God’s Word Translation
Exodus 12:29
29At midnight the Lord killed every firstborn male in Egypt from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who ruled the land to the firstborn son of the prisoner in jail, and also every firstborn animal.
Exodus 12:29 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
- New International Version (NIV)At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well.
- English Standard Version (ESV)At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock.
Context of Exodus 12:29
27you must answer, ‘It’s the Passover sacrifice in the Lord’s honor. The Lord passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he killed the Egyptians.’ ” Then the people knelt, bowing with their faces touching the ground. 28The Israelites did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. At midnight the Lord killed every firstborn male in Egypt from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who ruled the land to the firstborn son of the prisoner in jail, and also every firstborn animal. 30Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the ⌞other⌟ Egyptians got up during the night. There was loud crying throughout Egypt because in every house someone had died. 31Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron during the night. He said, “You and the Israelites must leave my people at once. Go, worship the Lord as you asked.
Read all of Exodus 12Exodus 12:29 word by word
וַיְהִ֣י׀ בַּחֲצִ֣י הַלַּ֗יְלָה וַֽיהוָה֮ הִכָּ֣ה כָל־בְּכוֹר֮ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַיִם֒ מִבְּכֹ֤ר פַּרְעֹה֙ הַיֹּשֵׁ֣ב עַל־כִּסְא֔וֹ עַ֚ד בְּכ֣וֹר הַשְּׁבִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית הַבּ֑וֹר וְכֹ֖ל בְּכ֥וֹר בְּהֵמָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it came to pass, that at midnightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
- And it came to pass, that at midnightחֲצִיchêtsîy · halfH2677
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- smoteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
- all the firstbornבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060
- in the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- of Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
- of Pharaohפַּרְעֹהpar‛ôh · PharaohH6547
- that satיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- on his throneכִּסֵּאkissê' kissêh · throneH3678
- of the captiveשְׁבִיshebîy · captivityH7628
- in the dungeonבּוֹרbôr · pitH953
- in the dungeonבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- of cattleבְּהֵמָהbehêmâh · animalH929
Cross-references for Exodus 12:29
- Exodus 12:12“On that same night I will go throughout Egypt and kill every firstborn male, both human and animal. I will severely punish all the gods of Egypt, ⌞because⌟ I am the Lord.
- Exodus 11:4Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: About midnight I will go out among the Egyptians.
- Exodus 13:15When Pharaoh was too stubborn to let us go, the Lord killed every firstborn male in Egypt—human and animal. This is why we sacrifice every firstborn male to the Lord and buy every firstborn son back from the Lord.’
- Job 34:20They die suddenly in the middle of the night. People have seizures and pass away. Mighty people are taken away but not by human hands.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
- Numbers 3:13because every firstborn is mine. The day I killed every firstborn male in Egypt, I set apart as holy every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They will be mine. I am the Lord.”
- Numbers 8:17Every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal, is mine. The day I killed every firstborn male in Egypt, I set them apart as holy to me.
- Numbers 33:4The Egyptians were burying all their firstborn sons, whom the Lord had killed in a mighty act of judgment on their gods.
- Psalms 78:51He slaughtered every firstborn in Egypt, the ones born in the tents of Ham when their fathers were young.
- Psalms 105:36He killed all the firstborn sons, the first ones born in the land when their fathers were young.
- Psalms 135:8He is the one who killed every firstborn male in Egypt. He killed humans and animals alike.
- Psalms 136:10Give thanks to the one who killed the firstborn males in Egypt— because his mercy endures forever.
- Hebrews 11:28Faith led Moses to establish the Passover and spread the blood ⌞on the doorposts⌟ so that the destroying angel would not kill the firstborn sons.
- Hebrews 12:23and to the assembly of God’s firstborn children (whose names are written in heaven). You have come to a judge (the God of all people) and to the spirits of people who have God’s approval and have gained eternal life.
- Exodus 4:23I told you to let my son go so that he may worship me. But you refused to let him go. So now I’m going to kill your firstborn son.’ ”
- Exodus 11:5Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who rules the land, to the firstborn children of female slaves who use their handmills, including every firstborn domestic animal.
Commentaries on Exodus 12:29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29Smote all the first born - If we take the term first-born in its literal sense only, we shall be led to conclude that in a vast number of the houses of the Egyptians there could have been no death, as it is not at all likely that every first-born child of every Egyptian family was still alive, and that all the first-born of their cattle still remained. And yet it is said, Exodus 12:30, that there was not a house where there was not one dead. The word…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29This plague is distinctly attributed here and in Exodus 12:23 to the personal intervention of the Lord; but it is to be observed that although the Lord Himself passed through to smite the Egyptians, He employed the agency of “the destroyer” Exodus 12:23, in whom, in accordance with Hebrews 11:28, all the ancient versions, and most critics, recognize an Angel (compare 2 Kings 19:35; 2 Samuel 24:16).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 29-36Verses 29-36 The Egyptians had been for three days and nights kept in anxiety and horror by the darkness; now their rest is broken by a far more terrible calamity. The plague struck their first-born, the joy and hope of their families. They had slain the Hebrews' children, now God slew theirs. It reached from the throne to the dungeon: prince and peasant stand upon the same level before God's judgments. The destroying angel entered every dwelling unmarked…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 28-30The predicted plague was fulfilled. Just as death spares no one, so no one in Egypt, from Pharaoh to the lowest prisoner, escaped the effects of Pharaoh’s pride.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2929. at midnight the Lord smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt--At the moment when the Israelites were observing the newly instituted feast in the singular manner described, the threatened calamity overtook the Egyptians. It is more easy to imagine than describe the confusion and terror of that people suddenly roused from sleep and enveloped in darkness--none could assist their neighbors when the groans of the dying and the wild shrieks of…Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 12:29
In the dictionaries
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
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