New Living Translation
Exodus 12:38
38A rabble of non-Israelites went with them, along with great flocks and herds of livestock.
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 caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So they stripped the Egyptians of their wealth! 37That night the people of Israel left Rameses and started for Succoth. There were about 600,000 men, plus all the women and children. A rabble of non-Israelites went with them, along with great flocks and herds of livestock. 39For bread they baked flat cakes from the dough without yeast they had brought from Egypt. It was made without yeast because the people were driven out of Egypt in such a hurry that they had no time to prepare the bread or other food. 40The people of Israel had lived in Egypt for 430 years.
Read all of Exodus 12Exodus 12:38 word by word
וְגַם־עֵ֥רֶב רַ֖ב עָלָ֣ה אִתָּ֑ם וְצֹ֣אן וּבָקָ֔ר מִקְנֶ֖ה כָּבֵ֥ד מְאֹֽד׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Exodus 12:38
- Numbers 11:4Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed.
- Zechariah 8:23“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In those days ten men from different nations and languages of the world will clutch at the sleeve of one Jew. And they will say, ‘Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is 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
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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