
• The warning against deceit shows that Pharaoh has a history of breaking his word, and Moses is holding him accountable, which is a recurring theme in the Exodus story.
• The verse connects to the larger narrative of escalating plagues and broken promises, highlighting the growing conflict between Pharaoh’s stubbornness and God’s demands through Moses.