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:

Word-by-Word Analysis

וַיֵּ֥ט

H5186

stretched forth

to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)

מֹשֶׁ֛ה

H4872

And Moses

mosheh, the israelite lawgiver

אֶת

H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יָד֖וֹ

H3027

his hand

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

עַל

H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם

H8064

toward heaven

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

וַיְהִ֧י

H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

חֹֽשֶׁךְ

H2822

darkness

the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness

אֲפֵלָ֛ה

H653

and there was a thick

duskiness, figuratively, misfortune; concrete, concealment

#10

בְּכָל

H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

#11

אֶ֥רֶץ

H776

in all the land

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

#12

מִצְרַ֖יִם

H4714

of Egypt

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

#13

שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת

H7969

three

three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice

#14

יָמִֽים׃

H3117

days

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

Analysis

Within the broader context of Exodus, this passage highlights salvation through simile or metaphorical language. The theological weight of divine revelation connects to fundamental Christian doctrine about divine revelation, contributing to our understanding of God's nature and relationship with humanity. This verse contributes to the book's overall argument by building upon previous themes while advancing the overall message of Exodus.

Historical Context

The historical context of the period of Egyptian bondage and wilderness wandering (c. 1440-1400 BCE) provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

How does the salvation theme in this verse connect to the overarching narrative of Scripture, and what does this reveal about God's character and purposes?
What systematic theological implications arise from this verse's treatment of salvation, and how does it contribute to a biblical theology of soteriology and the doctrine of salvation?
How does this verse's literary context within Exodus chapter 10 illuminate its theological significance, and what does this teach us about biblical interpretation?

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Moses