Exodus 4 · Verse 23

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 4:23, King James Version

Exodus 4:23 in other translations

BSBand 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!’”
WEBand I have said to you, “Let my son go, that he may serve me;” and you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”
ASVand I have said unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me; and thou hast refused to let him go: behold, I will slay thy son, thy first-born.
YLTand I say unto thee, Send away My son, and he doth serve Me; and--thou dost refuse to send him away--lo, I am slaying thy son, thy first-born.'
DARBYAnd I say to thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me. And if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill thy son, thy firstborn.
BBEAnd I said to you, Let my son go, so that he may give me worship; and you did not let him go: so now I will put the first of your sons to death.
WebsterAnd I say to thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou shalt refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy first-born.

What does Exodus 4:23 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 Let my son go, that he may serve me - Which they could not do in Goshen, consistently with the policy and religious worship of the Egyptians; because the most essential part of an Israelite's worship consisted in sacrifice, and the animals which they offered to God were sacred among the Egyptians. Moses gives Pharaoh this reason Exo 8:26. I will slay thy son, even thy first-born - Which, on Pharaoh's utter refusal to let the people go, was accordingly done; see Exo 12:29.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 4:18-23

After God had appeared in the bush, he often spake to Moses. Pharaoh had hardened his own heart against the groans and cries of the oppressed Israelites; and now God, in the way of righteous judgment, hardens his heart against the teaching of the miracles, and the terror of the plagues. But whether Pharaoh will hear, or whether he will forbear, Moses must tell him, Thus saith the Lord. He must demand a discharge for…

Read the full comment on Exodus 4:18-23 →

Exodus 4:23 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.

וָאֹמַ֣רva.'o.Marand I saidH559
אֵלֶ֗יךָ'e.Lei.khato youH413
שַׁלַּ֤חsha.Lachlet goH7971
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
בְּנִי֙be.Nison myH1121
וְיַֽעַבְדֵ֔נִיve.ya.'av.De.niso he may serve meH5647
וַתְּמָאֵ֖ןva.te.ma.'Enand you refusedH3985
לְשַׁלְּח֑וֹle.sha.le.Choto let go himH7971
הִנֵּה֙hi.Nehhere!H2009
אָנֹכִ֣י'a.no.KhiIH595
הֹרֵ֔גho.Reg[am] about to killH2026
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
בִּנְךָ֖bin.Khason yourH1121
בְּכֹרֶֽךָ\׃be.kho.Re.khafirstborn yourH1060

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

Cross references for Exodus 4:23

  • Exodus 12:29

    And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

  • Exodus 11:5

    And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.

  • Psalms 135:8

    Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.

  • Psalms 105:36

    He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.

  • Exodus 5:1

    And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

  • Exodus 7:16

    And thou shalt say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

  • Psalms 78:51

    And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
11:5; 12:29; Ps 78:51; 105:36; 135:8

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

Context

  • Exodus 4:22

    And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

  • 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 4:24

    And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him.

Read all of Exodus 4

Exodus 4:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ya te he dicho que dejes ir á mi hijo, para que me sirva, mas no has querido dejarlo ir: he aquí yo voy á matar á tu hijo, tu primogénito.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et je te dis: Laisse aller mon fils pour qu’il me serve; et si tu refuses de le laisser aller, voici, je tuerai ton fils, ton premier-né.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und ich sage zu dir: Laß meinen Sohn ziehen, daß er mir diene! Und weigerst du dich, ihn ziehen zu lassen, siehe, so werde ich deinen Sohn, deinen erstgeborenen, töten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixi tibi: Dimitte filium meum ut serviat mihi; et noluisti dimittere eum: ecce ego interficiam filium tuum primogenitum.