Exodus 11

1 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to Moses, “I will bring upon Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] and Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] one more [additional, final] plague [a disease or punishment]. After that [following this event, afterwards], he will allow you to leave [send you away, depart from] this place [this land, Egypt]. And when he lets you go [releases you, sets you free], he will drive you out [expel you, thrust you out] completely [totally, altogether]. word study 2 Now announce [speak, declare] to the people [the nation, a multitude] that men [every male, individuals] and women [females, wives] alike [together, equally] should ask [request, inquire of] their neighbors [those nearby, companions] for articles [utensils, objects] of silver [valuable metal, wealth] and gold [precious treasure, riches].” word study 3 And the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] gave the people [a nation, the Israelites] favor [graciousness, kindness] in the sight [eye, regard] of the Egyptians [those from the land of Egypt]. Moreover, Moses [the Israelite leader] himself was highly regarded [very great, esteemed] in Egypt [the land of northeastern Africa] by Pharaoh’s [the king of Egypt] officials [servants, slaves] and by the people [the nation, the populace]. word study 4 So Moses [the Israelite leader] declared, “This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: ‘About [around, at the point of] midnight [the middle of the night, a time of darkness] I will go [come out, exit] throughout [into the midst of, among] Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa], word study 5 and every firstborn [oldest, most prominent] son in the land [territory, region] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] will die [perish, come to an end], from the firstborn [most exalted, privileged] of Pharaoh [the king, ruler] who sits [dwells, remains] on his throne [seat of power, authority], to the firstborn [most humble, lowly] of the servant girl [maidservant, female slave] behind the hand mill [grinding stone, millstone], as well as the firstborn [most vulnerable, dependent] of all the cattle [livestock, animals]. word study 6 Then a great [intense, severe] cry [outcry, lamentation] will go out over all [every part of] the land [earth, territory] of Egypt [the country, its people]. Such an outcry [a cry of distress, a wail] has never been heard [experienced, known] before [previously, in the past] and will never be heard [experienced, known] again [in the future, ever]. word study 7 But among [all the descendants of] all the Israelites [sons of Israel], not even a dog [a lowly or despised creature] will snarl [move its tongue, sharpen its tongue] at man [a human being, male or female] or beast [animal, livestock].’ Then you will know [clearly understand, perceive] that the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] makes a distinction [separates, sets apart wonderfully] between [in the midst of, separating] Egypt [a northeastern African country, the land of the Egyptians] and Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants]. word study 8 And all [every single one] these officials [servants, high-ranking leaders] of yours will come [go down, descend] and bow [prostrate themselves, show respect] before me, saying, ‘Go [come out, depart], you [as the leader] and all [every one] the people [nation, congregation] who follow [are at your feet] you!’ After that [following this event], I will depart [go out, leave].” And hot [burning, intense] with anger [wrath, indignation], Moses left [went out, departed from] Pharaoh’s [the king of Egypt’s] presence [face, court]. word study 9 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to Moses [the Israelite leader], “Pharaoh [the king of Egypt] will not [absence of obedience] listen to you [hear and obey], so that My wonders [miracles, special displays of God’s power] may be multiplied [increased, grown] in the land [the soil or ground, a country] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa].” word study 10 Moses [the Israelite leader, prophet] and Aaron [the first high priest] did all these [miraculous signs] wonders before Pharaoh [the king of Egypt], but the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] hardened [strengthened, made stubborn] Pharaoh’s [the king’s] heart [mind, will, emotions] so that he would not [refused to] let the Israelites [the children of Israel, God’s chosen people] go out of his land [country, territory]. word study