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Sunday, September 14th, 2025
the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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New Life Version

Exodus 8:20

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.

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.
Contemporary English Version
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.
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 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 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. 21 For if you will not let My people go, I will send many flies upon you and upon your servants and upon your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies, and also the ground will be covered with them. 22 But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen where My people are living so no flies will be there. Then you may know that I, the Lord, am in the land. 23 I will divide My people from your people. Tomorrow you will see this happen."'" 24 And the Lord did so. And there came a great many flies flying all over inside the house of the Pharaoh and in the houses of his servants. The land was destroyed because of the many flies in all the land of Egypt. 25 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, "Go and give a gift in worship to your God here in the land." 26 But Moses said, "It is not right to do this. For the Egyptians hate what we would give in worship to the Lord our God. If the Egyptians see us giving this gift and doing what they think is sinful, will they not throw stones at us? 27 We must travel three days to the desert and give a gift in worship to the Lord our God, as He tells us to do." 28 So Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, so you may give a gift to the Lord your God. But do not go very far away. Pray for me." 29 Then Moses said, "I am leaving you. I will pray to the Lord that the many flies may leave Pharaoh and his servants and his people tomorrow. But do not let Pharaoh lie again by not letting the people go to give a gift on an altar to the Lord."

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
But Abel brought a gift of the first-born of his flocks and of the fat parts. The Lord showed favor to Abel and his gift.
Genesis 7:2
Take with you seven of every clean animal of each sex, and one of each sex of the animals that are unclean.
Genesis 8:1
But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and all the cattle that were with him in the large boat. Then God made a wind blow over the earth until the water went down.
Genesis 8:4
And in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the large boat came to rest on Mount Ararat.
Genesis 8:7
Then he sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth.
Genesis 8:8
Then he sent out a dove, to see if the water was gone from the ground.
Genesis 8:15
Then God said to Noah,
Genesis 8:16
"Go out of the boat, you and your wife and your sons and your sons' wives with you.
Genesis 8:17
Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and everything that moves on the earth. So they may give birth and become many upon the earth."
Genesis 13:4
where he had made an altar. And there Abram called on the name 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.


 
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