God’s Word Translation
Exodus 10:23
23People couldn’t see each other, and no one went anywhere for three days. But all the Israelites had light where they were living.
Exodus 10:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
- New International Version (NIV)No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.
- English Standard Version (ESV)They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived.
- New King James Version (NKJV)They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
Context of Exodus 10:23
21Then the Lord said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward the sky, and a darkness ⌞so thick⌟ that it can be felt will come over Egypt.” 22Moses lifted his hand toward the sky, and throughout Egypt there was total darkness for three days. People couldn’t see each other, and no one went anywhere for three days. But all the Israelites had light where they were living. 24Then Pharaoh called for Moses and said, “Go, worship the Lord! Even your women and children may go with you, but your flocks and herds must stay behind.” 25But Moses said, “You must allow us to take ⌞our animals⌟ for the sacrifices and burnt offerings we have to make to the Lord our God.
Read all of Exodus 10Exodus 10:23 word by word
לֹֽא־רָא֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־אָחִ֗יו וְלֹא־קָ֛מוּ אִ֥ישׁ מִתַּחְתָּ֖יו שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וּֽלְכָל־בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הָ֥יָה א֖וֹר בְּמוֹשְׁבֹתָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- They sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- not oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- anotherאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
- neither roseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
- from his place for threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
- daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- but all the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- had lightאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
- in their dwellingsמוֹשָׁבmôshâb môshâb · seatH4186
Cross-references for Exodus 10:23
- Exodus 8:22But on that day I will treat the region of Goshen differently. That is where my people live. There won’t be any flies there. This way you will know that I, the Lord, am here in this land.
- Exodus 9:4But the Lord will distinguish between Israel’s livestock and the livestock of the Egyptians. No animals belonging to the Israelites will die.’ ”
- Exodus 14:20between the Egyptian camp and the Israelite camp. The ⌞column of⌟ smoke was there when darkness came, and it lit up the night. Neither side came near the other all night long.
- Joshua 24:7When your ancestors cried out to the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians. He made the sea flow back and cover them. You saw for yourselves what I did to Egypt. Then you lived in the desert for a long time.
- Isaiah 42:16I will lead the blind on unfamiliar roads. I will lead them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light in front of them. I will make rough places smooth. These are the things I will do for them, and I will never abandon them.
- Isaiah 60:1Arise! Shine! Your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned.
- Isaiah 65:13This is what the Lord God says: My servants will eat, but you will be hungry. My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. My servants will be glad, but you will be ashamed.
- Malachi 3:18Then you will again see the difference between righteous people and wicked people, between the one who serves God and the one who doesn’t serve him.
- Colossians 1:13God has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of his Son, whom he loves.
- 1 Peter 2:9However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Commentaries on Exodus 10:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23They saw not one another - So deep was the obscurity, and probably such was its nature, that no artificial light could be procured; as the thick clammy vapors would prevent lamps, etc., from burning, or if they even could be ignited, the light through the palpable obscurity, could diffuse itself to no distance from the burning body. The author of the book of The Wisdom of Solomon 17:2-19, gives a fearful description of this plague. He says, "The Egyptians…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Had light in their dwellings - The sandstorm, if such were the cause, may not have extended to the district of Goshen; but the expression clearly denotes a miraculous intervention, whether accomplished or not by natural agencies.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-29Verses 21-29 The plague of darkness brought upon Egypt was a dreadful plague. It was darkness which might be felt, so thick were the fogs. It astonished and terrified. It continued three days; six nights in one; so long the most lightsome palaces were dungeons. Now Pharaoh had time to consider, if he would have improved it. Spiritual darkness is spiritual bondage; while Satan blinds men's eyes that they see not, he binds their hands and feet, that they…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-29The ninth plague was the plague of darkness (10:21). The chief god of Egypt through the centuries, who appeared under several different names, was the sun. At this time, he was known as Amon-Re. He was supreme over all the other gods and was considered to be the ultimate source of life. The Lord showed that the sun’s light is completely under his control. God could shut it off from Egypt proper, while leaving it to shine in Goshen in the northeast part of…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2921-23. Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness--Whatever secondary means were employed in producing it, whether thick clammy fogs and vapors, according to some; a sandstorm, or the chamsin, according to others; it was such that it could be almost perceived by the organs of touch, and so protracted as to continue for three days, which the chamsin does [Hengstenberg]. The appalling character of this calamity consisted in this, that…Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 10:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 10
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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