Exodus 10:24
New International Version
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship the LORD. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind.”

New Living Translation
Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses. “Go and worship the LORD,” he said. “But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you.”

English Standard Version
Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the LORD; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship the LORD. Even your little ones may go with you; only your flocks and herds must stay behind.”

King James Bible
And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.

New King James Version
Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you.”

New American Standard Bible
Then Pharaoh called for Moses, and said, “Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be left behind. Even your little ones may go with you.”

NASB 1995
Then Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, “Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be detained. Even your little ones may go with you.”

NASB 1977
Then Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, “Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be detained. Even your little ones may go with you.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve Yahweh; only let your flocks and your herds be detained. Even your little ones may go with you.”

Amplified Bible
Then Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, “Go, serve the LORD; only your flocks and your herds must be left behind. Even your children may go with you.”

Christian Standard Bible
Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship the LORD. Even your families may go with you; only your flocks and herds must stay behind.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship Yahweh. Even your families may go with you; only your flocks and herds must stay behind.”

American Standard Version
And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve Jehovah; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.

Contemporary English Version
The king sent for Moses and told him, "Go worship the LORD! And take your families with you. Just leave your sheep, goats, and cattle."

English Revised Version
And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Pharaoh called for Moses and said, "Go, worship the LORD! Even your women and children may go with you, but your flocks and herds must stay behind."

Good News Translation
The king called Moses and said, "You may go and worship the LORD; even your women and children may go with you. But your sheep, goats, and cattle must stay here."

International Standard Version
Pharaoh called Moses and said, "Go serve the LORD, but your flocks and your cattle are to remain. Even your little ones can go with you!"

Majority Standard Bible
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, ?Go, worship the LORD. Even your little ones may go with you; only your flocks and herds must stay behind.?

NET Bible
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, "Go, serve the LORD--only your flocks and herds will be detained. Even your families may go with you."

New Heart English Bible
Then Pharaoh called to Moses and to Aaron and said, "Go, serve the LORD. Only let your flocks and your herds stay behind. Let your little ones also go with you."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.

World English Bible
Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, “Go, serve Yahweh. Only let your flocks and your herds stay behind. Let your little ones also go with you.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Pharaoh calls to Moses and says, “Go, serve YHWH, only your flock and your herd are stayed, your infants also go with you”;

Young's Literal Translation
And Pharaoh calleth unto Moses and saith, 'Go ye, serve Jehovah, only your flock and your herd are stayed, your infants also go with you;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Pharaoh will call to Moses, and will say, Go ye, serve Jehovah: only your sheep and your oxen shall be left; also your little ones shall go with you.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Pharao called Moses and Aaron, and said to them: Go sacrifice to the Lord: let your sheep only, and herds remain; let your children go with you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, and he said to them: “Go, sacrifice to the Lord. Only let your sheep and herds remain behind. Your little ones may go with you.”

New American Bible
Pharaoh then summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, serve the LORD. Only your flocks and herds will be detained. Even your little ones may go with you.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses, and said, “Go, worship the LORD. Only your flocks and your herds shall remain behind. Even your children may go with you.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Pharaoh called to Moses and said to him, Go, serve before the LORD your God; only let your flocks and herds remain here; let your little ones also go with you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Pharaoh called Moshe and said to him, “Go serve before LORD JEHOVAH, only leave your flocks and your oxen, and also your little ones will go with you.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said: 'Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed; let your little ones also go with you.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Pharao called Moses and Aaron, saying, Go, serve the Lord your God, only leave your sheep and your oxen, and let your store depart with you.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Ninth Plague: Darkness
23No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one left his place. Yet all the Israelites had light in their dwellings. 24Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship the LORD. Even your little ones may go with you; only your flocks and herds must stay behind.” 25But Moses replied, “You must also provide us with sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God.…

Cross References
Exodus 8:25-28
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within this land.” / But Moses replied, “It would not be right to do that, because the sacrifices we offer to the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. If we offer sacrifices that are detestable before the Egyptians, will they not stone us? / We must make a three-day journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as He commands us.” ...

Exodus 12:31-32
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Get up, leave my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. / Take your flocks and herds as well, just as you have said, and depart! And bless me also.”

Exodus 3:18
The elders of Israel will listen to what you say, and you must go with them to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’

Exodus 5:1-3
After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” / But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.” / “The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”

Exodus 9:27-28
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he said. “The LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. / Pray to the LORD, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go; you do not need to stay any longer.”

Exodus 12:21-24
Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and told them, “Go at once and select for yourselves a lamb for each family, and slaughter the Passover lamb. / Take a cluster of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin, and brush the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out the door of his house until morning. / When the LORD passes through to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway; so He will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. ...

Exodus 14:5-9
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.” / So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him. / He took 600 of the best chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. ...

Exodus 8:8-10
Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I will let your people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD.” / Moses said to Pharaoh, “You may have the honor over me. When shall I pray for you and your officials and your people that the frogs (except for those in the Nile) may be taken away from you and your houses?” / “Tomorrow,” Pharaoh answered. “May it be as you say,” Moses replied, “so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God.

Exodus 7:16
Then say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened.

Exodus 4:22-23
Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son, / and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’”

Exodus 6:10-11
So the LORD said to Moses, / “Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his land.”

Exodus 11:1-3
Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring upon Pharaoh and Egypt one more plague. After that, he will allow you to leave this place. And when he lets you go, he will drive you out completely. / Now announce to the people that men and women alike should ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.” / And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.

Exodus 13:17-18
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, though it was shorter. For God said, “If the people face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” / So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle.

Exodus 15:9-10
The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’ / But You blew with Your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

Exodus 18:10-11
Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians. / Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”


Treasury of Scripture

And Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, Go you, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.

go ye

Exodus 10:8,9
And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God: but who are they that shall go? …

Exodus 8:28
And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.

Exodus 9:28
Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.

flocks

Genesis 34:23
Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.

little ones

Exodus 10:10
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.

Jump to Previous
Children Detained Flock Flocks Herd Herds Infants Kept Little Moses Ones Pharaoh Serve Summoned Women Worship
Jump to Next
Children Detained Flock Flocks Herd Herds Infants Kept Little Moses Ones Pharaoh Serve Summoned Women Worship
Exodus 10
1. God threatens to send locusts
7. Pharaoh, moved by his servants, inclines to let the Israelites go
12. The plague of the locusts
16. Pharaoh entreats Moses
21. The plague of darkness
24. Pharaoh again entreats Moses, but yet is hardened














Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said,
Pharaoh's summoning of Moses indicates a moment of desperation and negotiation. This is the ninth plague, the plague of darkness, which has left Egypt in a state of chaos and fear. Pharaoh's authority is challenged by the persistent demands of Moses and the power of God. This summoning reflects the ongoing struggle between Pharaoh's hardened heart and God's will, as seen throughout the narrative of the plagues.

“Go, worship the LORD.
Pharaoh's concession to allow the Israelites to worship signifies a partial acknowledgment of the LORD's power. The term "worship" here is central to the Israelites' identity and purpose, as their journey is not just a physical exodus but a spiritual pilgrimage to serve and honor God. This phrase connects to the broader biblical theme of worship as a response to divine deliverance, seen in passages like Exodus 3:12 and John 4:23-24.

Even your little ones may go with you;
Allowing the children to go highlights the importance of family in worship and covenant community. In the cultural context, children were integral to the community's future and spiritual heritage. This concession by Pharaoh is significant because it acknowledges the communal aspect of Israelite worship, which includes all generations, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:7 and Psalm 78:4-7.

only your flocks and herds must stay behind.”
Pharaoh's insistence on keeping the livestock reveals his attempt to maintain control and leverage over the Israelites. Livestock were essential for sacrifices, sustenance, and economic stability, making them a critical component of Israel's worship and survival. This demand reflects Pharaoh's continued resistance to fully submitting to God's command. The importance of sacrifices is underscored in Leviticus 1-7, and the concept of complete devotion to God is echoed in Romans 12:1.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Pharaoh
The ruler of Egypt who is resistant to God's command to let the Israelites go. His heart is hardened, and he represents the worldly power that opposes God's will.

2. Moses
The prophet and leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt. He acts as a mediator between God and Pharaoh.

3. The Israelites
God's chosen people who are enslaved in Egypt. They are the recipients of God's promise of deliverance.

4. Egypt
The land where the Israelites are enslaved. It symbolizes bondage and opposition to God's purposes.

5. The Plagues
A series of divine judgments on Egypt, demonstrating God's power and authority over Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods.
Teaching Points
Partial Obedience is Disobedience
Pharaoh's offer to let the people go without their flocks and herds represents a compromise that falls short of God's command. In our lives, partial obedience to God's instructions is still disobedience.

The Cost of Worship
True worship involves sacrifice and commitment. Pharaoh's condition to leave the flocks behind would have hindered the Israelites' ability to worship God fully. We must be willing to give up what is necessary to worship God wholeheartedly.

The Persistence of Sin
Pharaoh's repeated attempts to negotiate with God reflect the persistent nature of sin and rebellion. We must be vigilant in recognizing and resisting the subtle ways sin tries to compromise our faith.

God's Sovereignty
Despite Pharaoh's resistance, God's plan for the Israelites' deliverance is unstoppable. This reminds us of God's ultimate control over all circumstances and His faithfulness to His promises.(24) Let your little ones also go with you.--Rather, your families. Pharaoh yields another point, but he will not yield all. He has not yet made up his mind really to "let the people go." He must still keep some hold on them, and the cattle will serve his purpose equally with the "little ones." If the Israelites depart without their cattle, they will be sure to return for them.

Verse 24. - Only let your flocks and your herds be stayed. The pitch darkness is more than Pharaoh can bear. On the third day of its duration probably, he sends a messenger who succeeds in finding Moses, and conducting him to the monarch's presence. He has made up his mind to yield another point - that on which he insisted so strongly at the last interview (vers. 10, 11) - he will let the Israelites go with their families - only, their flocks and herds must remain behind. This will be, he considers, a sufficient security for their return; since without cattle they would be unable to support life for many days in the wilderness. Your little ones. Rather, "your families."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Pharaoh
פַרְעֹ֜ה (p̄ar·‘ōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings

summoned
וַיִּקְרָ֨א (way·yiq·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

Moses
מֹשֶׁ֗ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

and said,
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Go,
לְכוּ֙ (lə·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

worship
עִבְד֣וּ (‘iḇ·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

the LORD.
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

Even
גַּֽם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

your little ones
טַפְּכֶ֖ם (ṭap·pə·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 2945: A family

may go
יֵלֵ֥ךְ (yê·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

with you;
עִמָּכֶֽם׃ (‘im·mā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

only
רַ֛ק (raq)
Adverb
Strong's 7535: But, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless

your flocks
צֹאנְכֶ֥ם (ṣō·nə·ḵem)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

and herds
וּבְקַרְכֶ֖ם (ū·ḇə·qar·ḵem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1241: Beef cattle, ox, a herd

must stay behind.”
יֻצָּ֑ג (yuṣ·ṣāḡ)
Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3322: To place permanently


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OT Law: Exodus 10:24 Pharaoh called to Moses and said Go (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 10:23
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