Exodus 10:26
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Moses insists that all livestock must go, as Israel will need them for worship and cannot know beforehand what to sacrifice.
Context
Moses' declaration that 'all must go' expresses a fundamental truth: Israel's freedom is not negotiable, and their worship is not subject to Pharaoh's conditions. The reason—'we know not with what we must serve the LORD until we come there'—acknowledges that true worship unfolds in encounter with God.
What Does Exodus 10:26 Mean?
Moses' declaration that 'all must go' expresses a fundamental truth: Israel's freedom is not negotiable, and their worship is not subject to Pharaoh's conditions. The reason—'we know not with what we must serve the LORD until we come there'—acknowledges that true worship unfolds in encounter with God.
This statement also contains a veiled claim: if the livestock remain in Egypt, Israel cannot perform true worship anywhere. The implicit message is that Pharaoh's condition amounts to forbidding worship entirely. Moses refuses to accept a pseudo-freedom that prohibits genuine devotion.