Exodus 10:23

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.

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.

NASB They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings.

CSB One person could not see another, and for three days they did not move from where they were. Yet all the Israelites had light where they lived.

NLT During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived.

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.

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.

What does Exodus 10:23 mean?

God has brought intense disasters on the nation of Egypt (Exodus 7:21; 8:6, 17, 24; 9:6, 10, 24; 10:14). Each has come because Egypt's king, the pharaoh, has refused commands to release the Hebrew slaves (Exodus 5:1; 7:16; 8:1, 21; 9:1, 13; 10:3). Instead, he has been stubborn and prideful (Exodus 5:2; 7:13–14, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 35; 10:20). Each plague also suggested that the Egyptian idols thought to control certain aspects of nature were helpless against the God of the Israelites. This ninth event is an overt challenge to one of Egypt's most important deities: the sun god, Ra.

The prior verse used two separate words to amplify the darkness which came over Egypt. Here, it is said that the people stayed in their homes for three days and "did not see one another." A common interpretation is that this darkness is a supernatural blinding, preventing even the use of artificial lights. But this uses a word that can also be translated as "behold," "regard," or even "appear." Many commentators note that sandstorms can almost completely block out sunlight. An earlier plague involved lethal hail and lightning (Exodus 9:24–25). So, it's possible the people of Egypt huddled in their homes, too afraid to come out. These constant disasters are not only ruining Egyptian life, but they are also eroding trust in their Pharoah (Exodus 11:3)

More important is the meaning of the plague of darkness. The Lord adds even greater emphasis to His attack on Egyptian idols by keeping it from affecting His people in Goshen (Genesis 47:27; Exodus 8:22; 9:26). Scripture does not record any appeal from Pharaoh or prayers by Moses, so this plague may have come and gone without the two men speaking to each other.

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