Exodus 10:21

Moses Egypt

¹⁹ And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind that carried off the locusts and blew them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust remained anywhere in Egypt.

²⁰ But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.”

²² So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and total darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days.

²³ No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one left his place. Yet all the Israelites had light in their dwellings.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.”
KJV: And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
WEB: The LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.”
ASV: And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
DARBY: And Jehovah said to Moses, Stretch out thy hand toward the heavens, that there may be darkness in the land of Egypt so that one may feel darkness.
BLB: And YHWH said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the heavens, and there shall be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be felt.”

ÅB: Og Herren sa til Moses: Rekk din hånd opp mot himmelen, og det skal bli mørke over Egypt, et mørke så tykt at en kan ta på det.
OTB: Da sa Herren til Moses: «Rekk ut hånden din mot himmelen, så mørke sprer seg over Egyptens land—et mørke som kan føles.»
B1930: Og Herren sa til Moses: Rekk din hånd op mot himmelen, og det skal bli mørke over Egyptens land, et mørke så tykt at en kan ta på det.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Revelation 16:10–11
And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguish
Read in context
Luke 23:44
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour.
Read in context
2 Peter 2:4
For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
Read in context
2 Peter 2:17
These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.
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Jude 1:6
And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day.
Read in context
Matthew 27:45
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
Read in context
Mark 15:33
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 28:29
and at noon you will grope about like a blind man in the darkness. You will not prosper in your ways. Day after day you will be oppressed and plundered, with no one to save you.
Read in context