but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The command isn't for Israelites to "borrow," but to "ask," suggesting a righting of wrongs rather than deception. This wasn't a theft but a rightful claiming of wages owed for generations of brutal slave labor.
but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes right after God tells Moses that Pharaoh will refuse to let Israel go, and that God will then bring powerful judgments upon Egypt. God promises that when the Israelites leave, they will not go empty-handed, and this verse reveals the specific instructions for how the women will acquire riches from their Egyptian neighbors. It sets up the eventual exodus, providing tangible wealth for the journey and the construction of the tabernacle, and framing it as just compensation for years of enslaved labor.
Ever felt like you were owed something but didn't know how to ask for it? This verse reveals a crucial distinction about how God instructed the Israelites to receive what was due them.
The word translated as 'borrow' in many English versions is actually the Hebrew word 'shaal,' which means 'to ask,' 'to request,' or 'to demand.' God didn't tell the Israelites to trick the Egyptians with a loan they never intended to repay.
Instead, He instructed them to ask for these items. This is significant because:
Imagine working for years without pay, under harsh conditions. This verse sheds light on how God viewed the Israelites' long servitude in Egypt.
The 'spoiling' of the Egyptians wasn't arbitrary theft; it was seen as just recompense. For centuries, the Israelites had been enslaved, forced into grueling labor with no wages.
Ask a follow-up
How can bitter enemies suddenly become generous? This verse points to an unseen force at work—God's sovereign influence on human hearts.
The most astonishing aspect of this exchange is that the Egyptians willingly gave their valuable possessions. This wasn't because they suddenly loved the Israelites, but because God intervened.
Understand the original words
sha'al · Hebrew Verb
The act of requesting, demanding, or asking for something. In a biblical context, it can denote petitioning God or, as here, the legal request for restitution or wages due.
natsal · Hebrew Verb
To spoil, despoil, or take booty; it refers to the act of stripping an enemy of their wealth, often as a judgment or as restitution for past oppression, demonstrating God's sovereign justice over the oppressor's resources.
This instruction to 'plunder' the Egyptians isn't about petty theft; it's a divinely orchestrated act of recompense. After centuries of brutal enslavement, God ensures His people leave not empty-handed, but with wages due for their forced labor, and supplies for their journey and the building of the Tabernacle.
~1876 BC
Joseph and his family settle in Goshen
Joseph, a high-ranking official in Egypt, brings his entire family to settle in the land of Goshen, a fertile region. This marks the beginning of the Israelites' significant presence and growth in Egypt.
c. 1550-1290 BC
New Kingdom oppression begins
Following the expulsion of the Hyksos rulers, a new Egyptian dynasty rises. This period sees increased Egyptian nationalism and a growing fear of the Israelites' numbers, leading to their enslavement and harsh oppression.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Moses' call at the burning bush
God appears to Moses in the desert and commissions him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This marks the direct divine intervention that sets the exodus in motion.
c. 1446 BC
Plagues begin against Egypt
Following Pharaoh's refusal to let the Israelites go, God unleashes a series of devastating plagues upon Egypt, demonstrating His power and judgment.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus begins
After the tenth plague (the death of the firstborn), Pharaoh finally relents and allows the Israelites to leave Egypt. This climactic event includes the plunder of Egyptian goods as described in this verse.
This verse directly echoes Exodus 3:22, stating that God 'brought them out with silver and gold, and there was not a weak man among his tribes.' It shows that this plundering was a divine act of provision and vindication.
Genesis 15:14Here, God prophesies to Abraham that his descendants would come out of oppression with great possessions, directly foreshadowing the event described in Exodus 3:22 and highlighting the fulfillment of His promise.
Ezekiel 16:10-14This passage describes Jerusalem's adornment with fine linens, silk, embroidery, and jewels, paralleling the 'spoiling' of the Egyptians as a description of wealth and beauty, but here applied to God's favor upon His people.
2 Corinthians 8:1-5This passage shows the Macedonian churches giving generously, even beyond their means, to the Jerusalem church. It illustrates how God can influence people to give generously, mirroring the Egyptians' 'giving' to the Israelites, and shows a similar principle of divine provision through human generosity.
gillExodus 3:22: "But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians."
But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house,.... Or "shall ask" (f), desire them to give or lend, what follows; and by this it appears, that the Israelites by reason of their great increase were spread abo…
bensonExodus 3:22: "But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians."
Exodus 3:22 . Every woman shall ask, שׁאלה , shaalah, (not borrow,) jewels. And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians — God sometimes makes the enemies of his people not only to be at peace with them, but to be kind to them.…
The command isn't for Israelites to "borrow," but to "ask," suggesting a righting of wrongs rather than deception. This wasn't a theft but a rightful claiming of wages owed for generations of brutal slave labor.
This verse comes right after God tells Moses that Pharaoh will refuse to let Israel go, and that God will then bring powerful judgments upon Egypt. God promises that when the Israelites leave, they will not go empty-handed, and this verse reveals the specific instructions for how the women will acquire riches from their Egyptian neighbors. It sets up the eventual exodus, providing tangible wealth for the journey and the construction of the tabernacle, and framing it as just compensation for years of enslaved labor.
This verse comes right after God tells Moses that Pharaoh will refuse to let Israel go, and that God will then bring powerful judgments upon Egypt. God promises that when the Israelites leave, they will not go empty-handed, and this verse reveals the specific instructions for how the women will acquire riches from their Egyptian neighbors. It sets up the eventual exodus, providing tangible wealth for the journey and the construction of the tabernacle, and framing it as just compensation for years of enslaved labor.
"but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”" — The command isn't for Israelites to "borrow," but to "ask," suggesting a righting of wrongs rather than deception. This wasn't a theft but a rightful claiming of wages owed for generations of brutal…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026