Exodus 11:5

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the millstones, and all the firstborn of the livestock.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וּמֵ֣ת כָּל־בְּכוֹר֮ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַיִם֒ מִבְּכ֤וֹר פַּרְעֹה֙ הַיֹּשֵׁ֣ב עַל־כִּסְא֔וֹ עַ֚ד בְּכ֣וֹר הַשִּׁפְחָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר אַחַ֣ר הָרֵחָ֑יִם וְכֹ֖ל בְּכ֥וֹר בְּהֵמָֽה

Transliteration

And-mēṯ all-bəḵôr in-ʾereṣ Miṣrayim from-bəḵôr Parʿōh the-yōšēḇ upon-kisʾô until bəḵôr the-šip̄ḥâh ʾăšer behind the-rēḥāyim and-all bəḵôr bəhēmâh

Grammar Details

• *mēṯ*: qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - he will die
• *bəḵôr*: noun, masculine singular construct - firstborn of
• *ʾereṣ*: noun, feminine singular construct - land of
• *Miṣrayim*: proper name - Egypt
• *Parʿōh*: proper name - Pharaoh
• *yōšēḇ*: qal participle, masculine singular with definite article - the one sitting
• *kisʾô*: noun, masculine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his throne
• *šip̄ḥâh*: noun, feminine singular with definite article - the female servant/maidservant
• *ʾăšer*: relative particle - who/which/that
• *rēḥāyim*: noun, dual with definite article - the millstones/handmill
• *bəhēmâh*: noun, feminine singular - beast/cattle/livestock

Word Meanings

• *mēṯ*: perfect with future meaning - he will die/shall die
• *šip̄ḥâh*: female servant/maidservant/slave
• *rēḥāyim*: millstones/grinding stones/handmill

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant who is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  and all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the first-born of the maid-servant that is behind the mill; and all the first-born of cattle.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  and all the firstborne in the land of Egipte shall dye: euen from the firstborne off Pharao that sitteth on his seate, vnto the firstborne of the maydeservaunte that is in the mylle, and all the firstborne of the catell.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  & all ye first borne in the lande of Egipte shall dye: from Pharaos first sonne (yt sytteth vpon his seate) vnto the first sonne of the mayde seruaunte which is behynde ye myll: & all the first borne amonge the catell:

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And all the first borne in the lande of Egypt shall die, from the first borne of Pharaoh that sitteth on his throne, vnto the first borne of the maide seruant, that is at the mille, and all the first borne of beastes.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And all the first borne in all the land of Egypt shall dye, euen fro the first borne of Pharao that sytteth on his seate, vnto the first borne of the mayde seruaunt that is behynde the myll, and all the first gendred of the cattell.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the maid-servant who is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of cattle.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and every first-born in the land of Egypt hath died, from the first-born of Pharaoh who is sitting on his throne, unto the first-born of the maid-servant who `is' behind the millstones, and all the first-born of beasts;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the first-born of the maid-servant that is behind the mill; and all the first-born of cattle.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the first-born of the maid-servant that is behind the mill; and all the first-born of cattle.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And death will come to every mother's first male child in all the land of Egypt, from the child of Pharaoh on his seat of power, to the child of the servant-girl crushing the grain; and the first births of all the cattle.

• World English Bible (2000)

  and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of livestock.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle.

Referenced Verses

• Ps 78:51 : 51 He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
• Ps 105:36 : 36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.
• Ps 135:8 : 8 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both human and animal.
• Ps 136:10 : 10 To Him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for His steadfast love endures forever.
• Exod 4:23 : 23 and I told you to let my son go so he may worship me, but you refused to let him go. So I will kill your firstborn son.'
• Exod 12:12 : 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night and strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast, and I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
• Exod 12:29 : 29 At midnight, 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 in the dungeon, and every firstborn of the livestock.
• Matt 24:41 : 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
• Heb 11:28 : 28 By faith he observed the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them.
• Exod 13:15 : 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in Egypt, both human and animal. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD every male that first opens the womb and redeem every firstborn of my sons.'
• Judg 16:21 : 21 Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison.
• Isa 47:2 : 2 Take a millstone and grind flour; remove your veil, strip off your train, uncover your legs, and cross the rivers.
• Lam 5:13 : 13 Young men toil at the grinding millstones, and boys stumble under heavy loads of wood.