The Meaning of Exodus 11:5 Explained

Exodus 11:5

KJV: 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.

YLT: and every first-born in the land of Egypt hath died, from the first-born of Pharaoh who is sitting on his throne, unto the first-born of the maid-servant who is behind the millstones, and all the first-born of beasts;

Darby: And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sitteth on his throne, even unto the firstborn of the bondwoman that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of cattle.

ASV: and all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the first-born of the maid-servant that is behind the mill; and all the first-born of cattle.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Exodus 11:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 11:1-10 - The Death Of The First-Born Threatened
"One plague more." These are ominous words! This final act of judgment would smite the fetters from Israel's neck forever. It is vain for man to enter into conflict with God. God does not crush him at once, because He is long-suffering and forgiving. See 2 Peter 3:9. But if man persists, the inevitable blow falls. See Psalms 7:12. The word borrow is better rendered ask, Exodus 11:2, r.v. The Hebrew phrase has no suggestion of a return being expected. This was befitting payment for their long and unrewarded labor.
The great cry, Exodus 11:6, recalls the piercing wail that rings through an eastern home when death takes place. The world shall hear one other such cry, as we learn from Revelation 1:7. There is no difference between God's people and others when sin is concerned. All have come short of God's glory. Nor is there difference in His redeeming grace. But there is all the difference between those who shelter under the blood of the Lamb and those who refuse. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 11

1  God's message to the Israelites to borrow jewels of their neighbors
4  Moses threatens Pharaoh with the death the firstborn

What do the individual words in Exodus 11:5 mean?

and shall die all the firstborn in the land of Egypt from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne even to the firstborn of the maidservant who [is] behind the handmill and all of the animals
וּמֵ֣ת כָּל־ בְּכוֹר֮ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַיִם֒ מִבְּכ֤וֹר פַּרְעֹה֙ הַיֹּשֵׁ֣ב עַל־ כִּסְא֔וֹ עַ֚ד בְּכ֣וֹר הַשִּׁפְחָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר אַחַ֣ר הָרֵחָ֑יִם וְכֹ֖ל בְּהֵמָֽה

וּמֵ֣ת  and  shall  die 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
בְּכוֹר֮  the  firstborn 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בְּכֹר  
Sense: firstborn, firstling.
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ  in  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
מִצְרַיִם֒  of  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
מִבְּכ֤וֹר  from  the  firstborn 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בְּכֹר  
Sense: firstborn, firstling.
פַּרְעֹה֙  of  Pharaoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.
הַיֹּשֵׁ֣ב  who  sits 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
כִּסְא֔וֹ  his  throne 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כִּסֵּא 
Sense: seat (of honour), throne, seat, stool.
עַ֚ד  even  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
בְּכ֣וֹר  the  firstborn 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בְּכֹר  
Sense: firstborn, firstling.
הַשִּׁפְחָ֔ה  of  the  maidservant 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שִׁפְחָה  
Sense: maid, maid-servant, slavegirl.
אַחַ֣ר  [is]  behind 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
הָרֵחָ֑יִם  the  handmill 
Parse: Article, Noun, md
Root: רֵחַיִם  
Sense: handmills.
וְכֹ֖ל  and  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
בְּהֵמָֽה  of  the  animals 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּהֵמָה  
Sense: beast, cattle, animal.