Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, August 24th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Exodus 8:20

The Lord said to Moses: Early tomorrow morning, while the king is on his way to the river, go and say to him, "The Lord commands you to let his people go, so they can worship him.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Plague;   Rising;   Thompson Chain Reference - Early Rising;   Rising, Early;  

Dictionaries:

- Fausset Bible Dictionary - Prayer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Exodus, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Moses;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Miracles;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Baal-zebub;   Flies;   Plagues of egypt;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Plagues, the Ten,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Fish;   Flies;   Plagues of Egypt;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Exodus, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Criticism (the Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis);   Exodus, the Book of;   Plagues of Egypt;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Fly;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
The LORD said to Moshe, "Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Par`oh; behold, he comes forth to the water; and tell him, 'This is what the LORD says, "Let my people go, that they may serve me.
King James Version
And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord , Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Lexham English Bible
And Yahweh said to Moses, "Start early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Look, he is going out to the water, and you must say to him, ‘Thus says Yahweh, "Release my people so that they may serve me."
New Century Version
The Lord told Moses, "Get up early in the morning, and meet the king of Egypt as he goes out to the river. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go so they can worship me.
New English Translation
The Lord said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and position yourself before Pharaoh as he goes out to the water, and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord , "Release my people that they may serve me!
Amplified Bible
Now the LORD said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he is coming out to the water [of the Nile], and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, "Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.
New American Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh, as he comes out to the water; and say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: "Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Moreouer the Lorde sayd to Moses, Rise vp earely in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh (lo, hee will come forth vnto the water) and say vnto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serue me.
Legacy Standard Bible
And Yahweh said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water, and you shall say to him, ‘Thus says Yahweh, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me.
Complete Jewish Bible
Adonai did it: terrible swarms of insects went into Pharaoh's palace and into all his servants' houses — the insects ruined the entire land of Egypt.
Darby Translation
And Jehovah said to Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh—behold, he will go out to the water—and say to him, Thus saith Jehovah, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord said to Moses, "Get up in the morning and go to Pharaoh. He will go out to the river. Tell him that the Lord says, ‘Let my people go and worship me!
English Standard Version
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord , "Let my people go, that they may serve me.
George Lamsa Translation
And the LORD said to Moses, Rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he goes out again to his daily duty; and say to him, Thus says the LORD, Let my people go that they may serve me.
Good News Translation

Flies

The Lord said to Moses, "Early tomorrow morning go and meet the king as he goes to the river, and tell him that the Lord says, ‘Let my people go, so that they can worship me.
Christian Standard Bible®
The Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh when you see him going out to the water. Tell him: This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.
Literal Translation
And Jehovah said to Moses, Get up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh. Behold, he is about to go out to the water. And say to him, So says Jehovah, Send away My people that they may serve Me.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And ye LORDE saide vnto Moses: Get ye vp tomorow by tymes, & stonde before Pharao: beholde, he wil go vnto the water, & speake thou vnto him: Thus saieth ye LORDE: let my people go, yt they maye serue me:
American Standard Version
And Jehovah said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Bible in Basic English
And the Lord said to Moses, Get up early in the morning and take your place before Pharaoh when he comes out to the water; and say to him, This is what the Lord says: Let my people go to give me worship.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: ryse vp early in the mornyng, and stand before Pharao, lo, he wyll come foorth vnto the water, and thou shalt say vnto him, Thus sayeth the Lorde: Let my people go that they may serue me.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the LORD did so; and there came grievous swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses; and in all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by reason of the swarms of flies.
King James Version (1611)
And the Lord saide vnto Moses, Rise vp early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh: loe, he commeth foorth to the water, and say vnto him; Thus saith the Lord, Let my people goe, that they may serue me.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the Lord said to Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharao: and behold, he will go forth to the water, and thou shalt say to him, These things says the Lord: Send away my people, that they may serve me in the wilderness.
English Revised Version
And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning, and when Pharaoh goes out to the water, stand before him and tell him that this is what the LORD says: 'Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the Lord seide to Moises, Rise thou eerli, and stonde bifore Farao, for he schal go out to the watris; and thou schalt seie to hym, The Lord seith these thingis, Delyuere thou my puple, that it make sacrifice to me;
Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Rise early in the morning, and station thyself before Pharaoh, lo, he is going out to the waters, and thou hast said unto him, Thus said Jehovah, Send My people away, and they serve Me;
Update Bible Version
And Yahweh said to Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; look, he comes forth to the water; and say to him, Thus says Yahweh, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD said to Moses, Rise early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; (lo, he cometh forth to the water) and say to him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
World English Bible
Yahweh said to Moses, "Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; behold, he comes forth to the water; and tell him, 'This is what Yahweh says, "Let my people go, that they may serve me.
New King James Version
And the LORD said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, "Thus says the LORD: "Let My people go, that they may serve Me.
New Living Translation
Then the Lord told Moses, "Get up early in the morning and stand in Pharaoh's way as he goes down to the river. Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me.
New Life Bible
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and wait for Pharaoh as he goes out to the water. Say to him, ‘The Lord says this: "Let My people go, so they may worship Me.
New Revised Standard
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord : Let my people go, so that they may worship me.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said Yahweh unto Moses - Rise thou early in the morning, and station thyself before Pharaoh, lo! he is coming forth to the waters, - then shalt thou say unto him - Thus, saith Yahweh: Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Lord also said to Moses: Arise early, and stand before Pharao; for he will go forth to the waters: and thou shalt say to him: Thus saith the Lord: Let my people go to sacrifice to me.
Revised Standard Version
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Rise up early in the morning and wait for Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, "Let my people go, that they may serve me.
THE MESSAGE
God said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes down to the water. Tell him, ‘ God 's Message: Release my people so they can worship me. If you don't release my people, I'll release swarms of flies on you, your servants, your people, and your homes. The houses of the Egyptians and even the ground under their feet will be thick with flies. But when it happens, I'll set Goshen where my people live aside as a sanctuary—no flies in Goshen. That will show you that I am God in this land. I'll make a sharp distinction between your people and mine. This sign will occur tomorrow.'"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now the LORD said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh, as he comes out to the water, and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

Contextual Overview

20 The Lord said to Moses: Early tomorrow morning, while the king is on his way to the river, go and say to him, "The Lord commands you to let his people go, so they can worship him. 21 If you don't, he will send swarms of flies to attack you, your officials, and every citizen of your country. Houses will be full of flies, and the ground will crawl with them. 22"The Lord 's people in Goshen won't be bothered by flies, but your people in the rest of the country will be tormented by them. That's how you will know that the Lord is here in Egypt. This miracle will happen tomorrow." 24 The Lord kept his promise—the palace and the homes of the royal officials swarmed with flies, and the rest of the country was infested with them as well. 25 Then the king sent for Moses and Aaron and told them, "Go sacrifice to your God, but stay here in Egypt." 26 "That's impossible!" Moses replied. "Any sacrifices we offer to the Lord our God would disgust the Egyptians, and they would stone us to death. 27 No indeed! The Lord has ordered us to walk three days into the desert before offering sacrifices to him, and that's what we have to do." 28 Then the king told him, "I'll let you go into the desert to offer sacrifices, if you don't go very far. But in the meantime, pray for me." 29 "Your Majesty," Moses replied, "I'll pray for you as soon as I leave, and by tomorrow the flies will stop bothering you, your officials, and the citizens of your country. Only make sure that you're telling the truth this time and that you really intend to let our people offer sacrifices to the Lord ." 30 After leaving the palace, Moses prayed,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

lo: Exodus 7:15

Let my: Exodus 8:1

Reciprocal: Exodus 7:16 - Let my Exodus 9:1 - General Exodus 9:13 - General Jeremiah 25:3 - rising

Cross-References

Genesis 4:4
and Abel also gave an offering to the Lord . He killed the first-born lamb from one of his sheep and gave the Lord the best parts of it. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering,
Genesis 7:2
Take seven pairs of every kind of animal that can be used for sacrifice and one pair of all others.
Genesis 8:1
God did not forget about Noah and the animals with him in the boat. So God made a wind blow, and the water started going down.
Genesis 8:4
Then on the seventeenth day of the seventh month of the year, the boat came to rest somewhere in the Ararat mountains.
Genesis 8:8
Noah wanted to find out if the water had gone down, and he sent out a dove.
Genesis 8:15
God said to Noah,
Genesis 8:16
"You, your wife, your sons, and your daughters-in-law may now leave the boat.
Genesis 8:17
Let out the birds, animals, and reptiles, so they can mate and live all over the earth."
Genesis 13:4
where he had earlier camped and built an altar. There he worshiped the Lord .
Genesis 13:18
Abram took down his tents and went to live near the sacred trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar in honor of the Lord .

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the Lord said unto Moses, rise up early in the morning,.... Of the day following, the twenty eight of Adar, or February, according to Bishop Usher; this was the fittest time to meet with Pharaoh, and the most likely to make impressions on him:

and stand before Pharaoh: meet him as he comes along, and stop him, and stand before him as having something to say to him; this was using great boldness and freedom with a king; but as Moses was ordered to do it by the King of kings, it became him to obey him:

lo, he cometh forth to the water; :-

and say unto him, thus saith the Lord, let my people go, that they may serve me; which had often been required before, but to no purpose, and in case of refusal he is threatened as follows.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Cometh forth to the water - See the Exodus 7:15 note. It is not improbable that on this occasion Pharaoh went to the Nile with a procession in order to open the solemn festival, which was held 120 days after the first rise, at the end of October or early in November. At that time the inundation is abating and the first traces of vegetation are seen on the deposit of fresh soil.

The plague now announced may be regarded as connected with the atmosphere, also an object of worship.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile