Exodus 12:38

Exodus 12:38 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
• New International Version (NIV)Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of livestock.

Context of Exodus 12:38

36The Lord had caused the Egyptians to be kind to the Israelites. Because of this, the Egyptians gave the Israelites everything that they asked for. In that way, the Israelites took away all the valuable things that belonged to the Egyptians. 37The Israelites travelled from Rameses to Succoth. There were about 600,000 men who walked. There were also many women and children. Many other people also travelled with them. They had a very large number of sheep, goats and cows. 39The Israelites cooked the bread that they had brought with them from Egypt. It had no yeast in it, because they had to leave Egypt quickly. The Egyptians did not let them wait. So the Israelites did not have time to prepare any food for themselves. 40The Israelites had lived in Egypt for 430 years.

Exodus 12:38 word by word

וְגַם־עֵ֥רֶב רַ֖ב עָלָ֣ה אִתָּ֑ם וְצֹ֣אן וּבָקָ֔ר מִקְנֶ֖ה כָּבֵ֥ד מְאֹֽד׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And a mixedעֵ֫רֶב‛êreb ‛ereb · mixtureH6154
• multitudeרַבrab · manyH7227
• went upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• also with them; and flocksצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629
• and herdsבָּקָרbâqâr · cattleH1241
• veryמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
• muchכָּבֵדkâbêd · heavyH3515
• cattleמִקְנֶהmiqneh · livestockH4735

Cross-references for Exodus 12:38

• Numbers 11:4Some foreign people were travelling with the Israelites. Those people wanted very much to eat better food. So the Israelites wept again. They said, ‘We want meat to eat!
• Zechariah 8:23‘Then, ten men from foreign countries will hold the coat of one Jew,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘They will say, “People have told us that the Lord is with you. So we want to go with you.” ’

Commentaries on Exodus 12:38

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38A mixed multitude - Probably remains of the old Semitic population, whether first brought into the district by the Hyksos or not is uncertain. As natural objects of suspicion and dislike to the Egyptians who had lately become masters of the country, they would be anxious to escape, the more especially after the calamities which preceded the Exodus. Very much cattle - This is an important fact, both as showing that the oppression of the Israelites had not…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 37-42Verses 37-42 The children of Israel set forward without delay. A mixed multitude went with them. Some, perhaps, willing to leave their country, laid waste by plagues; others, out of curiosity; perhaps a few out of love to them and their religion. But there were always those among the Israelites who were not Israelites. Thus there are still hypocrites in the church. This great event was 430 years from the promise made to Abraham: see Ga 3:17. So long the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 38a mixed multitude: Some of these people later became unhappy and caused the Israelites to complain about their problems (see Numbers 11:4). We are not told why they joined the Israelites. Perhaps some trusted in the Lord because of the plagues. Others probably saw it as a chance for a better life elsewhere.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3838. a mixed multitude went with them--literally, "a great rabble" (see also Nu 11:4; De 29:11); slaves, persons in the lowest grades of society, partly natives and partly foreigners, bound close to them as companions in misery, and gladly availing themselves of the opportunity to escape in the crowd. (Compare Zec 8:23).Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 12:38

• Israel
• Passover

In the dictionaries

• Mixed multitude
• Blood
• Convocation
• Cry
• Herdsman
• Leaven
• Mean
• Observe
• Passover
• Purtenance

Commentaries on Exodus 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings