Exodus 10:22

KJV

And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:

KJV (with Strong's)

And Moses {H4872} stretched forth {H5186} his hand {H3027} toward heaven {H8064}; and there was a thick {H653} darkness {H2822} in all the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714} three {H7969} days {H3117}:

Complete Jewish Bible

Moshe reached out his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in the entire land of Egypt for three days.

Berean Standard Bible

So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and total darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days.

American Standard Version

And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 10:22 describes the ninth plague on Egypt, where Moses, at God's command, stretches out his hand, bringing a "thick darkness" over the entire land for three days. This supernatural event demonstrated God's absolute power over creation, served as a severe judgment against Pharaoh's stubbornness and the false gods of Egypt, and highlighted God's miraculous distinction between the Egyptians and His people, Israel.

### CONTEXT
**Literary Context:**
This verse is situated within the escalating narrative of the ten plagues in [Exodus 7-12](/exodus/7 "The Plagues Begin in Exodus 7"). It immediately follows the devastating plague of locusts ([Exodus 10:1-20](/exodus/10-1 "The Plague of Locusts in Exodus 10")), which consumed everything the hail had spared. The darkness serves as the penultimate plague, preceding only the final, most severe judgment: the death of the firstborn ([Exodus 11-12](/exodus/11 "The Tenth Plague Announced in Exodus 11")). Critically, the very next verse, [Exodus 10:23](/exodus/10-23 "Light in Goshen in Exodus 10:23"), explicitly states that the Israelites in Goshen had light, underscoring God's protective distinction.

**Historical & Cultural Context:**
Ancient Egypt was deeply reliant on the sun, personified by the powerful deity Ra (or Re), the sun god, often considered the chief of the gods and the creator. Other solar deities like Aten and Amun-Ra also held immense significance. The sun was not merely a source of light and life but a symbol of the pharaoh's divine authority and the very essence of Egyptian cosmology. A "thick darkness" for three days was a direct, devastating assault on the very foundation of Egyptian religious belief and daily life. It was not a natural eclipse, which is brief, but a sustained, oppressive gloom that paralyzed the nation, demonstrating Yahweh's absolute supremacy over Ra and all other Egyptian gods. The "three days" also had symbolic weight, often signifying a complete or definitive period in ancient Near Eastern thought, emphasizing the totality and supernatural nature of the judgment.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
**Key Word Analysis:**
* **"thick darkness"** (Hebrew: *choshek aphelah*, חֹשֶׁךְ אֲפֵלָה): This phrase conveys more than just an absence of light. *Choshek* means "darkness," but *aphelah* intensifies it, suggesting a "dense," "gloomy," or "palpable" darkness. It implies a darkness so profound that it could be "felt" or "grasped," a suffocating gloom rather than mere twilight. [Exodus 10:23](/exodus/10-23 "Inability to move in darkness") further clarifies its intensity: "they saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days," indicating a complete cessation of normal activity due to the oppressive gloom. This was a supernatural, terrifying phenomenon, far beyond any natural eclipse.
* **"stretched forth his hand"** (Hebrew: *wayyet moshe et-yado*): This seemingly simple action by Moses is consistently portrayed throughout the plague narratives as the divinely appointed signal for God's direct intervention. It emphasizes Moses's role as God's obedient agent, but also highlights that the power originates solely with Yahweh. Moses's hand is merely the instrument; God's power is the cause.

**Verse Breakdown:**
* **"And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven;"**: This clause establishes the divine command and Moses's immediate, obedient response. "Toward heaven" indicates the celestial source of the plague, emphasizing God's control over the cosmos and His direct involvement.
* **"and there was a thick darkness"**: The immediate consequence of Moses's action, demonstrating God's swift and overwhelming power. The nature of the darkness—"thick" or palpable—underscores its supernatural origin and terrifying intensity.
* **"in all the land of Egypt"**: This specifies the widespread scope of the judgment, affecting the entire nation, contrasting sharply with the miraculous exception for the Israelites in Goshen (as noted in [Exodus 10:23](/exodus/10-23 "Light in Goshen")).
* **"three days:"**: The duration of the plague is significant. It was not a momentary event but a sustained, oppressive period, amplifying the terror and demonstrating God's absolute control over time and natural phenomena. This prolonged darkness would have been psychologically devastating, halting all normal life and reinforcing the impotence of Egypt's sun gods.

**Literary Devices:**
* **Direct Causality:** The verse uses simple, direct language to show the immediate cause-and-effect: Moses's action directly results in the darkness, highlighting God's instantaneous and undeniable power.
* **Contrast:** While not explicit in this verse, the plague of darkness inherently contrasts with the concept of light, which is fundamental to life and Egyptian worship. This contrast is made explicit in the subsequent verse, [Exodus 10:23](/exodus/10-23 "Distinction in darkness"), which highlights the light in Goshen.
* **Hyperbole/Emphasis:** The description of "thick darkness" and the three-day duration serves to emphasize the extraordinary and terrifying nature of this divine judgment, making it clear this was no ordinary phenomenon.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This plague powerfully illustrates several core theological truths. First, it underscores **God's absolute sovereignty over all creation**, including the fundamental elements of light and darkness. He is not merely a tribal deity but the Lord of the cosmos, capable of altering the very fabric of existence. Second, it serves as a profound **judgment against idolatry**, directly challenging and humiliating the most revered Egyptian deities, particularly Ra, the sun god. By extinguishing the sun, God demonstrated His unrivaled power and the impotence of Egypt's gods. Third, the distinction between the darkness in Egypt and the light in Goshen ([Exodus 10:23](/exodus/10-23 "Light in Goshen")) highlights **God's faithful protection and distinction of His covenant people**. Even in the midst of severe judgment, God provides for and preserves His own. This plague also reveals the **consequences of hardened rebellion**; Pharaoh's persistent refusal to obey God led to increasingly severe and debilitating judgments.

* [Psalm 105:28](/psalms/105-28 "God sent darkness and they did not rebel"): This psalm recounts the Exodus events, specifically mentioning this plague: "He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word."
* [John 1:5](/john/1-5 "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it"): This New Testament verse beautifully encapsulates the theological truth that God, as the ultimate source of light, overcomes all darkness, whether physical or spiritual.
* [Isaiah 60:2](/isaiah/60-2 "Darkness covers the earth, but the Lord rises upon you"): This prophetic passage speaks of a future time when "darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you," echoing the distinction seen in the plague of darkness.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The plague of darkness holds enduring relevance for believers today. It reminds us that God remains sovereign over every aspect of our world, even when circumstances seem chaotic or overwhelming. Just as God brought literal darkness to Egypt, spiritual darkness can envelop individuals and societies that resist His truth and authority. This can manifest as confusion, moral decay, or a lack of spiritual discernment. However, the contrast with Goshen offers immense hope: even when the world around us is plunged into despair or confusion, God promises to be our light and guide. He offers clarity, truth, and protection to those who follow Him. We are called to live as "children of light" ([Ephesians 5:8](/ephesians/5-8 "Live as children of light")) in a world that often walks in darkness, trusting in God's provision and guidance.

* How does the account of God's power over light and darkness in Exodus 10:22-23 encourage your faith in His sovereignty over challenging circumstances in your own life?
* In what ways might spiritual "darkness" manifest in our lives or society today, and how can we actively seek God's light and truth to overcome it?
* Considering God's distinction between Israel and Egypt, how does this passage affirm God's care and protection for His people, and what does that mean for you as a believer?

### FAQ
**Why did the darkness last three days?**

Answer: The duration of three days emphasizes the supernatural and oppressive nature of the plague. It was not a brief, natural phenomenon like an eclipse, but a sustained, terrifying judgment that paralyzed the nation and demonstrated God's absolute control over time and the elements. The three-day period also allowed for maximum psychological impact, highlighting the impotence of Egypt's sun gods and Pharaoh's inability to alleviate the suffering.

**Was this darkness literal or symbolic?**

Answer: The biblical text describes the darkness as a literal, physical phenomenon ("thick darkness," "they saw not one another, neither rose any from his place"). However, like all biblical events, it also carried profound symbolic meaning. It symbolized God's judgment, the spiritual blindness of Pharaoh and Egypt, the triumph of Yahweh over the sun god Ra, and the impending spiritual and physical liberation of Israel from the darkness of slavery.

**How could the Israelites have light if the whole land was dark?**

Answer: [Exodus 10:23](/exodus/10-23 "Light in Goshen") explicitly states, "but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." This was a miraculous, supernatural act of God, demonstrating His power to distinguish between His people and the Egyptians. It was a clear sign of His covenant faithfulness and protection, providing comfort and safety to His chosen people even amidst the severe judgment on their oppressors.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The plague of darkness, while an act of judgment against Egypt, powerfully foreshadows the spiritual darkness of sin and the ultimate light found in Jesus Christ. Just as Egypt was plunged into physical darkness, humanity without Christ dwells in spiritual darkness, unable to see God's truth or move towards Him ([John 3:19](/john/3-19 "Men loved darkness instead of light")). Jesus declares Himself to be "the light of the world" ([John 8:12](/john/8-12 "Jesus is the light of the world")), coming to dispel the darkness of sin, ignorance, and death. His ministry brought light to those "living in darkness and in the shadow of death" ([Matthew 4:16](/matthew/4-16 "The people living in darkness have seen a great light")). The three days of darkness in Egypt also resonate with the three days Jesus spent in the tomb, after which He rose, conquering the darkness of death and bringing the light of eternal life and salvation to all who believe. Through Christ, God's people are no longer left in darkness but are called into His wonderful light ([1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "Called out of darkness into wonderful light")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.