Bible Strands
Exodus 11:5
and every firstborn son in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the servant girl behind the hand mill, as well as the firstborn of all the cattle.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses delivers this declaration to Pharaoh and the Egyptian court immediately after his midnight warning in Exodus 11:4, specifying the scope of the coming plague.
The words — The Hebrew בְּכוֹר (bekhor) means firstborn and מֵ֣ת (met) means he will die; both terms anchor the verse’s unambiguous declaration of inevitable death.
The thread — This decree fulfills the warning in Exodus 4:23, is later recorded as accomplished in Psalm 78:51, and is expanded in Exodus 12:12.
Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that the judgment will touch every tier of Egyptian society and livestock, leaving no status exempt from the stated outcome.
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 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.
Cross-references
- Psalms 78:51 He struck all the firstborn of Egypt, the virility in the tents of Ham.
- Exodus 4:23 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!’”
- Exodus 12:12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
- Exodus 12:29 Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock.
- Exodus 13:15 And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’
- Psalms 105:36 Then He struck all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigor.
- Psalms 135:8 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, of both man and beast.
- Psalms 136:10 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever.
- Matthew 24:41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
- Hebrews 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.