Exodus 10:21

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness may spread over Egypt—a darkness that can be felt."

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה נְטֵ֤ה יָֽדְךָ֙ עַל־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וִ֥יהִי חֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְיָמֵ֖שׁ חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃

Transliteration

wa-yōʾmer YHWH ʾel-mōšeh nəṭēh yādəkā ʿal-ha-šāmayim wîhî ḥōšek ʿal-ʾereṣ miṣrāyim wə-yāmēš ḥōšek

Grammar Details

• *wa-yōʾmer*: conjunction + Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and said
• *YHWH*: proper noun - divine name
• *ʾel-mōšeh*: preposition + proper noun - to Moses
• *nəṭēh*: Qal imperative masculine singular - stretch out
• *yādəkā*: noun feminine singular with 2nd masculine singular suffix - your hand
• *ʿal-ha-šāmayim*: preposition + definite article + noun masculine plural - toward the heavens
• *wîhî*: conjunction + Qal jussive 3rd masculine singular - that there may be
• *ḥōšek*: noun masculine singular - darkness
• *ʿal-ʾereṣ*: preposition + noun feminine singular construct - over the land of
• *miṣrāyim*: proper noun - Egypt
• *wə-yāmēš*: conjunction + Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular jussive - that may be felt

Word Meanings

• *yāmēš*: may be felt/may be thick/may be tangible
• *ḥōšek*: darkness/obscurity

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And the LORD said to Moses, Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness which may be felt.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And Jehovah{H3068} said{H559} unto Moses,{H4872} Stretch out{H5186} thy hand{H3027} toward heaven,{H8064} that there may be darkness{H2822} over the land{H776} of Egypt,{H4714} even darkness{H2822} which may be felt.{H4959}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the LORD{H3068} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Moses{H4872}, Stretch out{H5186}{(H8798)} thine hand{H3027} toward heaven{H8064}, that there may be darkness{H2822} over the land{H776} of Egypt{H4714}, even darkness{H2822} which may be felt{H4959}{(H8686)}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And the Lorde sayde vnto Moses: Stretch out thy hond vnto heaue ad let there be darcknesse vppon the londe of Egipte: eue that thei maye feale the darcknesse.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  The LORDE sayde vnto Moses: Stretch out thine hade towarde heauen, that it be so darck in the londe of Egipte, yt it maye be felt.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Againe ye Lord said vnto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heauen, that there may be vpon the lande of Egypt darkenesse, euen darkenesse that may be felt.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Stretche out thy hande vnto heauen, that there may be vpon the lande of Egypt darknesse which may be felt.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness [which] may be felt.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Stretch out thy hand towards the heavens, and there is darkness over the land of Egypt, and the darkness is felt.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And the Lord said to Moses, Let your hand be stretched out to heaven, and all the land of Egypt will be dark, so that men will be feeling their way about in the dark.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The Ninth Blow: Darkness The LORD said to Moses,“Extend your hand toward heaven so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness so thick it can be felt.”

Referenced Verses

• Ps 105:28 : 28 He sent darkness and made it dark, and they did not rebel against his words.
• Exod 9:22 : 22 Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that hail will fall all over Egypt—on people and animals and on everything growing in the fields of Egypt.'
• Deut 28:29 : 29 At midday, you will grope around like a blind person in the dark. You will not prosper in your ways; you will be continually oppressed and robbed, with no one to save you.
• Ps 35:6 : 6 Let their way be dark and slippery, as the angel of the Lord pursues them.
• Ps 78:49 : 49 He unleashed His burning anger, fury, rage, and hostility—a band of destroying angels.
• Prov 4:19 : 19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
• Eccl 2:14 : 14 The wise have eyes in their heads, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate overtakes them both.
• Eccl 6:4 : 4 For it comes in vain and departs in darkness, and its name is covered in darkness.
• Isa 8:21-22 : 21 Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged, and looking upward, they will curse their king and their God. 22 Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.
• Matt 27:45 : 45 From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over all the land.
• Mark 15:33 : 33 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
• Luke 23:44 : 44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.
• 2 Pet 2:4 : 4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment,
• 2 Pet 2:17 : 17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness has been reserved for them forever.
• Jude 1:6 : 6 And the angels who did not stay within their proper domain but abandoned their dwelling, He has kept in eternal chains under darkness for the judgment on the great day.
• Jude 1:13 : 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
• Rev 16:10-11 : 10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony, 11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores, but they refused to repent of their deeds.