Exodus 10:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But he said to them, "The Lord be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! Look, you have some evil purpose in mind.

NIV: Pharaoh said, "The Lord be with you—if I let you go, along with your women and children! Clearly you are bent on evil.

NASB: Then he said to them, 'So may the Lord be with you, when I let you and your little ones go! Watch out, for evil is on your mind!

CSB: He said to them, "The Lord would have to be with you if I would ever let you and your families go! Look out—you’re heading for trouble.

NLT: Pharaoh retorted, 'The Lord will certainly need to be with you if I let you take your little ones! I can see through your evil plan.

KJV: And he said unto them, Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.

NKJV: Then he said to them, “The Lord had better be with you when I let you and your little ones go! Beware, for evil is ahead of you.

This remark may be sarcastic, but it is certainly a refusal. Pharaoh is attempting to negotiate out of the impending plague of locusts (Exodus 10:3–7). He has suggested that some Hebrew slaves be given leave to worship (Exodus 10:8). Moses has made it clear that every person, animal, and resource which belongs to Israel will be leaving. There is no room for negotiation there.

Pharaoh is sneering at the idea that he would voluntarily release the Israeli children. Translators differ slightly in how they interpret his words. He may be sarcastically using the name Yahweh, printed in English as "Lord." He may be saying that Moses and Aaron would need divine protection if such a thing happened. He may be ironically saying that it would be a genuinely great miracle if he agreed with Moses.

The reference to evil can also be interpreted in different ways. This may be Pharaoh's attempt to blame Moses and Aaron for his own actions. It might be a threat: a warning that he may choose to retaliate as he did before (Exodus 5:9, 17–19). Either way, it emphasizes his refusal to release all God's people.

Exodus 10:1–11 sets up the eighth of ten plagues which God has sent to prove His power to all generations. Moses once again delivers the Lord's command that Egypt release the Hebrew slaves. But Pharaoh is even more stubborn than usual, as God's punishment for his constant disobedience. By now, even Pharaoh's advisors recognize the power they are facing. They encourage negotiation. Pharaoh agrees to let only the male Hebrews leave for worship—then sends Moses away when this is not accepted.

Moses warns Pharaoh that an eighth plague will come if the Hebrew slaves are not set free. This will be the worst locust invasion the nation will ever see. Pharaoh's advisors beg him to negotiate. He offers to release only Israelite men, which Moses rejects. The locust plague eradicates everything that survived the earlier hailstorm. Pharaoh pleads for relief, only to break his promise once again when the danger has passed. Next come three days of intense darkness. Pharaoh once again tries to arrange a partial release. When Moses refuses, Pharaoh threatens to kill him if he ever comes back.

Seven times, God has sent supernatural judgment against the nation of Egypt (Exodus 7—9). Each time, Pharaoh has refused to obey God's command to release the Israelite slaves. As a result, God will no longer give Pharaoh the ability to repent (Proverbs 29:1). Despite an epic, devastating locust invasion and three days of darkness, Pharaoh still refuses to submit. Rather, he threatens Moses with death. This will lead Moses to predict the last and worst of the ten plagues (Exodus 11). The tragic death of Egypt's firstborn during the Passover (Exodus 12) will finally lead to Israelite freedom.

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.