Exodus 10:7
New International Version
Pharaoh’s officials said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?”

New Living Translation
Pharaoh’s officials now came to Pharaoh and appealed to him. “How long will you let this man hold us hostage? Let the men go to worship the LORD their God! Don’t you realize that Egypt lies in ruins?”

English Standard Version
Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?”

Berean Standard Bible
Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is in ruins?”

King James Bible
And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?

New King James Version
Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?”

New American Standard Bible
Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is destroyed?”

NASB 1995
Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not realize that Egypt is destroyed?”

NASB 1977
And Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not realize that Egypt is destroyed?”

Legacy Standard Bible
And Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve Yahweh their God. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?”

Amplified Bible
Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a trap to us? Let the men go, so that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not realize that Egypt is destroyed?”

Christian Standard Bible
Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long must this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Don’t you realize yet that Egypt is devastated? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long must this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, so that they may worship Yahweh their God. Don’t you realize yet that Egypt is devastated?”

American Standard Version
And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve Jehovah their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?

Contemporary English Version
the king's officials asked, "Your Majesty, how much longer is this man going to be a troublemaker? Why don't you let the people leave, so they can worship the LORD their God? Don't you know that Egypt is a disaster?"

English Revised Version
And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Pharaoh's officials asked him, "How long will this man hold us in his grip? Let the Israelite men go to worship the LORD their God. When will you realize that Egypt is ruined?"

Good News Translation
The king's officials said to him, "How long is this man going to give us trouble? Let the Israelite men go, so that they can worship the LORD their God. Don't you realize that Egypt is ruined?"

International Standard Version
Then the officials of Pharaoh told him, "How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go so they may serve the LORD their God! Don't you realize yet that Egypt is about to be destroyed?"

Majority Standard Bible
Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is in ruins?”

NET Bible
Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long will this man be a menace to us? Release the people so that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not know that Egypt is destroyed?"

New Heart English Bible
Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve their God. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And Pharaoh's servants said to him, How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?

World English Bible
Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve Yahweh, their God. Don’t you yet know that Egypt is destroyed?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the servants of Pharaoh say to him, “Until when does this [one] become a snare to us? Send the men away, and they serve their God YHWH; do you not yet know that Egypt has perished?”

Young's Literal Translation
And the servants of Pharaoh say unto him, 'Until when doth this one become a snare to us? send the men away, and they serve Jehovah their God; knowest thou not yet that Egypt hath perished?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Pharaoh's servants will say to him, How long will this, be to us for a snare? Send forth the men, and they shall serve Jehovah their God, before thou shalt know that Egypt is destroyed.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Pharao's servants said to him: How long shall we endure this scandal? let the men go to sacrifice to the Lord their God. Dost thou not see that Egypt is undone?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then the servants of Pharaoh said to him: “How long must we endure this scandal? Release the men, in order to sacrifice to the Lord their God. Do you not see that Egypt is perishing?”

New American Bible
But Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will he be a snare for us? Let the people go to serve the LORD, their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is being destroyed?”

New Revised Standard Version
Pharaoh’s officials said to him, “How long shall this fellow be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God; do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Pharaoh's servants said to him, How long shall we suffer this disaster? Let the men go that they may serve the LORD their God; do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And his Servants said to Pharaoh, “How long will we have this scandal? Send away the men and they shall serve LORD JEHOVAH their God. Do you not know that you have destroyed Egypt?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Pharaoh's servants said unto him: 'How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God, knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the servants of Pharao say to him, How long shall this be a snare to us? send away the men, that they may serve their God; wilt thou know that Egypt is destroyed?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Eighth Plague: Locusts
6They will fill your houses and the houses of all your officials and every Egyptian—something neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen since the day they came into this land.’ ” Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh’s presence. 7Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is in ruins?” 8So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “Go, worship the LORD your God,” he said. “But who exactly will be going?”…

Cross References
Exodus 8:19
“This is the finger of God,” the magicians said to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.

Exodus 9:20-21
Those among Pharaoh’s officials who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their servants and livestock to shelter, / but those who disregarded the word of the LORD left their servants and livestock in the field.

Exodus 12:33
And in order to send them out of the land quickly, the Egyptians urged the people on. “For otherwise,” they said, “we are all going to die!”

Exodus 14:12
Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Numbers 14:3-4
Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” / So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”

Numbers 16:13-14
Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also appoint yourself as ruler over us? / Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!”

1 Samuel 6:6
Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs? When He afflicted them, did they not send the people out so they could go on their way?

1 Kings 18:17-18
When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” / “I have not troubled Israel,” Elijah replied, “but you and your father’s house have, for you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.

2 Kings 6:33
While Elisha was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him. And the king said, “This calamity is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”

Psalm 105:25-36
whose hearts He turned to hate His people, to conspire against His servants. / He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron, whom He had chosen. / They performed His miraculous signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. ...

Isaiah 19:11-14
The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”? / Where are your wise men now? Let them tell you and reveal what the LORD of Hosts has planned against Egypt. / The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Memphis are deceived. The cornerstones of her tribes have led Egypt astray. ...

Jeremiah 44:16-17
“As for the word you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you! / Instead, we will do everything we vowed to do: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and offer drink offerings to her, just as we, our fathers, our kings, and our officials did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and good things, and we saw no disaster.

Ezekiel 20:8
But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.

Matthew 27:19
While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”

Mark 15:14-15
“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!” / And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.


Treasury of Scripture

And Pharaoh's servants said to him, How long shall this man be a snare to us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: know you not yet that Egypt is destroyed?

how long

Exodus 10:3
And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.

snare

Exodus 23:33
They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.

Joshua 23:13
Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

1 Samuel 18:21
And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.

that Egypt

Psalm 107:34
A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

Isaiah 14:20
Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.

Isaiah 51:9
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?

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Awake Cause Danger Destroyed Egypt Egypt's Evil Officials Pharaoh Pharaoh's Realize Ruined Servants Serve Snare Understand 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














Pharaoh’s servants said to him
This phrase highlights the internal dynamics within Pharaoh's court. The Hebrew word for "servants" (עֲבָדָיו, avadav) can also mean "officials" or "advisors," indicating that these were not mere household servants but influential figures in the Egyptian hierarchy. Their boldness in addressing Pharaoh suggests a significant level of desperation and urgency. Historically, this reflects a moment when even the most loyal supporters of Pharaoh began to question his decisions, showing the extent of the plagues' impact on Egypt.

How long will this man be a snare to us?
The word "snare" (מוֹקֵשׁ, moqesh) in Hebrew conveys the idea of a trap or a source of entanglement. This metaphor suggests that Moses, through the power of God, has become an inescapable problem for the Egyptians. Theologically, this reflects the futility of resisting God's will. The servants' question implies a recognition of Moses' divine backing and the inevitability of God's plan, urging Pharaoh to reconsider his stance.

Let the men go, so that they may worship the LORD their God
The phrase "Let the men go" (שַׁלַּח אֶת-הָאֲנָשִׁים, shalach et-ha'anashim) is a direct plea for action. The term "worship" (יַעַבְדוּ, ya'avdu) is significant, as it denotes service and devotion, not merely a ritualistic act. This highlights the central theme of Exodus: liberation for the purpose of serving God. The servants acknowledge the legitimacy of the Israelites' request to worship, which underscores the recognition of the LORD's authority even among the Egyptians.

Do you not yet realize that Egypt is in ruins?
The phrase "in ruins" (אָבְדָה, avdah) indicates total devastation. The Hebrew root אָבַד (avad) means to perish or be destroyed, emphasizing the severe consequences of Pharaoh's obstinacy. This rhetorical question serves as a wake-up call to Pharaoh, urging him to see the reality of his nation's suffering. Historically, this reflects the cumulative effect of the plagues, which have brought Egypt to the brink of collapse. Spiritually, it serves as a warning against pride and the refusal to submit to God's will, illustrating the destructive path of hard-heartedness.

(7) Let the men go.--Though the heart of Pharaoh remained hard, the plagues had a certain effect on the minds of the Egyptians. First, the magicians were impressed, and said, "This is the finger of God" (Exodus 8:19). Then a certain number of the people "feared the word of the Lord, and made their servants and their cattle flee into the houses" (Exodus 9:20). Now the very officers of the Court, those who were in the closest contact with the king, believed that the words of Moses would come true, and counselled the king to yield, and "let the men go." It has been supposed that they meant "the men only" (Knobel, Cook); but this is pure conjecture. The word used, which is not that of Exodus 10:11, would cover women and children. The officers of the Court--rich landowners mostly--would dread impending ruin if the wheat and doora crops were destroyed, and would intend to counsel entire submission.

Verse 7. - And Pharaoh's servants said unto him. This marks quite a new phase in the proceedings. Hitherto the courtiers generally had been dumb. Once the magicians had ventured to say - "This is the finger of God" (Exodus 8:19); but otherwise the entire court had been passive, and left the king to himself. They are even said to have "hardened their hearts" like him (Exodus 9:34). But now at last they break their silence and interfere. Having lost most of their cattle, and a large part of the year's crops, the great men became alarmed - they were large landed proprietors, and the destruction of the wheat and doora crops would seriously impoverish, if not actually ruin them. Moreover, it is to be noted that they interfere before the plague has begun, when it is simply threatened, which shows that they had come to believe in the power of Moses. Such a belief on the part of some had appeared, when the plague of hail was threatened (Exodus 9:20); now it would seem to have become general. A snare to us - i.e. "a peril" - "a source of danger," the species being put for the genus.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

officials
עַבְדֵ֨י (‘aḇ·ḏê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

asked him,
וַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“How long
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

will this
זֶ֥ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

man be
יִהְיֶ֨ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a snare to us?
לְמוֹקֵ֔שׁ (lə·mō·w·qêš)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4170: A bait or lure, a snare

Let the people
הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (hā·’ă·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

go,
שַׁלַּח֙ (šal·laḥ)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

so that they may worship
וְיַֽעַבְד֖וּ (wə·ya·‘aḇ·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

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

their God.
אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם (’ĕ·lō·hê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

Do you not yet realize
תֵּדַ֔ע (tê·ḏa‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

Egypt
מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (miṣ·rā·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

is in ruins?”
אָבְדָ֖ה (’ā·ḇə·ḏāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6: To wander away, lose oneself, to perish


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OT Law: Exodus 10:7 Pharaoh's servants said to him How long (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 10:6
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