Exodus 10:8

And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God: [but] who [are] they that shall go?

And Moses {H4872} and Aaron {H175} were brought again {H7725} unto Pharaoh {H6547}: and he said {H559} unto them, Go {H3212}, serve {H5647} the LORD {H3068} your God {H430}: but who are they that shall go {H1980}?

So Moshe and Aharon were brought to Pharaoh again, and he said to them, "Go, worship ADONAI your God. But who exactly is going?"

So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “Go, worship the LORD your God,” he said. “But who exactly will be going?”

And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve Jehovah your God; but who are they that shall go?

Commentary

Context of Exodus 10:8

Exodus 10:8 finds Moses and Aaron once again before Pharaoh, deeply entrenched in the escalating conflict between the God of Israel and the gods of Egypt. This verse immediately precedes the eighth plague—the devastating plague of locusts. Pharaoh has already experienced seven plagues, each demonstrating the LORD's power and sovereignty over creation and the false deities of Egypt. Despite these overwhelming displays, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, a recurring theme throughout the narrative (e.g., Exodus 7:13, Exodus 8:19). In previous encounters, Pharaoh offered partial concessions, such as allowing the Israelites to sacrifice within Egypt (Exodus 8:25) or not going very far (Exodus 8:28). Here, he attempts another negotiation, revealing his strategic, yet ultimately futile, attempt to control the terms of Israel's departure and worship.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Pharaoh's Persistent Resistance and Calculated Concessions: Pharaoh's question, "who are they that shall go?", is not a genuine inquiry but a veiled attempt to limit the scope of Israel's freedom and control. He is willing to allow some to serve the LORD, perhaps the men, but intends to retain the women and children as leverage. This highlights his desperate effort to maintain power and control over the Hebrew workforce and their future generations.
  • God's Demand for Complete Freedom and Worship: In contrast to Pharaoh's partial offer, God's command through Moses has always been clear and unwavering: all the Israelites, including men, women, children, and livestock, must go to worship the LORD in the wilderness. This demand for total liberation and unhindered worship underscores that true service to God requires the whole community and all its resources.
  • The Nature of True Service to the LORD: The Hebrew word for "serve" (`עָבַד`, 'avad) means to work, labor, or serve, often in a religious context. Pharaoh's willingness to let them "serve the LORD your God" is ironic, as he himself is serving false gods and resisting the true God. His limitation reveals a fundamental misunderstanding or rejection of what it means to truly serve the LORD, which requires a complete devotion of the entire community, transcending age or gender.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "who are they that shall go?" in the KJV reflects Pharaoh's specific inquiry. In the original Hebrew, the question is direct: "who and who are the ones going?" This repetition emphasizes the specificity of his demand for a limited group, highlighting his attempt to dictate the terms of worship and departure. It subtly implies a distinction between those deemed essential for labor and those who might be expendable for a religious ceremony, a distinction God utterly rejects.

Practical Application

Exodus 10:8 offers valuable lessons for believers today:

  • Beware of Partial Obedience: Like Pharaoh's offer, we may be tempted to give God only a part of ourselves—our time, our resources, or certain aspects of our lives—while holding back others. This verse reminds us that God desires our complete devotion, our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).
  • Recognize Subtle Resistance: Sometimes, our resistance to God's will isn't outright defiance but a subtle negotiation, a desire to control the terms of our service or commitment. This verse encourages us to examine our hearts for areas where we might be holding back from full surrender.
  • The Importance of Intergenerational Faith: God's command included "our young and our old, our sons and our daughters" (Exodus 10:9). This emphasizes the importance of family and community in worship and faith. Passing on faith to the next generation is not optional but central to God's plan.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 10:24 (3 votes)

    And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.

  • Exodus 12:31 (2 votes)

    And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, [and] get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.

  • Exodus 10:16 (2 votes)

    Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.

  • Exodus 8:8 (2 votes)

    Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.