Bible Strands
Exodus 10:18
So Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and appealed to the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses leaves Pharaoh’s court immediately after the ruler’s request to remove the locust plague. He turns directly to Yahweh to petition for the end of the judgment.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַ/יֶּעְתַּ֖ר (va/i.ye'.Tar) literally means “he prayed” or “he made supplication,” denoting a formal plea for intervention. It follows וַ/יֵּצֵ֖א (va/i.ye.Tze') “he went out,” marking a deliberate physical withdrawal from royal presence to divine presence.
The thread — This pattern of intercession for a hostile ruler appears in Exodus 8:9 and Exodus 8:28, where Moses negotiates and prays for Pharaoh and his officials. The New Testament echoes the command to pray for persecutors in Matthew 5:44.
Why it lands — The text records Moses acting on Pharaoh’s request without delay, showing that intercession follows divine instruction rather than human merit. It requires the reader to pray directly to God for urgent relief, regardless of the recipient’s attitude or status.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord.
Cross-references
- Exodus 8:9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “You may have the honor over me. When shall I pray for you and your officials and your people that the frogs (except for those in the Nile) may be taken away from you and your houses?”
- Exodus 8:28 Pharaoh answered, “I will let you go and sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me.”
- Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
- Luke 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.