Exodus 11:1 · Bible study
Exodus 11:1 Commentary: Why God Revealed the Final Plague Beforehand
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does God reveal the final plague before the last confrontation?
Research Summary
- Meaning: God promises one final plague that will end Pharaoh's resistance and force him to expel Israel from Egypt.
- Key words: Nega' (plague, stroke); garesh yegaresh (infinitive absolute + finite verb for emphatic action); kalah (completely).
- Main debate: Whether the verse is chronological or a pluperfect flashback.
- Theological theme: God's sovereign control over human history and his timing in deliverance.
- Best use: Preaching on God's faithfulness before deliverance, or as a paradigm for perseverance in trial.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring upon Pharaoh and Egypt one more plague. After that, he will allow you to leave this place. And when he lets you go, he will drive you out completely.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Yahweh said to Moses, “I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh, and on Egypt; afterwards he will let you go. When he lets you go, he will surely thrust you out altogether.
KJV King James Version 1769
And the Lord said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Jehovah said unto Moses, Yet one plague more will I bring upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `One plague more I do bring in on Pharaoh, and on Egypt, afterwards he doth send you away from this; when he is sending you away, he surely casteth you out altogether from this place ;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Jehovah said to Moses, Yet one plague will I bring upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let [you] go altogether, he shall utterly drive you out hence.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the Lord said to Moses: Yet one plague more will I bring upon Pharao and Egypt, and after that he shall let you go, and thrust you out.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y JEHOVÁ dijo á Moisés: Una plaga traeré aún sobre Faraón, y sobre Egipto; después de la cual él os dejará ir de aquí; y seguramente os echará de aquí del todo.
E o SENHOR disse a Moisés: Uma praga trarei ainda sobre Faraó, e sobre o Egito; depois da qual ele vos deixará ir daqui; e seguramente vos expulsará daqui de todo.
L’ Éternel dit à Moïse: Je ferai venir encore une plaie sur Pharaon et sur l’ Égypte. Après cela, il vous laissera partir d’ ici. Lorsqu’ il vous laissera tout à fait aller, il vous chassera même d’ ici.
Und der HERR sprach zu Mose: Ich will noch eine Plage über Pharao und Ägypten kommen lassen; darnach wird er euch von hinnen lassen und wird nicht allein alles lassen, sondern euch von hinnen treiben.
(Want de HEERE had tot Mozes gesproken: Ik zal nog een plaag over Farao, en over Egypte brengen, daarna zal hij ulieden van hier laten trekken; als hij u geheellijk zal laten trekken, zo zal hij u haastelijk van hier uitdrijven.
E l’Eterno disse a Mosè: “Io farò venire ancora una piaga su Faraone e sull’Egitto; poi egli vi lascerà partire di qui. Quando vi lascerà partire, egli addirittura vi caccerà di qui.
I rzekł Pan do Mojżesza: Jeszcze jednę plagę przywiodę na Faraona, i na Egipt, potem wypuści was stąd; wypuści cale, owszem wypędzi was stąd.
И сказал Господь Моисею: еще одну казнь Я наведу на фараона и на Египтян; после того он отпустит вас отсюда; когда же он будет отпускать [вас], с поспешностью будет гнать вас отсюда;
耶和華 對 摩西 說：「我再 使一樣 的災殃 臨 到 法老 和 埃及，然後 他必容你們 離開 這地。他容你們 去的時候，總要 催逼 你們 都 從這地出去。
And the Lord said to Moses, I will send one more punishment on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will let you go; and when he does let you go, he will not keep one of you back, but will send you out by force.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 11:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse functions as a parenthetical flashback, explaining why Moses spoke with such confidence when he told Pharaoh, “I will see your face no more” (Exodus 10:29). Calvin, Barnes, Keil and Delitzsch, and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown read the Hebrew wayyiqtol (וַיֹּאמֶר) as pluperfect: “the Lord had said.” Matthew Henry, however, takes the verse chronologically as happening after the darkness plague.
Either way, the substance is agreed: God promises one final plague that will end the contest. The emphatic Hebrew construction גָּרֵשׁ יְגָרֵשׁ (garesh yegaresh), the infinitive absolute followed by the finite verb, stresses certainty and force. Pharaoh will not merely allow departure; he will actively expel the people. This divine word undergirds all that follows, showing God's sovereign control over the outcome.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Chronological reading: Takes the verse as happening after the ninth plague in the narrative sequence, as a direct continuation (Matthew Henry).
- Pluperfect reading: Reads 'Yahweh said' as 'Yahweh had said,' making it a flashback to before Moses' last meeting with Pharaoh, explaining his boldness (Calvin, Barnes, Keil).
- Parenthetical reading: Treats vv.1-3 as an inserted parenthesis explaining the background; v.4 resumes the narrative where Moses speaks publicly (Barnes, Keil and Delitzsch).
What is clear: God is sovereignly orchestrating the final plague to accomplish Israel's complete deliverance from Egypt, and Pharaoh's resistance will be broken.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Pluperfect reading of the verse | All agree the verse introduces the announcement of the final plague and is tied to God's promise of deliverance. | Some (Matthew Henry) read it as chronological narration; most commentators (Calvin, Barnes, Keil) argue it is a parenthetical flashback to explain Moses' confidence in Ex 10:29. |
| Meaning of “thrust out” | The Hebrew emphasizes forceful, complete expulsion from Egypt. | Some see it as a willing dismissal (Barnes, Calvin: Pharaoh will be eager); others stress the force and haste (Gill: 'with force and vehemence,' citing the infinitive absolute). |
| Relationship to the preceding plagues | This is the climactic plague that ends the conflict, distinct from the previous nine. | How to number the series: 'one more plague' refers to the tenth and final, but some debate whether earlier plagues were grouped differently. |
Historical & Cultural Context
After nine devastating plagues, Pharaoh's heart remained hard. Moses had declared he would not appear before the king again (Exodus 10:29). This verse reveals why Moses could speak with such finality: God had already told him the end was near.
The “one more plague” (עוֹד נֶגַע אֶחָד) is the death of the firstborn. The word נֶגַע (nega) means “stroke” or “touch,” often used for the severe mark of leprosy (Cambridge Bible). It differs from the word used in Exodus 9:14. This final stroke would target the firstborn of every household, from Pharaoh on his throne to the servant behind the mill (v.5). In Egyptian culture, the firstborn carried the family's hopes; Pharaoh's own firstborn represented the dynasty itself.
The emphatic phrase “he will surely thrust you out” uses the infinitive absolute גָּרֵשׁ before the finite verb יְגָרֵשׁ, the strongest form of verbal emphasis in Hebrew. Calvin notes that Pharaoh, in his alarm, would not just let them go but would eagerly drive them from his kingdom. The historical fulfillment confirms this: Exodus 12:31 records Pharaoh's urgent command to leave, and 12:39 describes how they were “thrust out” and could not wait.
This revelation came as private assurance to Moses before the public proclamation in vv.4-8. It mirrors an earlier promise in Exodus 3:20: “after that he will let you go.” God's word is given in advance so his servants can stand firm.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The interpretive question concerning the narrative sequence (whether the Hebrew wayyiqtol וַיֹּאמֶר functions as a simple past or pluperfect) is a matter of syntax and context, not manuscript variation.
Reception History
This verse has been central to Jewish Passover observance, as it announces the final plague that leads to the Exodus. In Christian tradition, the “one more plague” has often been understood as a type of the final judgment, with the deliverance of Israel prefiguring salvation through Christ. The emphatic “thrust out” language appears in the narrative of the Haggadah and has been cited by preachers from Chrysostom to Calvin as an example of God turning the heart of an oppressor. Reformed confessions reference this passage to illustrate God's power over human rulers and the certainty of his redemptive plan.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God reveals his plan before the crisis. This verse is a flashback to a private word from God. Moses did not improvise; he knew the outcome because God had spoken. When we face dead ends, God often prepares us beforehand with promises that outlast the pressure.
- One more plague, then freedom. The sequence matters: judgment first, then deliverance. The final plague breaks the last resistance. Sometimes the hardest trial is the one that finally opens the door.
- Pharaoh's expulsion becomes Israel's exodus. What the king intended to prevent, God turned into the means of departure. The oppressor becomes the one who pushes the oppressed to freedom.
Five-point outline
- The certainty of God's revelation. God speaks before events occur, giving his people confidence.
- The completeness of the plague. “One more” closes the cycle. God's judgments are measured and final.
- The reversal of the oppressor's heart. The same Pharaoh who refused to let them go now thrusts them out. God can change any heart.
- The speed of deliverance. “When he lets you go, he will thrust you out”, it will be sudden and total.
- The preparation for the journey. Verses 2-3 (asking for gold and silver) show that deliverance includes provision. God does not just free his people; he equips them.
Illustration hooks
- A parent on a long road trip who tells a restless child, “Just one more exit, then we're there.” The announcement changes the mood, even before they arrive.
- A tenant who fought eviction for months, then finally packs and leaves in a single afternoon when the sheriff comes. The presence of final authority changes everything.
- A coach who gathers the team in the final timeout and says, “This is the play that wins the game.” The players know exactly what is coming.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God wait so long before he acts? Is there a purpose to the delays?
- How can I stay confident when every attempt to change my situation seems to fail?
- What does it mean that God hardened Pharaoh's heart? Is there any hope for someone that stubborn?
Leading a Discussion
This verse is God's private promise to Moses in the middle of a long, exhausting struggle. Nine plagues have not broken Pharaoh, but God assures Moses the end is certain. The question for the small group is: how does this assurance shape our waiting?
Discussion questions
- Read Exodus 10:27-29. Why might Moses have needed this private reassurance from God before the final confrontation?
- The verse can be read as a flashback (pluperfect) or a continuous narrative. How does each reading change your sense of the story's pace?
- What does the emphatic Hebrew construction “he will surely thrust you out” tell you about the completeness of God's victory?
- In what ways have you experienced God's timing as different from your own expectations?
- How does this passage encourage someone facing a situation that feels stuck or hopeless?
- What does this teach about God's sovereignty over human leaders and their decisions?
- How does this promise of deliverance point forward to the work of Christ in setting people free from sin and death?
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)
| Genesis 15:14 | I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth; |
| Exodus 3:20 | I will reach out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders which I will do among them, and after that he will let you go. |
| Exodus 9:14 | For this time I will send all my plagues against your heart, against your officials, and against your people; that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. |
| Exodus 12:31 | He called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and go, serve Yahweh, as you have said! |
| Exodus 12:39 | They baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought out of Egypt; for it wasn’t leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt, and couldn’t wait, and they had not prepared any food for themselves. |
| Leviticus 26:21 | “‘If you walk contrary to me, and won’t listen to me, then I will bring seven times more plagues on you according to your sins. |
| Deuteronomy 4:34 | Or has God tried to go and take a nation for himself from among another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand, by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that Yahweh your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? |
| I Samuel 6:4 | Then they said, “What should the trespass offering be which we shall return to him?” They said, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice, for the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords. |
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
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke argues that the opening statement should be read as "The Lord had said to Moses," placing it in the past relative to the narrative flow. He suggests treating the first three verses as a parenthetical flashback, which makes the sequence of events more coherent.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes reads the opening words as Moses pausing his main narrative to remind readers of an earlier command, knowing the final plague would force a hasty departure. He notes that each time Pharaoh temporarily relented, Moses used the opportunity to keep the people increasingly organized and ready for that last, urgent move.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin notes that Moses spoke boldly not from self-confidence but because God had revealed the contest was ending. God would change Pharaoh's heart so he would not merely release Israel but eagerly thrust them out. This verse explains why Moses dared to appear again after saying he would not.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that the Hebrew word for plague here is nega, meaning a severe touch or stroke, and it is a different term from the one used for earlier plagues. The margin reading is preferred: Pharaoh will not merely let Israel go but will eagerly thrust them out.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes stress that the final plague will do more than secure Israel's release: Pharaoh will be so eager to be rid of them that he will drive them out forcibly and at once. The emphasis falls on the sudden, complete nature of their departure.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill clarifies that God spoke this promise of a final plague to Moses while he was still standing before Pharaoh, not during an earlier encounter in Midian. He emphasizes the forceful and unconditional nature of Israel's departure: Pharaoh would not merely allow them to leave but would thrust them out entirely, with urgency and without any conditions or possibility of return.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB treats the Lord's statement as a past revelation, noting Moses knew before the final plague that Pharaoh would drive Israel out completely. The commentator explains that Moses' earlier words were not a guess but a prediction based on prior divine assurance.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch observe that God's announcement in this passage was actually given to Moses before his final meeting with Pharaoh. They place it here to explain Moses' boldness in that conversation, noting that the Hebrew verb implies God had already spoken these words in advance.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the announcement of the final plague comes immediately after Pharaoh's refusal, not beforehand. God Himself will step forth in judgment, with Moses reverently retiring. The judgment is so severe that Israel's own relative guilt requires atonement through the paschal lamb, and the proverb about a dog's tongue means Israel will face no disturbance.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees God's announcement of one final plague as a pattern for the final judgment that awaits the unrepentant in the life to come. After every lesser judgment has failed to humble sinners, God reserves one last blow that will finally break their resistance.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights that Moses' declaration about no longer seeing Pharaoh's face was literally fulfilled: after this confrontation, Moses did not return to Pharaoh until Pharaoh himself sent for him. The proud king who threatened Moses became a humble supplicant begging him to depart.