Exodus 10 · Verse 23

Exodus 10:23

They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
Exodus 10:23, King James Version

Exodus 10:23 in other translations

BSBNo one could see anyone else, and for three days no one left his place. Yet all the Israelites had light in their dwellings.
WEBThey didn’t see one another, and nobody rose from his place for three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
ASVthey saw not one another, neither rose any one from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
YLTthey have not seen one another, and none hath risen from his place three days; and to all the sons of Israel there hath been light in their dwellings.'
DARBYthey saw not one another, neither rose any from his place, for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
BBEThey were not able to see one another, and no one got up from his place for three days: but where the children of Israel were living it was light.
WebsterThey saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

What does Exodus 10:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 10:21-23

Ex 10:21-29. Plague of Darkness. 21-23. Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness--Whatever secondary means were employed in producing it, whether thick clammy fogs and vapors, according to some; a sandstorm, or the chamsin, according to others; it was such that it could be almost perceived by the organs of touch, and so protracted as to continue for three days, which the chamsin does…

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Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 They saw not one another - So deep was the obscurity, and probably such was its nature, that no artificial light could be procured; as the thick clammy vapors would prevent lamps, etc., from burning, or if they even could be ignited, the light through the palpable obscurity, could diffuse itself to no distance from the burning body. The author of the book of The Wisdom of Solomon 17:2-19, gives a fearful description of this plague. He says, "The Egyptians were shut up in their houses, the prisoners of darkness: and were fettered with the bonds of a long night. They were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfulness, being horribly astonished and troubled with strange apparitions; for neither might the corner that held them keep them from fear; but noises as of waters falling down sounded about them; and sad visions appeared unto them with heavy countenances. No power of the fire could give them light - only there appeared unto them a fire kindled of itself very dreadful; for being much terrified, they thought the things which they saw to be worse than the sight they saw not. For though no terrible thing did scare them, yet being scared with beasts that passed by, and hissing of serpents, they died for fear: for whether he were husbandman, or shepherd, or a laborer in the field, he was overtaken; for they were all bound with one chain of darkness. Whether it were a whistling wind, or a terrible sound of stones cast down, or a running that could not be seen of tripping beasts, or a roaring voice of most savage wild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the hollow mountains, these things made them to swoon for fear." See Psa 78:49. To this description nothing need be added except this circumstance, that the darkness, with its attendant horrors, lasted for three days. All the children of Israel had light - By thus distinguishing the Israelites, God showed the Egyptians that the darkness was produced by his power; that he sent it in judgment against them for their cruelty to his people; that because they trusted in him they were exempted from these plagues; that in the displeasure of such a Being his enemies had every thing to fear, and in his approbation his followers had every thing to hope.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 10:21-29

The plague of darkness brought upon Egypt was a dreadful plague. It was darkness which might be felt, so thick were the fogs. It astonished and terrified. It continued three days; six nights in one; so long the most lightsome palaces were dungeons. Now Pharaoh had time to consider, if he would have improved it. Spiritual darkness is spiritual bondage; while Satan blinds men's eyes that they see not, he binds their…

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Exodus 10:23 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
רָא֞וּra.'Uthey sawH7200
אִ֣ישׁ'isheachH376
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אָחִ֗יו'a.Chivbrother hisH251
וְלֹא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
קָ֛מוּKa.muthey roseH6965
אִ֥ישׁ'ishanyoneH376
מִתַּחְתָּ֖יוmi.tach.Tavfrom under himH8478
שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetthreeH7969
יָמִ֑יםya.MimdaysH3117
וּֽלְכָל\־u.le.khol-and to allH3605
בְּנֵ֧יbe.Nei[the] peopleH1121
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
הָ֥יָהHa.yahit be[longed]H1961
א֖וֹר'orlightH216
בְּמוֹשְׁבֹתָֽם\׃be.mo.she.vo.Tamin dwelling places theirH4186

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Exodus 10:23

  • Exodus 8:22

    And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.

  • Isaiah 42:16

    And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

  • Exodus 9:4

    And the Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children’s of Israel.

  • 1 Peter 2:9

    But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

  • Joshua 24:7

    And when they cried unto the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.

  • Malachi 3:18

    Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

  • Exodus 9:26

    Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.

  • Isaiah 65:13-14

    Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

  • Colossians 1:13

    Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

  • Isaiah 60:1-3

    Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

  • Exodus 14:20

    And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
but all.
8:22; 9:4,26; 14:20; Jos 24:7; Isa 42:16; 60:1-3; 65:13,14
Mal 3:18; Col 1:13; 1Pe 2:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Exodus 10:22

    And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:

  • Exodus 10:23

    They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

  • Exodus 10:24

    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.

Read all of Exodus 10

Exodus 10:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ninguno vió á su prójimo, ni nadie se levantó de su lugar en tres días; mas todos los hijos de Israel tenían luz en sus habitaciones.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		On ne se voyait pas l’un l’autre, et nul ne se leva du lieu où il était pendant trois jours; mais pour tous les fils d’Israël il y eut de la lumière dans leurs habitations.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie sahen einer den anderen nicht, und keiner stand von seinem Platze auf drei Tage lang; aber alle Kinder Israel hatten Licht in ihren Wohnungen. -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nemo vidit fratrem suum, nec movit se de loco in quo erat: ubicumque autem habitabant filii Israël, lux erat.