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Exodus 12:29
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.
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.
NASB Now it came about 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 cattle.
CSB Now at midnight the Lord struck every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon, and every firstborn of the livestock.
NLT And that night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed.
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.
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.

What does Exodus 12:29 mean?

Egypt's refusal to release Hebrew slaves has resulted in the tenth (Exodus 7:21; 8:6, 17, 24; 9:6, 10, 24; 10:14, 23) and worst of all plagues. As promised (Exodus 11:4–6), God kills the firstborn of everyone in Egypt. This includes royalty, prisoners, and even livestock. Israel is spared because of their obedience (Exodus 12:28) and faith, applying lamb's blood to their doors (Exodus 12:13).

When Moses was young, one of Egypt's kings ordered all male Hebrew babies killed (Exodus 1:16, 22). Now, God is judging Egypt with a similar tragedy. The "firstborn" was the primary heir: usually the oldest male child. In ancient cultures, the firstborn was a family's best hope for the future. For taking the futures of so many Israelites and brutally enslaving the people (Exodus 1:11–14), God gives Egypt a taste of their own evils (Psalm 7:12, 16). The shock and despair of this event will finally break Pharaoh's resolve, and he will grant Israel unconditional release (Exodus 12:31–32).

Details about this stroke of death are limited. Scripture mentions no mechanism for how people died. Nor does the Bible give an explicit time—the Hebrew word translated "midnight" means something more like "in the middle of the night." What is clear is the scope: not a single Egyptian home is spared from loss (Exodus 12:30).
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