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:
Original Language Analysis
וַיֵּ֥ט
stretched forth
H5186
וַיֵּ֥ט
stretched forth
Strong's:
H5186
Word #:
1 of 14
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 14
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יָד֖וֹ
his hand
H3027
יָד֖וֹ
his hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
4 of 14
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
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 14
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם
toward heaven
H8064
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם
toward heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
6 of 14
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
וַיְהִ֧י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
7 of 14
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
חֹֽשֶׁךְ
darkness
H2822
חֹֽשֶׁךְ
darkness
Strong's:
H2822
Word #:
8 of 14
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
אֲפֵלָ֛ה
and there was a thick
H653
אֲפֵלָ֛ה
and there was a thick
Strong's:
H653
Word #:
9 of 14
duskiness, figuratively, misfortune; concrete, concealment
בְּכָל
H3605
בְּכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
10 of 14
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Historical Context
Ra, the sun god, was Pharaoh's divine father and Egypt's supreme deity. His daily journey across sky sustained cosmic order (ma'at). Three days of darkness demonstrated Ra's impotence and YHWH's absolute supremacy over Egypt's highest god.
Questions for Reflection
- How does this plague reveal the ultimate showdown between YHWH and Egypt's gods?
- What does the light in Goshen symbolize about God's people?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Verse 22 introduces the plague of darkness, directly targeting Ra, Egypt's supreme sun god. Darkness covered Egypt for three days—'darkness which may be felt' (v.21)—while Israel had light in Goshen. This penultimate plague strikes at Egypt's chief deity.