The Ninth Plague: Darkness
Exodus 10:21-29
Exo.10.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נטה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ידך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
- על: PREP
- השמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- חשך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- וימש: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- חשך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod.7:19 (verbal): God instructs Moses/Aaron to stretch out the hand/rod to bring a plague on Egypt (waters to blood) — same verbal action and function as bringing a plague by a miraculous sign.
- Exod.8:5 (verbal): The command to stretch out the hand/rod to produce frogs parallels the same ritual gesture/phrase used to summon a plague on Egypt.
- Exod.10:22-23 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: the command in 10:21 results in thick, palpable darkness over Egypt for three days — directly parallels phrase and outcome.
- Matt.27:45 (thematic): Divinely imposed darkness over the land at Jesus' crucifixion — thematic parallel of supernatural darkness as an act/sign of divine judgment or portent.
- Joel 2:31 (allusion): Prophetic imagery of the sun turned to darkness as a sign of the LORD's day/judgment — thematically parallels cosmic/directional darkness used to indicate divine intervention or judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- And YHWH said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the heavens, and let there be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be felt.”
- And YHWH said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward the heavens, and there shall be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be felt.'
Exo.10.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויט: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- ידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- השמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- חשך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אפלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- שלשת: NUM,m,pl,abs
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 10:21-23 (structural): Immediate context: the same narrative block describing Moses stretching out his hand, the thick darkness over Egypt, and the three-day duration; provides full context for v.22.
- Psalm 105:28 (quotation): Psalmic retelling of the Exodus plagues: 'He sent darkness, and made it dark' explicitly echoes the plague of darkness as divine judgment (quotation/allusion to the Exodus tradition).
- Psalm 78:48-51 (thematic): Retells Israel's history of Egyptian plagues, including the sending of darkness and humiliation of Egypt, linking Exodus darkness with collective memory and divine retribution themes.
- Genesis 15:12 (verbal): Uses similar language of 'darkness' falling upon a person ('a horror of great darkness fell upon him'), showing the motif of darkness as a theophanic or ominous sign in the patriarchal/early Israelite tradition.
- Matthew 27:45 (thematic): New Testament instance of cosmic/directional darkness at a moment of divine judgment/salvific action — 'darkness over the land' during the crucifixion — paralleling darkness as sign of divine activity and judgment in Exodus.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses stretched out his hand toward the heavens, and there was darkness—deep gloom—in all the land of Egypt three days.
- And Moses stretched out his hand toward the heavens, and there was deep darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.
Exo.10.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לא: PART_NEG
- ראו: VERB,qal,impv,2,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- אחיו: NOUN,3,m,sg,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- קמו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מתחתיו: PREP+3ms
- שלשת: NUM,m,pl,abs
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ולכל: CONJ+PREP
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- במושבתם: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+3mp
Parallels
- Exod.10:21 (verbal): Immediate preceding description of the ninth plague—'thick darkness... three days'—provides the same event narrative that explains why Egyptians could not see one another while Israel had light.
- Ps.105:28-30 (allusion): Psalmic retelling of the Egyptian plagues: it recounts God sending darkness over Egypt while describing the divine actions that spared Israel, echoing the Exodus tradition.
- Isa.9:2 (thematic): Contrastive theme of darkness versus light: 'the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light' parallels the motif of Israel enjoying light while darkness covers their enemies.
- Luke 1:78-79 (thematic): Zechariah's prophecy about God giving 'light to those who sit in darkness' uses the same covenantal motif of God providing light/salvation to his people amid surrounding darkness.
Alternative generated candidates
- No one saw his brother, and no one rose from his place for three days; but for all the sons of Israel there was light in their dwellings.
- No one saw his brother, and no one rose from his place three days; but for all the sons of Israel there was light in their dwellings.
Exo.10.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לכו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- עבדו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- רק: PRT
- צאנכם: NOUN,m,pl,abs,prsfx:2,m,pl
- ובקרכם: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,prsfx:2,m,pl
- יצג: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- גם: ADV
- טפכם: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss,2,m,pl
- ילך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עמכם: PREP+PRON,2,pl
Parallels
- Exod.8:25-26 (thematic): Earlier negotiation between Pharaoh and Moses about permitting Israelites to sacrifice — Pharaoh grants a limited permission (only within the land / only certain people), paralleling Pharaoh’s conditional offer here (allowing them to go but restricting flocks/herds and who may go).
- Exod.10:25-26 (verbal): Immediate continuation of the same exchange: Moses insists the livestock must go for sacrificial needs (v.25) and Pharaoh reiterates his restrictive offer (v.26). This is the direct dialogic parallel and resolution to v.24.
- Exod.12:35-38 (structural): Narrative outcome of the Exodus: Israelites depart carrying goods and livestock (and a mixed multitude goes up). This contrasts Pharaoh’s attempt to limit departures in 10:24 and shows the eventual result of the negotiations and plagues.
- Ps.105:36-37 (allusion): Liturgical retelling of the Exodus: the psalm recalls God’s judgments and how He brought Israel out, bringing them forth with wealth (silver/gold) and not empty-handed, echoing the theme of Pharaoh’s reluctant release and the Israelites’ departure with possessions/livestock.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve YHWH; only your flock and your herd shall be held back; even your little ones may go with you.”
- And Pharaoh called to Moses and said, 'Go, serve YHWH; only your flocks and your herds shall be held back; even your little ones may go with you.'
Exo.10.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גם: ADV
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- תתן: VERB,qal,imprf,2,_,sg
- בידנו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,1,_,pl
- זבחים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ועלות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ועשינו: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,1,pl
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- אלהינו: NOUN,m,sg,def+PRON,1,pl
Parallels
- Exod.5:3 (verbal): Moses’ initial demand to Pharaoh — “Let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God” — uses essentially the same request language as 10:25.
- Exod.8:25-26 (verbal): During the plague of flies Moses repeats the same plea about bringing offerings and burnt offerings for the LORD, a near‑verbatim parallel to the plea in 10:25.
- Exod.10:24 (structural): The immediately preceding material in the same episode repeats Moses’ appeal to be allowed to leave and offer sacrifices, forming a tightly parallel set of demands within the locust confrontation.
- Exod.12:31-32 (structural): The narrative outcome of the repeated sacrificial request motif: Pharaoh finally tells Israel to go and to take their flocks and herds — the resolution of the same demand that Moses presses in 10:25.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses said, “You also must place into our hands sacrifices and burnt offerings, and we will present them to YHWH our God.”
- And Moses said, 'You yourself must also put into our hands sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may offer to YHWH our God.'
Exo.10.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וגם: CONJ
- מקננו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prep:מ,poss:1,pl
- ילך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עמנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- תשאר: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- פרסה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- ממנו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- נקח: VERB,qal,impf,1,pl
- לעבד: VERB,qal,infc
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהינו: NOUN,m,sg,def+PRON,1,pl
- ואנחנו: CONJ+PRON,1,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- נדע: VERB,qal,impf,1,pl
- מה: PRON,int
- נעבד: VERB,qal,impf,1,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- עד: PREP
- באנו: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,pl
- שמה: ADV
Parallels
- Exodus 3:21-22 (verbal): God promises the Israelites they shall not go away empty and that they will take valuables (and by implication livestock) from the Egyptians—the same motif of taking goods/animals on departure.
- Exodus 12:35-36 (structural): Narrative fulfillment of the promise: the Israelites despoil the Egyptians, taking silver, gold and clothing when they leave Egypt, paralleling the demand that all livestock go with them.
- Numbers 18:15-18 (allusion): Establishes that firstborn animals belong to the LORD and are to be set apart or substituted—connects to the reason given in Exod 10:26 that animals are taken ‘to serve the LORD.’
- Psalm 105:37-38 (thematic): A retrospective poetic retelling of the Exodus emphasizing that God brought Israel out with flocks and herds and with possessions, echoing the claim that their livestock went with them.
Alternative generated candidates
- And also our livestock will go with us; not a hoof shall be left, for from it we will take to serve YHWH our God, and we do not know with what we shall serve YHWH until we come there.”
- And our livestock also shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for from it we will take to serve YHWH our God, and we do not know with what we must serve YHWH until we come there.'
Exo.10.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויחזק: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- לב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ולא: CONJ
- אבה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לשלחם: PREP+VERB,qal,inf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Exodus 4:21 (verbal): God tells Moses explicitly that He will harden Pharaoh's heart — the same divine action and purpose stated earlier in the narrative.
- Exodus 9:12 (verbal): A near-verbatim repetition: 'And the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart,' describing the same refusal to let Israel go after plagues.
- Exodus 14:4 (structural): God again declares He will harden Pharaoh's heart so that Pharaoh will pursue Israel — showing the hardening as part of the larger narrative purpose (deliverance and display of God's power).
- Romans 9:17–18 (allusion): Paul cites the Exodus episode (raising up Pharaoh) to illustrate divine sovereignty over mercy and hardening — a theological reflection on the same hardening motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- And YHWH hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he was not willing to send them.
- And YHWH hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he was not willing to send them.
Exo.10.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- מעלי: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- השמר: VERB,hitpael,imperat,2,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- תסף: VERB,qal,imperfect,2,m,sg
- ראות: VERB,qal,ptc,3,f,pl
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- כי: CONJ
- ביום: PREP
- ראתך: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,sg,obj=2,m,sg
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- תמות: VERB,qal,yiqtol,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod.33:20 (verbal): God tells Moses explicitly 'you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live'—directly parallels Pharaoh's threat that seeing his face will cause death (see/face + death motif).
- Num.12:8 (thematic): God contrasts Moses' unique 'face-to-face' access with ordinary restrictions on seeing God—echoes the theme of who may approach/see a ruler or divine presence.
- Lev.10:1-3 (thematic): The death of Nadab and Abihu for improperly approaching/acting before God illustrates the danger of drawing near the divine presence, paralleling Pharaoh's warning that seeing his face brings death.
- John 1:18 (allusion): 'No one has ever seen God' (or in some traditions 'the only Son...has made him known') resonates with the motif that seeing the face of ultimate authority (God) is forbidden/lethal, a New Testament reflection on the same motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Pharaoh said to him, “Go from me; watch yourself; do not again see my face, for on the day you see my face you shall die.”
- And Pharaoh said to him, 'Go from me; take heed to yourself, do not again see my face, for on the day you see my face you shall die.'
Exo.10.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כן: ADV
- דברת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- אסף: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עוד: ADV
- ראות: VERB,qal,ptc,3,f,pl
- פניך: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 10:28 (quotation): Immediate preceding declaration by Pharaoh — 'See my face no more' — to which Moses responds in 10:29; the two verses form a direct speech-exchange.
- Exodus 12:31-32 (structural): The final rupture and departure scene after the tenth plague; thematically continues the separation between Pharaoh and Moses/Israel that Moses acknowledges in 10:29.
- Exodus 33:20 (verbal): Uses the idiom of 'seeing a face' with fatal or forbidden consequences ('you cannot see my face and live'), paralleling the lethal threat and the formulaic language about not seeing a face in 10:28–29.
- Acts 7:23-36 (allusion): Stephen's retelling of Moses' career recalls the confrontations with Pharaoh and the plagues; the speech alludes to the same narrative of rejection and final separation reflected in Exod 10:29.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses said, “You have spoken rightly; I will not again see your face.”
- And Moses said, 'You have spoken rightly; I will not again see your face.'
And YHWH said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward the heavens, and let there be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be felt.' And Moses stretched out his hand toward the heavens, and there was darkness—deep gloom—in all the land of Egypt, three days.
They did not see one another, and no one rose from his place for three days; but for all the sons of Israel there was light in their dwellings. And Pharaoh called to Moses and said, 'Go, serve YHWH; only your flocks and your herds shall be detained; even your little ones may go with you.' And Moses said, 'You also shall put into our hands sacrifices and burnt offerings, and we will offer to YHWH our God.
'And also our livestock shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for from them we shall take to serve YHWH our God; and we do not know with what we shall serve YHWH until we come there.' And YHWH hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he was not willing to send them. And Pharaoh said to him, 'Go from me; beware for yourself; do not again see my face, for on the day you see my face you shall die.' And Moses said, 'You have spoken rightly; I will not again see your face.'