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Good News Translation

Exodus 12:29

At midnight the Lord killed all the first-born sons in Egypt, from the king's son, who was heir to the throne, to the son of the prisoner in the dungeon; all the first-born of the animals were also killed.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Bereavement;   Children;   Criminals;   Egyptians;   Firstborn;   Miracles;   Passover;   Plague;   Scofield Reference Index - Israel;   Thompson Chain Reference - God's;   Judgments, God's;   Justice;   Miracles;   Plagues;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Anger of God, the;   Egypt;   Miracles Wrought through Servants of God;   Plague or Pestilence, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Passover;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Pharaoh;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Celebrate, Celebration;   Lamb, Lamb of God;   Moses;   Pit;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Passover;   Easton Bible Dictionary - First-Born;   Plague;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Exodus, the Book of;   Miracles;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Exodus, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Exodus;   Firstborn;   Moses;   Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread;   Prison;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Hosanna ;   Passover (I.);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - First-Begotten, First-Born,;   Miracles;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Firstborn;   Passover;   Plagues of egypt;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Passover;   Plagues of egypt;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Exodus, the,;   Herd;   Pass'over,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - First-Born;   Plagues of Egypt;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Exodus, the;   On to Sinai;   Hebrew Calendar;   Sabbath and Feasts;   Priesthood, the;   On to Canaan;   Moses, the Man of God;   Conquest of Canaan;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Midnight;   Moses;   Passover;   Primogeniture;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Demonology;   Hafṭarah;   Law, Reading from the;   Memra;   Moses;   Triennial Cycle;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
It happened at midnight, that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Mitzrayim, from the firstborn of Par`oh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
King James Version
And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
Lexham English Bible
And in the middle of the night, Yahweh struck all of the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh sitting on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the prison house and every firstborn of an animal.
New Century Version
At midnight the Lord killed all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt—from the firstborn of the king who sat on the throne to the firstborn of the prisoner in jail. Also, all the firstborn farm animals died.
New English Translation
It happened at midnight—the Lord attacked all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the prison, and all the firstborn of the cattle.
Amplified Bible
Now it happened at midnight that the LORD struck every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the cattle.
New American Standard Bible
Now it came about at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe at midnight, the Lorde smote all the first borne in the lande of Egypt, from the first borne of Pharaoh that sate on his throne, vnto the first borne of the captiue that was in prison, and all the first borne of beastes.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened at midnight that Yahweh struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.
Contemporary English Version
At midnight the Lord killed the first-born son of every Egyptian family, from the son of the king to the son of every prisoner in jail. He also killed the first-born male of every animal that belonged to the Egyptians.
Complete Jewish Bible
(vi) At midnight Adonai killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh sitting on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock.
Darby Translation
And it came to pass that at midnight Jehovah smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.
Easy-to-Read Version
At midnight the Lord killed all the firstborn sons in Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh (who ruled Egypt) to the firstborn son of the prisoner sitting in jail. Also all the firstborn animals died.
English Standard Version
At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock.
George Lamsa Translation
And it came to pass that at midnight the LORD slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the first-born of the captive who was in the prison; and all the first-born of cattle.
Christian Standard Bible®
Now at midnight the Lord struck every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon, and every firstborn of the livestock.
Literal Translation
And it happened at midnight. Jehovah struck every first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh, the one sitting on the throne, to the first-born of the captive who was in the prison house, and every first-born ofanimals.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And at mydnight the LORDE smote all the firstborne in the lande of Egipte: from Pharaos first sonne (which sat vpon his seate) vntyll the first sonne of the presoner that was in the preson, and all the firstborne of the catell.
American Standard Version
And it came to pass at midnight, that Jehovah smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of cattle.
Bible in Basic English
And in the middle of the night the Lord sent death on every first male child in the land of Egypt, from the child of Pharaoh on his seat of power to the child of the prisoner in the prison; and the first births of all the cattle.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And at mydnyght the Lorde smote the first borne in the lande of Egypt, fro the first borne of Pharao that sate on his seate, vntyl the first borne of the captiue that was in prison, and all the firste gendred of cattell.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it came to pass at midnight, that the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of cattle.
King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe that at midnight the Lord smote all the first borne in the land of Egypt, from the first borne of Pharaoh that sate on his throne, vnto the first borne of the captiue that was in the dungeon, and all the first borne of cattell.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharao that sat on the throne, to the first-born of the captive-maid in the dungeon, and the first-born of all cattle.
English Revised Version
And it came to pass at midnight, that the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
Berean Standard Bible
Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe it was doon in the myddis of the nyyt, the Lord smoot al the firste gendrid thing in the lond of Egipt, fro the firste gendrid of Farao, that sat in the trone of hym, til to the first gendrid of the caitif womman, that was in the prisoun, and alle the first gendrid of beestis.
Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, at midnight, that Jehovah hath smitten every first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh who is sitting on his throne, unto the first-born of the captive who [is] in the prison-house, and every first-born of beasts.
Update Bible Version
And it came to pass at midnight, that Yahweh smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne to the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of cattle.
Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne, to the first-born of the captive that [was] in the dungeon; and all the first-born of cattle.
World English Bible
It happened at midnight, that Yahweh struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
New King James Version
Exodus 11:1-10">[xr] And it came to pass at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock.
New Living Translation
And that night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed.
New Life Bible
At midnight the Lord killed all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sat on the throne to the first-born of the one who was held in prison, and all the first-born of the cattle.
New Revised Standard
At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it came to pass, at midnight, that Yahweh, smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat upon his throne, unto the firstborn of the captive who was in the pit of his prison, - and every firstborn of beasts.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it came to pass at midnight, the Lord slew every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharao, who sat on his throne, unto the firstborn of the captive woman that was in the prison, and all the firstborn of cattle.
Revised Standard Version
At midnight the LORD smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the first-born of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the first-born of the cattle.
THE MESSAGE
At midnight God struck every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, right down to the firstborn of the prisoner locked up in jail. Also the firstborn of the animals.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now it came about at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.

Contextual Overview

29 At midnight the Lord killed all the first-born sons in Egypt, from the king's son, who was heir to the throne, to the son of the prisoner in the dungeon; all the first-born of the animals were also killed. 30 That night, the king, his officials, and all the other Egyptians were awakened. There was loud crying throughout Egypt, because there was not one home in which there was not a dead son. 31 That same night the king sent for Moses and Aaron and said, "Get out, you and your Israelites! Leave my country; go and worship the Lord , as you asked. 32 Take your sheep, goats, and cattle, and leave. Also pray for a blessing on me." 33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country; they said, "We will all be dead if you don't leave." 34 So the people filled their baking pans with unleavened dough, wrapped them in clothing, and carried them on their shoulders. 35 The Israelites had done as Moses had said, and had asked the Egyptians for gold and silver jewelry and for clothes. 36 The Lord made the Egyptians respect the people and give them what they asked for. In this way the Israelites carried away the wealth of the Egyptians.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

at midnight: Exodus 12:12, Exodus 11:4, Exodus 13:15, Job 34:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:3

the Lord smote: The infliction of this judgment on the Egyptians was most equitable; because, after their nation had been preserved by one of the Israelitish family, they had, contrary to all right, and in defiance of original stipulation, enslaved the people to whom they had been so much indebted, had murdered their offspring, and made their bondage intolerable. See Bryant, p. 160. Numbers 3:13, Numbers 8:17, Numbers 33:4, Psalms 78:51, Psalms 105:36, Psalms 135:8, Psalms 136:10, Hebrews 11:28, Hebrews 12:23

the firstborn of Pharaoh: Exodus 4:23, Exodus 11:5

dungeon: Heb. house of the pit, Isaiah 24:22, Isaiah 51:14, Jeremiah 38:6, Jeremiah 38:13, Zechariah 9:11

Reciprocal: Exodus 9:15 - that Exodus 15:26 - diseases Numbers 3:12 - General Deuteronomy 16:1 - for in 1 Samuel 25:38 - the Lord 2 Kings 19:35 - that night 2 Chronicles 15:13 - whether small Job 27:20 - a tempest Job 36:20 - cut Psalms 81:5 - through Psalms 91:6 - pestilence Isaiah 15:1 - in the Isaiah 44:26 - confirmeth Isaiah 47:11 - thou shalt not know Amos 4:10 - pestilence Habakkuk 3:5 - went Habakkuk 3:13 - thou woundedst Habakkuk 3:14 - the head Acts 12:23 - the angel Romans 5:14 - even

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt,.... The midnight of the fifteenth of Nisan, as the Targum of Jonathan, when fast asleep, and thoughtless of any danger; and it being at such a time must strike with a greater horror and terror, when sensible of the blow, which might be attended with a great noise, that might awaken the rest:

from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne; the heir to his crown, who was to have sat upon his throne, or already did, being taken a partner with him in it:

unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; or prison, that was grinding at the mill there, Exodus 11:5 which was the work and business the prisoners were often put to, as appears from the case of Samson, Judges 16:21,

and all the firstborn of cattle; which were left of the other plagues, which had consumed great numbers of them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This plague is distinctly attributed here and in Exodus 12:23 to the personal intervention of the Lord; but it is to be observed that although the Lord Himself passed through to smite the Egyptians, He employed the agency of “the destroyer” Exodus 12:23, in whom, in accordance with Hebrews 11:28, all the ancient versions, and most critics, recognize an Angel (compare 2 Kings 19:35; 2 Samuel 24:16).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 12:29. Smote all the first born — If we take the term first-born in its literal sense only, we shall be led to conclude that in a vast number of the houses of the Egyptians there could have been no death, as it is not at all likely that every first-born child of every Egyptian family was still alive, and that all the first-born of their cattle still remained. And yet it is said, Exodus 12:30, that there was not a house where there was not one dead. The word therefore must not be taken in its literal sense only. From its use in a great variety of places in the Scriptures it is evident that it means the chief, most excellent, best beloved, most distinguished, c. In this sense our blessed Lord is called the FIRST-BORN of every creature, Colossians 1:15, and the FIRST-BORN among many brethren, Romans 8:29 that is, he is more excellent than all creatures, and greater than all the children of men. In the same sense we may understand Revelation 1:5, where CHRIST is called the FIRST-BEGOTTEN from the dead, i.e., the chief of all that have ever visited the empire of death, and on whom death has had any power; and the only one who by his own might quickened himself. In the same sense wisdom is represented as being brought forth before all the creatures, and being possessed by the Lord in the beginning of his ways, Proverbs 8:22-30; that is, the wisdom of God is peculiarly conspicuous in the production, arrangement, and government of every part of the creation. So Ephraim is called the Lord's FIRST-BORN, Jeremiah 31:9. And the people of Israel are often called by the same name, see Exodus 4:22: Israel is my son, my FIRST-BORN; that is, the people in whom I particularly delight, and whom I will especially support and defend. And because the first-born are in general peculiarly dear to their parents, and because among the Jews they had especial and peculiar privileges, whatever was most dear, most valuable, and most prized, was thus denominated. So Micah 6:7: Shall I give my FIRST-BORN for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? Shall I give up the most beloved child I have, he that is most dear and most necessary to me, in order to make an atonement for my sins! In like manner the Prophet Zechariah, speaking of the conversion of the Jews to the Gospel of Christ, represents them as looking on him whom they have pierced, and being as one that is in bitterness for his FIRST-BORN; that is, they shall feel distress and anguish as those who had lost their most beloved child. So the Church triumphant in the kingdom of God are called, Hebrews 12:23, the general assembly and Church of the FIRST-BORN, i.e., the most noble and excellent of all human if not created beings. So Homer, Il. iv., ver. 102: Αρνων πρωτογονων ρεξειν κλειτην ἑκατομβην· "A hecatomb of lambs all firstlings of the flock." That is, the most excellent of their kind.

In a contrary sense, when the word first-born is joined to another that signifies any kind of misery or disgrace, it then signifies the depth of misery, the utmost disgrace. So the FIRST-BORN of the poor, Isaiah 14:30, signifies the most abject, destitute, and impoverished. The FIRST-BORN of death, Job 18:13, means the most horrible kind of death. So in the threatening against Pharaoh, Exodus 11:5, where he informs him that he will slay all the first-born, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon the throne; to the first born of the maid-servant that is behind the mill, he takes in the very highest and lowest conditions of life. As there was no state in Egypt superior to the throne, so there was none inferior to that of the female slave that ground at the mill. The Prophet Habakkuk seems to fix this as the sense in which the word is used here; for speaking of the plagues of Egypt in general, and the salvation which God afforded his people, he says, Habakkuk 3:13: Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people - thou woundedst the HEAD (ראש rosh, the chief, the most excellent) of the house of the wicked - of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. And the author of the book of Wisdom understood it in the same way: The master and the servant were punished after one manner; and like as the king, so suffered the common people - for in one moment the NOBLEST OFFSPRING of them was destroyed, Wisdom Exodus 18:11,Exodus 18:12. And in no other sense can we understand the word in Psalms 89:27, where, among the promises of God to David, we find the following: Also I will make him my FIRST-BORN, higher than the kings of the earth; in which passage the latter clause explains the former; David, as king, should be the FIRST-BORN, of God, i.e., he should be higher than the kings of the earth - the MOST EMINENT potentate in the universe. In this sense, therefore, we should understand the passage in question; the most eminent person in every family in Egypt, as well as those who were literally the first-born, being slain in this plague. Calmet and some other critics particularly contend for this sense.


 
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