"And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son,…" — Exodus 4:23

Exodus 4:23 · KJV

“And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, {even} thy firstborn.”

— Exodus 4:23

Verse 22

And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel {is} my son, {even} my firstborn:

Verse 24

And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.

Exodus 4 — Context

And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel {is} my son, {even} my firstborn:

And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, {even} thy firstborn.

And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.

Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast {it} at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband {art} thou to me. {sharp...: or, knife} {cast...: Heb. made it touch}

Cross References

Exodus 12:29

And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that {was} in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. {dungeon: Heb. house of the pit}

Exodus 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.

Psalms 105:36

He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.

Psalms 135:8

Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast. {both...: Heb. from man unto beast}

Psalms 78:51

And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of {their} strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

Exodus 7:16

And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

Exodus 5:1

And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.