Exodus 4:23
New International Version
and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’”

New Living Translation
I commanded you, “Let my son go, so he can worship me.” But since you have refused, I will now kill your firstborn son!’”

English Standard Version
and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”

Berean Standard Bible
and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’ ”

King James Bible
And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

New King James Version
So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ”

New American Standard Bible
So I said to you, ‘Let My son go so that he may serve Me’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I am going to kill your son, your firstborn.”’”

NASB 1995
“So I said to you, ‘Let My son go that he may serve Me’ but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn."’”

NASB 1977
“So I said to you, ‘Let My son go, that he may serve Me’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your first-born.”’”

Legacy Standard Bible
So I said to you, ‘Let My son go that he may serve Me’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.”’”

Amplified Bible
So I say to you, ‘Let My son go so that he may serve Me’; and if you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.”’”

Christian Standard Bible
I told you: Let my son go so that he may worship me, but you refused to let him go. Look, I am about to kill your firstborn son! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I told you: Let My son go so that he may worship Me, but you refused to let him go. Now I will kill your firstborn son!”

American Standard Version
and I have said unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me; and thou hast refused to let him go: behold, I will slay thy son, thy first-born.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
I have said to you ‘Send out my son and he will serve me,’ and if you choose not to send out my son, behold, I am killing your son, your firstborn.”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I said to thee, Send away my people, that they may serve me: now if thou wilt not send them away, see, I will slay thy fir-born son.

Contemporary English Version
and I commanded you to release him, so he could worship me. But you refused, and now I will kill your first-born son."

Douay-Rheims Bible
I have said to thee: Let my son go, that he may serve me, and thou wouldst not let him go: behold I will kill thy son, thy firstborn.

English Revised Version
and I have said unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me; and thou hast refused to let him go: behold, I will slay thy son, thy firstborn.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I told you to let my son go so that he may worship me. But you refused to let him go. So now I'm going to kill your firstborn son.'"

Good News Translation
I told you to let my son go, so that he might worship me, but you refused. Now I am going to kill your first-born son.'"

International Standard Version
And I say to you, 'Let my son go so he may serve me. If you refuse to let him go, then I will kill your firstborn son.'"'"

JPS Tanakh 1917
And I have said unto thee: Let My son go, that he may serve Me; and thou hast refused to let him go. Behold, I will slay thy son, thy first-born.'--

Literal Standard Version
and I say to you, send My son away, and he serves Me; and [if] you refuse to send him away, behold, I am slaying your son, your firstborn.”

Majority Standard Bible
and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’”

New American Bible
I said to you: Let my son go, that he may serve me. Since you refused to let him go, I will kill your son, your firstborn.

NET Bible
and I said to you, 'Let my son go that he may serve me,' but since you have refused to let him go, I will surely kill your son, your firstborn!"'"

New Revised Standard Version
I said to you, “Let my son go that he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; now I will kill your firstborn son.’”

New Heart English Bible
and I have said to you, "Let my son go, that he may serve me;" and you have refused to let him go. Look, I will kill your son, your firstborn.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And I say to thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou shalt refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy first-born.

World English Bible
and I have said to you, “Let my son go, that he may serve me;” and you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”

Young's Literal Translation
and I say unto thee, Send away My son, and he doth serve Me; and -- thou dost refuse to send him away -- lo, I am slaying thy son, thy first-born.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses Leaves for Egypt
22Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son, 23and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’” 24Now at a lodging place along the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him.…

Cross References
Exodus 5:1
After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.'"

Exodus 6:11
"Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his land."

Exodus 7:16
Then say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me in the wilderness. But you have not listened until now.

Exodus 8:1
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD says: 'Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

Exodus 8:20
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.

Exodus 9:1
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

Exodus 9:13
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.


Treasury of Scripture

And I say to you, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if you refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay your son, even your firstborn.

Exodus 11:5
And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.

Exodus 12:29
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.

Psalm 78:51
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

Jump to Previous
Death First Firstborn First-Born Kill Refuse Refused Serve Slay Slaying Worship
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Death First Firstborn First-Born Kill Refuse Refused Serve Slay Slaying Worship
Exodus 4
1. Moses's rod is turned into a serpent.
6. His hand is leprous.
10. He loathes his calling.
13. Aaron is appointed to assist him.
18. Moses departs from Jethro.
21. God's message to Pharaoh.
24. Zipporah circumcises her son.
27. Aaron is sent to meet Moses.
29. The people believe them.














(23) I will slay thy son, even thy first-born.--The threat was not made until immediately before the tenth plague (Exodus 11:5). It is not recorded in the words which Moses is here directed to use; but the speech of Moses in Exodus 11 is no doubt much abbreviated.

Verse 23. - I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn. For the fulfilment of the threat, see Exodus 12:29. Moses did not utter it till all other arguments were exhausted, and he knew that he was having his last interview with the monarch (Exodus 10:29; Exodus 11:4, 5). In this reserve and in the whole series of his dealings with the Egyptian king, we must regard him as simply carrying out the special directions which, after his return to Egypt, he continually received from the Almighty. (See Exodus 6:11; Exodus 7:9, 15 19: 8:1, 5, 16, 20, etc.)

CHAPTER 4:24-26

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and I told you
וָאֹמַ֣ר (wā·’ō·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to let My son
בְּנִי֙ (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

go
שַׁלַּ֤ח (šal·laḥ)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

so that he may worship Me.
וְיַֽעַבְדֵ֔נִי (wə·ya·‘aḇ·ḏê·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

But you have refused
וַתְּמָאֵ֖ן (wat·tə·mā·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3985: To refuse

to let him go,
לְשַׁלְּח֑וֹ (lə·šal·lə·ḥōw)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

so
הִנֵּה֙ (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

I
אָנֹכִ֣י (’ā·nō·ḵî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

will kill
הֹרֵ֔ג (hō·rêḡ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent

your firstborn
בְּכֹרֶֽךָ׃ (bə·ḵō·re·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

son!’”
בִּנְךָ֖ (bin·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son


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OT Law: Exodus 4:23 And I have said to you Let (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 4:22
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