Exodus 12:35-36
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This verse highlights a crucial point often missed: the Israelites didn't steal from the Egyptians, but rather asked for these valuables. The Hebrew word used here doesn't imply a loan that must be repaid, but a request or demand, which the Egyptians readily granted to hasten their departure. This act, far from being deceitful, was a form of divinely orchestrated compensation for generations of forced labor and suffering.
The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Right after the devastating tenth plague struck Egypt, Pharaoh, shaken and desperate, finally tells Moses and Aaron to take the Israelites and leave immediately. In their haste, the Israelites didn't have time to pack proper provisions, but they did follow Moses' instruction to ask the Egyptians for valuable items like jewelry and clothing, taking what they needed before their hurried departure.
Have you ever felt like you were owed something after years of hard labor with no reward? The Israelites' 'borrowing' from the Egyptians wasn't just a handout; it was a divinely ordained repayment.
The word translated as 'borrowed' in this verse doesn't always carry the same sense of obligation to return as our modern word.
A Change in Meaning
In its root meaning, the Hebrew word here signifies 'to ask' or 'to demand.' While it can mean 'borrow,' context is key. In this instance, the Egyptians were in a panic to get the Israelites to leave after the plagues. They weren't expecting the items back.
Justice in Disguise
Think of it as divine justice being served. For centuries, the Israelites had been brutally enslaved, their labor exploited without pay. This wasn't theft; it was restitution. God orchestrated a situation where the Israelites received fair compensation for their generations of unpaid work, paid out in portable, valuable goods.
God's commands often seem strange, but following them unlocks His unexpected blessings. The Israelites' willingness to do what Moses said opened the door for their wealthy exodus.
This verse highlights the crucial link between obedience and experiencing God's provision.
Following Moses' Lead
'The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them...' This simple statement is powerful. Moses was God's appointed leader, and the people's trust in him, and through him, in God, was paramount.
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Divine Endorsement
God didn't just allow this to happen; He ordained it. The text in Exodus 11:3 notes that 'the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians,' ensuring their requests were granted. This wasn't merely good luck; it was God working behind the scenes to ensure His people were provided for as they stepped into their freedom.
Understand the original words
Yisra'el · Hebrew Proper Noun
A general term for the descendants of Jacob; they are identified as the covenant people chosen by God for His redemptive purposes.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, revealing His self-existence and faithfulness to His people.
chen · Hebrew Noun
Grace, acceptance, or goodwill shown by one person to another, often implying an unmerited positive disposition.
natsal · Hebrew Verb
To take spoil or loot from an enemy; in this context, it represents the just compensation for centuries of forced labor.
The "borrowing" of treasures by the Israelites wasn't a loan to be repaid, but rather a divinely prompted taking of payment for centuries of unpaid labor and oppression. This act, occurring in the chaotic aftermath of the final plague, served as both compensation and a symbolic 'spoiling' of their oppressors.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Israelites ask Egyptians for gifts
The Israelites, following Moses' instructions, requested and received valuable items like silver, gold, and clothing from the Egyptians. This occurred just before their departure from Egypt.
c. 1446 BC
The Tenth Plague strikes Egypt
God sends the final plague, striking dead every firstborn son in Egypt, from Pharaoh's son to the lowest servant, and even the firstborn of animals. This event leads Pharaoh to finally let the Israelites go.
c. 1446 BC
Pharaoh commands Israelites to leave
In the terror and grief following the plague, Pharaoh and the Egyptians urgently press the Israelites to leave Egypt immediately.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt begins
Following God's command and the urgent pressure from the Egyptians, the Israelites depart from Rameses towards Succoth, numbering around 600,000 men, plus women, children, and livestock.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites observe the Passover
The Israelites prepare for their departure, baking unleavened bread as instructed, marking the institution of the Passover feast to remember God's deliverance.
This passage describes God instructing Moses to tell the Israelites to ask the Egyptians for silver and gold articles and clothing, directly setting up the action in Exodus 12:35.
Exodus 11:2-3Here, Moses relays God's command for the Israelites to ask their neighbors for silver and gold articles and clothing, emphasizing that they would 'win favor' with the Egyptians, which directly relates to the outcome in Exodus 12:35.
Deuteronomy 7:25-26This passage warns against taking any of the 'devoted things' from conquered nations, highlighting the principle of not coveting or keeping spoils that are set apart for destruction, which contrasts with the Israelites' acquisition of Egyptian wealth.
Joshua 11:14-15After conquering cities, Joshua instructs the Israelites not to take any plunder for themselves, similar to the principle in Deuteronomy, showing a different approach to dealing with the wealth of defeated peoples.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18This New Testament passage calls believers not to be 'unequally yoked' with unbelievers, which speaks to the broader theme of separation from worldliness and acquiring the 'treasures' of God's kingdom rather than worldly riches.
gillExodus 12:35: "And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:"
And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses,.... Exodus 3:22 . and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment; or "they asked" (a) them of the Egyptians to give them them, which they readily did to get rid of them; for upon their being urgent with the Israelites to be gone in h…
cambridgeExodus 12:35: "And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:"
35 . did &c.] had done …, and asked ,—before viz. the events just narrated ( vv. 29–34). Cf. Exodus 11:3 . 35, 36 . Carrying out of the instructions given in Exodus 3:21-22 (cf. Exodus 11:2 ).
This verse highlights a crucial point often missed: the Israelites didn't steal from the Egyptians, but rather asked for these valuables. The Hebrew word used here doesn't imply a loan that must be repaid, but a request or demand, which the Egyptians readily granted to hasten their departure. This act, far from being deceitful, was a form of divinely orchestrated compensation for generations of forced labor and suffering.
Right after the devastating tenth plague struck Egypt, Pharaoh, shaken and desperate, finally tells Moses and Aaron to take the Israelites and leave immediately. In their haste, the Israelites didn't have time to pack proper provisions, but they did follow Moses' instruction to ask the Egyptians for valuable items like jewelry and clothing, taking what they needed before their hurried departure.
Right after the devastating tenth plague struck Egypt, Pharaoh, shaken and desperate, finally tells Moses and Aaron to take the Israelites and leave immediately. In their haste, the Israelites didn't have time to pack proper provisions, but they did follow Moses' instruction to ask the Egyptians for valuable items like jewelry and clothing, taking what they needed before their hurried departure.
"The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what th…" — This verse highlights a crucial point often missed: the Israelites didn't steal from the Egyptians, but rather asked for these valuables. The Hebrew word used here doesn't imply a loan that must be…
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Last reviewed October 2026
