Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back, New Living Translation If you continue to hold them and refuse to let them go, English Standard Version For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them, Berean Standard Bible But if you continue to restrain them and refuse to let them go, King James Bible For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, New King James Version For if you refuse to let them go, and still hold them, New American Standard Bible For if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them, NASB 1995 “For if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them, NASB 1977 “For if you refuse to let them go, and continue to hold them, Legacy Standard Bible For if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them, Amplified Bible But if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them, Christian Standard Bible But if you refuse to let them go and keep holding them, Holman Christian Standard Bible But if you refuse to let them go and keep holding them, American Standard Version For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, Contemporary English Version If you keep refusing, English Revised Version For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, GOD'S WORD® Translation If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them [in slavery], Good News Translation If you again refuse to let them go, International Standard Version But if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them, Majority Standard Bible But if you continue to restrain them and refuse to let them go, NET Bible For if you refuse to release them and continue holding them, New Heart English Bible For if you refuse to let them go, and hold them still, Webster's Bible Translation For if thou shalt refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, World English Bible For if you refuse to let them go, and hold them still, Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionfor if you are refusing to send [them] away, and are still keeping hold on them, Young's Literal Translation for, if thou art refusing to send away, and art still keeping hold upon them, Smith's Literal Translation For if thou refusest to send forth, but yet thou holdest fast upon them, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut if thou refuse, and withhold them still: Catholic Public Domain Version But if you still refuse, and you retain them, New American Bible For if you refuse to let them go and persist in holding them, New Revised Standard Version For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor if you refuse to let them go (and until now you have withheld them), Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And if you choose not to send away, and until now you are holding onto them, OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, Brenton Septuagint Translation If however thou wilt not send my people away, but yet detainest them: Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Fifth Plague: Livestock1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. 2But if you continue to restrain them and refuse to let them go, 3then the hand of the LORD will bring a severe plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks.… Cross References Exodus 5:1-2 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.” 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 8:1-2 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. / But if you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs. Exodus 10:3-4 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. / But if you refuse to let My people go, I will bring locusts into your territory tomorrow. Exodus 11:9-10 The LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” / Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not let the Israelites go out of his land. Exodus 14:17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. Then I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army and chariots and horsemen. Deuteronomy 6:22 Before our eyes the LORD inflicted great and devastating signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his household. Deuteronomy 7:19 the great trials that you saw, the signs and wonders, and the mighty hand and outstretched arm by which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear. Deuteronomy 11:3-4 the signs and works He did in Egypt to Pharaoh king of Egypt and all his land; / what He did to the Egyptian army and horses and chariots when He made the waters of the Red Sea engulf them as they pursued you, and how He destroyed them completely, even to this day; Psalm 78:43-51 when He performed His signs in Egypt and His wonders in the fields of Zoan. / He turned their rivers to blood, and from their streams they could not drink. / He sent swarms of flies that devoured them, and frogs that devastated them. ... Psalm 105:27-36 They performed His miraculous signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. / He sent darkness, and it became dark—yet they defied His words. / He turned their waters to blood and caused their fish to die. ... Psalm 135:8-9 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, of both man and beast. / He sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants. Psalm 136:10-12 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever. / and brought Israel out from among them His loving devotion endures forever. / with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. His loving devotion endures forever. Acts 7:36 He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness. Romans 9:17-18 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” / Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden. Treasury of Scripture For if you refuse to let them go, and will hold them still, Exodus 4:23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn. Exodus 8:2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs: Exodus 10:4 Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast: Jump to Previous Continue Hold Keeping Power Refuse Refusing Retain WiltJump to Next Continue Hold Keeping Power Refuse Refusing Retain WiltExodus 9 1. The plague on livestock8. The plague of boils 13. The message of Moses about the hail, 22. The plague of hail 27. Pharaoh pleads with Moses, but yet is hardened But if you continue to restrain them This phrase addresses Pharaoh's persistent refusal to release the Israelites from bondage. The Hebrew word for "restrain" implies a deliberate act of holding back or preventing freedom. This reflects Pharaoh's hardened heart, a recurring theme in Exodus, where God allows Pharaoh's heart to harden to demonstrate His power and glory (Exodus 4:21). The act of restraining the Israelites is symbolic of sin's grip on humanity, which only divine intervention can break. This also foreshadows the spiritual bondage from which Christ delivers believers, as seen in John 8:36, where Jesus declares that the Son sets people free indeed. and refuse to let them go, Persons / Places / Events 1. PharaohThe ruler of Egypt who is obstinately refusing to release the Israelites from slavery, despite the plagues that God has sent as a warning. 2. Moses The prophet and leader chosen by God to demand the release of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and to lead them to the Promised Land. 3. Aaron Moses' brother, who assists him in communicating God's demands to Pharaoh. 4. Egypt The land where the Israelites are enslaved, and where God is demonstrating His power through the plagues. 5. The Israelites God's chosen people, who are suffering under Egyptian slavery and are the focus of God's deliverance plan. Teaching Points The Danger of a Hardened HeartPharaoh's refusal to heed God's command is a classic example of a hardened heart. Believers are warned to remain open and responsive to God's voice, avoiding the pitfalls of pride and stubbornness. God's Sovereignty and Patience Despite Pharaoh's repeated refusals, God continues to send warnings through the plagues. This demonstrates God's patience and His desire for repentance, even in the face of persistent rebellion. The Power of Obedience Moses and Aaron's obedience to God's command, despite Pharaoh's resistance, highlights the importance of faithfulness in the face of opposition. Believers are encouraged to trust and obey God, regardless of external circumstances. Deliverance and Freedom The demand for the Israelites' release is a powerful reminder of God's desire for His people to live in freedom. This points to the ultimate deliverance found in Christ, who frees us from the bondage of sin. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Butכִּ֛י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction if אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not you אַתָּ֖ה (’at·tāh) Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you refuse מָאֵ֥ן (mā·’ên) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 3986: Unwilling to let them go לְשַׁלֵּ֑חַ (lə·šal·lê·aḥ) Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out and continue וְעוֹדְךָ֖ (wə·‘ō·wḏ·ḵā) Conjunctive waw | Adverb | second person masculine singular Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more to restrain מַחֲזִ֥יק (ma·ḥă·zîq) Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer them, בָּֽם׃ (bām) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew Links Exodus 9:2 NIVExodus 9:2 NLT Exodus 9:2 ESV Exodus 9:2 NASB Exodus 9:2 KJV Exodus 9:2 BibleApps.com Exodus 9:2 Biblia Paralela Exodus 9:2 Chinese Bible Exodus 9:2 French Bible Exodus 9:2 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 9:2 For if you refuse to let them (Exo. Ex) |