Exodus 4:23

KJV1611 – Modern English

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.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וָאֹמַ֣ר אֵלֶ֗יךָ שַׁלַּ֤ח אֶת־בְּנִי֙ וְיַֽעַבְדֵ֔נִי וַתְּמָאֵ֖ן לְשַׁלְּח֑וֹ הִנֵּה֙ אָנֹכִ֣י הֹרֵ֔ג אֶת־בִּנְךָ֖ בְּכֹרֶֽךָ׃

Transliteration

And-ʾōmar to-you šallaḥ ʾet-bĕnî and-yaʿabdēnî and-tĕmāʾēn to-šallĕḥô hinnēh ʾānōkî hōrēg ʾet-binkā bĕkōrekā.

Grammar Details

• *ʾōmar*: qal imperfect, 1st person singular with waw conversive - I said
• *šallaḥ*: piel imperative, masculine singular - send away
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *bĕnî*: noun, masculine singular construct with 1st person singular suffix - my son
• *yaʿabdēnî*: qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix - he may serve me
• *tĕmāʾēn*: piel imperfect, 2nd masculine singular with waw conversive - you refused
• *šallĕḥô*: piel infinitive construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - to send him away
• *hinnēh*: interjection - behold
• *ʾānōkî*: pronoun, 1st person singular - I
• *hōrēg*: qal participle, masculine singular - killing
• *binkā*: noun, masculine singular construct with 2nd masculine singular suffix - your son
• *bĕkōrekā*: noun, masculine singular construct with 2nd masculine singular suffix - your firstborn

Word Meanings

• *šallaḥ*: send away/let go/release
• *yaʿabdēnî*: serve me/worship me/minister to me
• *tĕmāʾēn*: refused/were unwilling/declined
• *hōrēg*: killing/about to kill/will kill

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  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.'

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  and therfore sayth vnto the: let my sonne goo, that he may serue me. Yf thou wilt not let hi goo: beholde, I will slee thine eldest sonne.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  & I saye vnto the: Let my sonne go, yt he maye serue me: Yf thou wilt not let him go, then wil I slaye thy firstborne sonne.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Wherefore I say to thee, Let my sonne go, that he may serue me: if thou refuse to let him goe, beholde, I will slay thy sonne, euen thy first borne.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And I sayde vnto thee, that thou let my sonne go, that he may serue me. And if thou refuse to let him go: beholde, I do slay thy sonne euen thy first borne.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  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 son, your firstborn.'"

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  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.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And I said to you, Let my son go, so that he may give me worship; and you did not let him go: so now I will put the first of your sons to death.

• World English Bible (2000)

  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 son, your firstborn.'"

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  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!”’”

Referenced Verses

• Exod 11:5 : 5 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.
• Exod 12:29 : 29 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.
• Ps 105:36 : 36 He struck also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
• Ps 135:8 : 8 He struck the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
• Ps 78:51 : 51 And struck all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the dwellings of Ham:
• Exod 5:1 : 1 Afterward, Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, This is what the Lord God of Israel says, Let my people go, so they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.
• Exod 7:16 : 16 And you shall say to him, The LORD God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness, and, behold, you have not listened.