Exodus 10:23

They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

They saw {H7200} not one {H376} another {H251}, neither rose {H6965} any {H376} from his place for three {H7969} days {H3117}: but all the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} had light {H216} in their dwellings {H4186}.

People couldn't see each other, and no one went anywhere for three days. But all the people of Isra'el had light in their homes.

No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one left his place. Yet all the Israelites had light in their dwellings.

they saw not one another, neither rose any one from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

Commentary

Exodus 10:23 vividly portrays the stark contrast during the ninth plague in Egypt, the plague of thick darkness. While an oppressive gloom settled over the land, immobilizing the Egyptians for three days, the children of Israel enjoyed divine illumination within their homes, a powerful demonstration of God's distinction between His people and their oppressors.

Context of the Ninth Plague

This verse is integral to the narrative of the ten plagues God sent upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage. The plague of darkness (Exodus 10:21-23) followed eight devastating judgments, including water turned to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock disease, boils, hail, and locusts. Each plague targeted specific Egyptian deities, demonstrating the supremacy of the God of Israel. This particular plague challenged Ra, the prominent sun god, and other celestial deities, plunging Egypt into a profound, tangible darkness that even prevented people from moving from their places.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Distinction: A central theme throughout the plagues, and especially prominent here, is God's clear separation between His people and the Egyptians. While one nation experienced paralyzing darkness, the other enjoyed supernatural light, underscoring God's covenantal relationship with Israel and His protective care. This distinction highlights God's unique relationship with believers, setting them apart from the world, a concept further explored in passages like Malachi 3:18.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Creation: The ability to command absolute darkness and simultaneously provide light showcases God's ultimate power over the natural world, including the very elements of creation. This demonstrated His authority over all false gods and human rulers, including Pharaoh, whose heart remained hardened despite overwhelming evidence of God's might.
  • Judgment and Deliverance: The darkness served as a severe judgment on Egypt, particularly on their idolatry, while offering comfort and assurance to Israel. It was a tangible sign of God's impending deliverance and the impotence of Egypt's gods.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "thick darkness" in Exodus 10:22, ื—ึนืฉึถืืšึฐ ืึฒืคึตืœึธื” (choshek aphelah), conveys a sense of a palpable, oppressive gloomโ€”a darkness so dense it could be felt. In stark contrast, the "light" (ืื•ึนืจ - 'or) enjoyed by the Israelites was not merely the absence of darkness but a positive, active presence of illumination, a divine provision that set them apart by God's direct intervention.

Practical Application and Reflection

Exodus 10:23 offers profound lessons for believers today. Just as God provided light for His people in the midst of Egypt's gloom, He continues to be our light in times of spiritual or physical darkness. This verse reminds us that:

  • Even in the darkest seasons of life, God's presence brings light, clarity, and guidance to His faithful followers.
  • Believers are set apart by God. We are called to be "the light of the world", reflecting God's truth and hope in a world often shrouded in spiritual darkness.
  • We can trust in God's protective care and unwavering provision, even when circumstances around us seem overwhelming or dire. This divine provision points forward to the ultimate promise of a future where there will be no more night, for the Lord God Himself gives them light.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 8:22 (5 votes)

    And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms [of flies] shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I [am] the LORD in the midst of the earth.

  • Exodus 9:4 (3 votes)

    And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all [that is] the children's of Israel.

  • Isaiah 42:16 (3 votes)

    And I will bring the blind by a way [that] they knew not; I will lead them in paths [that] they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

  • 1 Peter 2:9 (3 votes)

    But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

  • Exodus 14:20 (2 votes)

    And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness [to them], but it gave light by night [to these]: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

  • Isaiah 60:1 (2 votes)

    ยถ Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

  • Isaiah 60:3 (2 votes)

    And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.