Exodus 10:24
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →After the darkness lifts, Pharaoh summons Moses and permits the Israelites to go and serve the LORD, but he insists their flocks and herds stay behind.
Context
Pharaoh makes a second concession, more generous than before. He now permits the entire people—including women and children—to go worship. Yet his demand to keep the livestock reveals his strategy: without their flocks, Israel cannot survive in the wilderness and will be forced to return.
What Does Exodus 10:24 Mean?
Pharaoh makes a second concession, more generous than before. He now permits the entire people—including women and children—to go worship. Yet his demand to keep the livestock reveals his strategy: without their flocks, Israel cannot survive in the wilderness and will be forced to return.
This conditional permission shows Pharaoh's refusal to relinquish control. He is willing to lose Israel's labor temporarily but intends to reclaim them. His 'permission' is illusory—it is a trap designed to ensure their return and continued subjugation.