Exodus 10:17 · Bible study
Exodus 10:17 Commentary: Repentance of Convenience
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why Pharaoh asks Moses to forgive his sin and begs for plague removal, yet returns to hardness, a study in incomplete repentance.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Pharaoh asks Moses to intercede and remove the locust plague, but his repentance is shallow, focused on consequences, not on turning to God.
- Key words: “Forgive” (נָשָׂא, nasá, lift/carry/take away); “pray” (עָתַר, atar, entreat); “only” (אַךְ, akh; רַק, raq), restrict the scope of his confession.
- Main debate: Whether Pharaoh’s confession was at all sincere or purely tactical; most commentators see it as self-serving.
- Theological theme: God hears and even answers the prayer of the unrepentant, but relief without heart change leads to deeper hardness.
- Best use: A warning text, used alongside genuine repentance passages like Psalm 51 to help readers examine their own motives in confession.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Now please forgive my sin once more and appeal to the LORD your God, that He may remove this death from me.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
Now therefore please forgive my sin again, and pray to Yahweh your God, that he may also take away from me this death.”
KJV King James Version 1769
Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and entreat Jehovah your God, that he may take away from me this death only.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and now, bear with, I pray you, my sin, only this time, and make ye supplication to Jehovah your God, that He turn aside from off me only this death.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And now, forgive, I pray you, my sin only this time, and intreat Jehovah your God that he may take away from me this death only!
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
But now forgive me my sin this time also, and pray to the Lord your God, that he take away from me this death.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Mas ruego ahora que perdones mi pecado solamente esta vez, y que oréis á Jehová vuestro Dios que quite de mí solamente esta muerte.
Mas rogo agora que perdoes meu pecado somente esta vez, e que oreis ao SENHOR vosso Deus que tire de mim somente esta morte.
Mais pardonne mon péché pour cette fois seulement; et priez l’ Éternel, votre Dieu, afin qu’ il éloigne de moi encore cette plaie mortelle.
vergebt mir meine Sünde nur noch diesmal und bittet den HERRN, euren Gott, daß er doch nur diesen Tod von mir wegnehme.
En nu vergeeft mij toch mijn zonde alleen ditmaal, en bidt vuriglijk tot den HEERE, uw God, dat Hij slechts dezen dood van mij wegneme.
Ma ora perdona, ti prego, il mio peccato, questa volta soltanto; e supplicate l’Eterno, l’Iddio vostro, perché almeno allontani da me questo flagello mortale”.
A teraz odpuść proszę grzech mój aby ten raz, a módlcie się Panu Bogu waszemu, aby oddalił ode mnie tylko tę śmierć.
теперь простите грех мой еще раз и помолитесь Господу Богу вашему, чтобы Он только отвратил от меня сию смерть.
現在 求你，只 這一次，饒恕 我的罪，求 耶和華─你們的 神 使我 脫離 這 一 次的死亡。」
Let me now have forgiveness for my sin this time only, and make prayer to the Lord your God that he will take away from me this death only.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 10:17
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Pharaoh's plea here is shallow. He asks Moses to forgive his sin rather than turning to God himself. Wesley notes: "Pharaoh desires their prayers that this death only might be taken away, not this sin." The Hebrew text uses אַךְ (akh, "only") and רַק (raq, "only"), restrictive words that limit the request. Gill describes Pharaoh as "pretending that he would never offend any more." Clarke observes "a series of softening and hardening, of sinning and repenting." The consensus: this is repentance of convenience, not of the heart. Pharaoh wants the plague removed, not a changed relationship with God.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Pharaoh's plea is for plague removal rather than heart change, and his subsequent hardening shows the insufficiency of his confession.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Pharaoh's sincerity | His confession is self-serving, focused on removing the plague rather than on sin itself. | Some traditions see this as a genuine (though shallow) moment of conviction, while others treat it as purely tactical, with no real sorrow. |
| Prayer to Moses, not to God | Pharaoh addresses his request to Moses, not directly to Yahweh. | Whether this shows he recognizes Moses as God’s mediator (a positive step) or reveals his desire to avoid a personal encounter with God (a negative one) is interpreted differently. |
| God hardening Pharaoh's heart | Both Pharaoh’s own hardening and God’s hardening are presented in the narrative. | Christians disagree on how to relate divine sovereignty and human responsibility here, some emphasize God’s judgment on a pattern of resistance; others stress the mystery of God’s ultimate control over the heart. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The plague of locusts was catastrophic. Verse 15 says the insects covered the land, ate every herb and fruit, and left nothing green. Keil and Delitzsch note that Pliny called locusts "the anger of the gods, a pestilence." Pharaoh calls them "this death", the locusts themselves bring destruction and famine (compare Psalm 78:46, where locusts devour crops). In ancient Egypt, locust invasions were seen as divine judgment. Pharaoh's servants had already asked, "How long shall this man be a snare to us? Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?" (v.7). This is Pharaoh's fourth recorded confession (earlier in Exodus 8:8, 8:28, 9:28). Each time, he asks for the plague removed. Each time, he hardens afterward. The pattern is now well established. Pharaoh's language, "please forgive my sin only this once", suggests he sees repentance as a one-time transaction, not a change of direction. The word "only" (both אַךְ and רַק) restricts the scope: he asks for this plague only, not for cleansing from sin altogether.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts. The variations in English translations (e.g., “only this once” / “only this time” / “once more”) reflect the same Hebrew phrase אַךְ הַפַּעַם (akh happa‘am), rendered with minor stylistic differences.
Reception History
Across church history, Exodus 10:17 has been used as a case study in false repentance. Early Greek and Latin fathers (Origen, Augustine) referenced Pharaoh’s pattern of confession-then-hardening as a warning against treating repentance as a quick fix. In the Reformation, this verse was often paired with Romans 9 (God’s hardening of Pharaoh) to discuss divine sovereignty and human will. Reformed interpreters highlighted the danger of “temporary faith”, a person who responds to crisis but falls away when pressure subsides. Evangelical writers in the modern period cite Pharaoh’s language, “only this once”, as a classic example of bargaining with God. The verse has also been preached in revival contexts as a contrast to genuine repentance like David’s in Psalm 51.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The confession that names sin but avoids God. Pharaoh says “I have sinned” (v.16) and asks Moses to forgive him. He does not turn directly to Yahweh.
- The request that wants relief, not renewal. He begs that “this death” be taken away. He does not ask for a clean heart or a changed life.
- The hardening that follows answered prayer. Moses prays, the wind carries off the locusts, and Pharaoh’s heart hardens again (v.20). Relief without repentance leaves the soul unchanged.
Five-point outline
- Pharaoh calls for Moses and Aaron “in haste” (v.16). Crisis drives him, not conviction.
- He confesses sin against Yahweh and against them. He acknowledges the right God and the right mediators, but his words stay at the level of diplomacy.
- He uses the language of forgiveness with a limit: “only this once.” The Hebrew אַךְ and רַק set boundaries, he is bargaining, not surrendering.
- He delegates the praying: “entreat the LORD your God.” He makes Moses his priest, but he never becomes a worshiper himself.
- God grants the request and then Pharaoh reverses course. The miracle of removal does not produce faith; it produces more hardness.
Illustration hooks
- A person who prays only when a medical test comes back with bad news, then goes back to “normal” once the results improve.
- A child who says “I’m sorry” just to get out of a consequence, but does not change the behavior.
- An employee who promises to change after a warning from a boss, but only works hard until the next review.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know if my own repentance is real or just a response to pressure?
- If God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, was Pharaoh even free to truly repent?
- What does it mean that Moses intercedes for someone whose repentance is shallow, does God still answer those prayers?
Leading a Discussion
Pharaoh’s words sound right: “I have sinned… forgive my sin… pray that this death be removed.” But the story shows that words alone are not repentance. This passage invites groups to examine the difference between confessing sin and actually turning from it. The opening question below helps the group slow down and look closely at what Pharaoh says and does not say.
Discussion questions
- Read Exodus 10:16-20. What does Pharaoh ask for, and what does he not ask for?
- The Hebrew word translated “forgive” here is נָשָׂא (nasá, “lift, carry, take away”). Why do you think Pharaoh directs this request to Moses rather than to God?
- Compare this confession with Pharaoh’s earlier ones in Exodus 8:8, 8:28, and 9:28. What patterns do you see?
- Pharaoh calls the locusts “this death” (v.17). What does that name reveal about how he sees the plague compared to how God sees sin?
- Verse 20 says Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart. How does God’s action relate to Pharaoh’s own repeated hardening (Ex. 8:15, 8:32, 9:34)?
- What does this story teach about the limits of praying for relief without seeking heart change?
- When have you been tempted to treat repentance like a transaction, asking God to remove a consequence rather than to transform you?
Lord, thank You for revealing the difference between words that impress others and the cry of a changed heart. Give us honesty when we come to You. Teach us to want You more than we want relief. Amen.
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 8:8 | Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat Yahweh, that he take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to Yahweh.” |
| Exodus 9:28 | Pray to Yahweh; for there has been enough of mighty thunderings and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” |
| I Samuel 15:25 | Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh.” |
| I Kings 13:6 | The king answered the man of God, “Now intercede for the favor of Yahweh your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” The man of God interceded with Yahweh, and the king’s hand was restored to him, and became as it was before. |
| II Kings 4:40 | So they poured out for the men to eat. As they were eating some of the stew, they cried out and said, “Man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it. |
| Isaiah 26:16 | Yahweh, in trouble they have visited you. They poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them. |
| Acts 8:24 | Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.” |
| Romans 15:30 | Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights the tragic irony of someone who repeatedly softens in repentance and hardens back into sin. Even when another opportunity to return to God is offered, the love of gain and stubborn self-will finally win, and the chance is wasted.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that even the pagan naturalist Pliny regarded locusts as a plague sent by divine wrath. The point is that Pharaoh finally admits his own officials had been right to fear God's judgment all along.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator points out that Pharaoh’s confession is more emphatic than before, yet this marks his fourth plea to have a plague removed. The phrase “this death only” reveals his sheer terror—the locusts are so devastating that he calls it death itself.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Pharaoh acknowledges his sin and begs Moses to pray for him, but repeatedly limits his repentance to this one instance and asks only for deliverance from death. The Geneva Notes observe that this is not true contrition, merely a desperate plea for relief from present judgment. His heart remains unchanged.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that Pharaoh asks forgiveness from Moses rather than from God himself, showing he still does not turn to the Lord. His plea "only this once" suggests a conditional, insincere promise to never offend again, hoping merely to escape the present deadly plague.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch highlight that Pharaoh himself calls the locust plague "this death," recognizing it as a force that brings ruin and destruction to the land. In his terror, he confesses his sin against Jehovah and Moses and Aaron, urgently pleading for their intercession to remove the deadly judgment.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange distinguishes Pharaoh’s self-hardening from God’s subsequent judicial hardening. After the seventh plague, Pharaoh’s sentence was settled, and the later plagues completed his obduracy. Moses needed to know this in advance so the apparent failures would not discourage him, revealing Moses’ deep insight into God’s justice.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Moses did not stretch out his own hand but the rod of God, the appointed sign of God’s presence. The locusts came at a call, like a great army under God’s command, showing that the plague was entirely the Lord’s doing.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that Pharaoh asked for the locust plague to be taken away but did not ask for the sin that caused it to be removed. He wanted relief from the punishment, not from the hardness of his own heart.