For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.

NUMBERS 33:4KJV
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Numbers 33:4 (KJV)

What does Numbers 33:4 mean?

Numbers 33:4 describes how the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn sons, whom the LORD had struck down during the final plague, and states that the LORD also brought judgment on the gods of Egypt. This verse highlights both the sorrow in Egypt after the tenth plague and the defeat of Egypt’s religious system.

The verse is part of a summary Moses gives to the Israelites as they recount their journey out of Egypt. It reminds the people that their departure came after a decisive act of judgment by the LORD (H3068), not only against the Egyptians (H4714) themselves but also against their gods (H430), showing the LORD’s power over Egypt’s deities and the seriousness of the event.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 33:4

  • אֱלֹהִים (’elohim, H430): This word is often translated as “gods” here, referring to the deities worshipped by the Egyptians. The verse states that the LORD executed judgments on these gods, which can mean both a defeat of their spiritual claims and a blow to their reputation and power in the eyes of the people.
  • שָׁפַט (mishpat, H8201): Translated as “judgments,” this word carries the sense of legal decisions or acts of justice. The verse emphasizes that what happened was not random tragedy but an act of deliberate judgment by the LORD.
  • נָכָה (nakah, H5221): This verb, translated as “smitten,” means to strike or defeat. It underlines that the death of the firstborn was a direct action by the LORD, not a natural disaster.

Why Numbers 33:4 matters

  • Numbers 33:4 clarifies that the plagues were not just natural disasters but targeted acts of judgment by the LORD, specifically against Egypt’s religious system as well as its people.
  • The verse connects the sorrow of the Egyptians (burying their firstborn) with the spiritual defeat of their gods, showing that the Exodus was both a physical and a theological turning point.
  • By recounting these details as the Israelites journey out, the passage reminds readers that their freedom came through the LORD’s decisive intervention, reinforcing the uniqueness and supremacy of their God.