Exodus 11:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the Lord said to Moses, "Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt."

NIV: The Lord had said to Moses, "Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt."

NASB: Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My wonders will be multiplied in the land of Egypt.'

CSB: The Lord said to Moses, "Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt."

NLT: Now the Lord had told Moses earlier, 'Pharaoh will not listen to you, but then I will do even more mighty miracles in the land of Egypt.'

KJV: And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.

NKJV: But the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

This is the second time the Lord explicitly explains that Pharaoh will refuse to listen to Moses (Exodus 7:4). He told Moses from the beginning that Egypt's king would be hard-headed and require extreme measures to convince (Exodus 3:19–20; 4:21–23). Most of this was Pharaoh's own choice (Exodus 5:2; 7:14, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 34). Eventually, the Lord stopped extending Pharoah more time to repent (Proverbs 29:1) and began to use him as an illustration of divine wrath (Exodus 4:21–23; 10:1–2). God intends to use these events as a lesson for all of history.

Moses is angry (Exodus 11:8) but the Lord reminds him that this is all part of His expected plan. The final plague (Exodus 11:4–7) will finally inspire Egypt to release the captive nation of Israel (Exodus 12:30–33).

Exodus 11:4–10 records Moses' declaration of the final plague. He is still in the presence of Pharaoh, who has just threated Moses with death after the ninth plague (Exodus 10:28–29). In the night, God will kill every firstborn in Egypt—including those of cattle, slaves, and even the royal family itself. The Israelites will be spared, and Egypt will beg for the Israelites to leave. Moses then leaves, furious at Pharaoh. God reminds Moses that Pharaoh was never going to submit; these events happened to proclaim God's power to the world.

Immediately after being threatened by Pharaoh (Exodus 10:28–29), Moses is given more instructions from the Lord. He is to instruct the Israelites to ask Egyptians for jewelry. Recent events will have intimidated them enough to be generous. God also tells Moses to predict the last and worst plague: the death off all Egyptian firstborn. This will be the most terrible disaster of Egypt's entire history. It will also lead directly to Israelite freedom. Moses expresses this grim promise in furious anger but is reassured by God that this is all part of an expected plan.

Since the Lord sent Moses back into Egypt (Exodus 3—4), Pharoah has refused multiple commands to release the Hebrew slaves. This has brought nine epic disasters to his nation (Exodus 5—10). Most recently, Pharaoh has threatened to kill Moses if these discussions continue (Exodus 10:28–29). Moses hears instructions from the Lord which include a prediction about the last, and worst, of the plagues of Egypt. In the following chapter, God will establish the Passover and free the Israelites as Egypt mourns catastrophic losses (Exodus 12).

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.

Accessed 4/16/2025 2:03:31 PM