Exodus 10:28
And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.
Original Language Analysis
לֵ֣ךְ
H1980
לֵ֣ךְ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
4 of 16
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
מֵֽעָלָ֑י
H5921
מֵֽעָלָ֑י
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 16
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הִשָּׁ֣מֶר
thee from me take heed
H8104
הִשָּׁ֣מֶר
thee from me take heed
Strong's:
H8104
Word #:
6 of 16
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
אֶל
H408
אֶל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
8 of 16
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תֹּ֙סֶף֙
no more
H3254
תֹּ֙סֶף֙
no more
Strong's:
H3254
Word #:
9 of 16
to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
רְאֹֽתְךָ֥
thou seest
H7200
רְאֹֽתְךָ֥
thou seest
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
10 of 16
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
פָנַ֖י
my face
H6440
פָנַ֖י
my face
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
11 of 16
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
כִּ֗י
H3588
כִּ֗י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
12 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בְּי֛וֹם
for in that day
H3117
בְּי֛וֹם
for in that day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
13 of 16
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
רְאֹֽתְךָ֥
thou seest
H7200
רְאֹֽתְךָ֥
thou seest
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
14 of 16
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
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
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Verse 28 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.