Exodus 11:5
and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This plague isn't just about royalty; it dramatically emphasizes God's sovereignty by striking every firstborn, from Pharaoh on his throne to the slave girl behind the mill. It highlights that no one, regardless of status or servitude, is beyond God's reach or judgment. This ultimate leveling underscores the profound difference God puts between His people and those who oppress them.
This verse announces the tenth and final plague, the death of every firstborn in Egypt, affecting everyone from the highest royalty to the lowest slave and even their animals. This devastating plague follows Pharaoh's continued refusal to let Israel go, despite the previous nine plagues, and directly precedes Israel's eventual liberation. The severity and scope of this judgment are meant to demonstrate God's absolute power and to ensure that Israel is not just allowed to leave, but is forced out by a terrified Egypt.
Pharaoh had seen nine plagues, yet his heart remained hardened. What makes this tenth plague so absolute?
This plague isn't just another in a series; it's the culmination, the final word. God declared, 'Yet will I bring one plague more... afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.' (Exodus 11:1). This wasn't a negotiation; it was a declaration of an inevitable end. The plagues were God's persistent invitations to repentance, but Pharaoh’s consistent refusal sealed his fate. This final plague is a stark reminder that there's a point of no return, a moment when God’s patience is exhausted, and judgment becomes absolute.
From the king's throne to the slave's mill, no one is spared. What does this tell us about God's justice?
This plague is the great equalizer. It strikes not based on social status, wealth, or power, but across the entire spectrum of Egyptian society. 'From the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill...' The highest in the land and the lowest are equally subject to God's decree. This highlights God's absolute sovereignty and impartiality. No one is too powerful to escape His judgment, and no one is too insignificant to be overlooked. The imagery of the slave girl behind the handmill powerfully illustrates the most common, grueling labor, emphasizing that even those in the most humble and arduous positions are included.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Exodus 11:5 is available in the Sola app.
Why the firstborn? This plague strikes at the very heart of Egyptian society and its values.
The firstborn held a position of immense importance in ancient cultures, including Egypt. They were often the heir to the throne, family property, and carried the continuation of the family line. In Egyptian culture, some firstborn were even revered as divine or closely associated with their gods. Striking the firstborn was a direct assault on Egypt's future, its hope, its lineage, and its perceived divine connections. It wasn't just about death; it was about dismantling the very foundations of their society and their pride. For the Egyptians, this would have been a catastrophic loss, a profound cultural and spiritual blow that could never be recovered.
Understand the original words
bekor · Hebrew Noun
The firstborn male child or animal, signifying the strength, honor, and future of a family or lineage. Throughout Scripture, the firstborn is often set apart as belonging especially to God.
This verse describes the climax of God's judgment on Egypt, the tenth and final plague. It highlights the total sovereignty of God, affecting every level of Egyptian society, from the royal heir to the lowest slave, and even their livestock, underscoring the devastating impact of divine wrath when mercy is rejected.
c. 1446 BC
The Ten Plagues Begin
God sends a series of devastating plagues upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to let the Israelites go.
c. 1446 BC
Pharaoh Hardens His Heart
Despite increasingly severe plagues, Pharaoh repeatedly refuses to release the Israelites, and God allows his heart to be hardened.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Tenth Plague Announced
Moses warns Pharaoh that one final, terrible plague will strike Egypt: the death of every firstborn.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Told to Prepare
God instructs the Israelites to prepare for departure, including borrowing silver and gold from the Egyptians and marking their doorposts.
c. 1446 BC
The Passover and Exodus
The final plague strikes, and Pharaoh, in terror, finally allows the Israelites to leave Egypt, marking the beginning of the Exodus.
This passage shows a time when the Egyptians showed great favor to Joseph and his family, illustrating how God can turn the hearts of nations, foreshadowing the Egyptians' later disposition to grant the Israelites' request for jewels.
Psalm 105:36This Psalm explicitly recounts the plague of the firstborn's death, presenting it as a divine act of judgment and deliverance, directly paralleling the event in Exodus 11.
Jeremiah 1:10God declares His authority to 'pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow,' which mirrors His power exercised over Egypt through the plagues, particularly the final devastating one.
Matthew 24:41Jesus uses the imagery of 'two women grinding at the mill' being separated in the final judgment, directly referencing the lowliest of occupations mentioned in Exodus 11:5 and highlighting the profound divide between those who are 'taken' and those who are 'left'.
Revelation 18:1-3This passage describes the judgment on a powerful, idolatrous city ('Babylon the great') and its complete devastation, echoing the thoroughness of God's judgment on Egypt, which affected all levels of society from the ruler to the servant.
calvinExodus 11:1-10: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether."
And the Lord said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.
Dixerat autem Jehova ad Mosen, Adhuc plagam unam adducam super P…
gillExodus 11:5: "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."
And all the firstborn in the land of Eygpt shall die,.... By the destroying angel inflicting a disease upon them, as Josephus says (q), very probably the pestilence; however, it was sudden and immediate death, and which was universal, reaching to all the firstborn that…
This plague isn't just about royalty; it dramatically emphasizes God's sovereignty by striking every firstborn, from Pharaoh on his throne to the slave girl behind the mill. It highlights that no one, regardless of status or servitude, is beyond God's reach or judgment. This ultimate leveling underscores the profound difference God puts between His people and those who oppress them.
This verse announces the tenth and final plague, the death of every firstborn in Egypt, affecting everyone from the highest royalty to the lowest slave and even their animals. This devastating plague follows Pharaoh's continued refusal to let Israel go, despite the previous nine plagues, and directly precedes Israel's eventual liberation. The severity and scope of this judgment are meant to demonstrate God's absolute power and to ensure that Israel is not just allowed to leave, but is forced out by a terrified Egypt.
This verse announces the tenth and final plague, the death of every firstborn in Egypt, affecting everyone from the highest royalty to the lowest slave and even their animals. This devastating plague follows Pharaoh's continued refusal to let Israel go, despite the previous nine plagues, and directly precedes Israel's eventual liberation. The severity and scope of this judgment are meant to demonstrate God's absolute power and to ensure that Israel is not just allowed to leave, but is forced out by a terrified Egypt.
"and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle." — This plague isn't just about royalty; it dramatically emphasizes God's sovereignty by striking every firstborn, from Pharaoh on his throne to the slave girl behind the mill. It highlights that no o…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
