The Meaning of Exodus 9:2 Explained

Exodus 9:2

KJV: For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,

YLT: for, if thou art refusing to send away, and art still keeping hold upon them,

Darby: For if thou refuse to let them go, and shalt retain them still,

ASV: For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For if thou refuse  to let [them] go,  and wilt hold  them still, 

What does Exodus 9:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 9:1-12 - The Murrain Of Cattle And The Plague Of Boils
The plague on the cattle reminds us that the whole creation groans and travails from the effects of human sin. See Romans 8:20. But those groans are the cries of birth, not of death; and herald a happier day when the creation shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. There is a hint of this here, for the children of Israel lost not so much as one of their cattle from this pestilence. The Lord knoweth how to deliver his own, and our religion should make a difference for the living things of our firesides and farms.
How terribly does sin affect our physical health! These boils and blains on man and beast remind us of the inevitable brand with which sin marks its slaves. Let us read again Psalms 91:1-16, in the light of this passage. The souls that shelter under God's wing, from the charmed circle of his presence, look, unharmed and unfearful, on pestilence and plague. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 9

1  The plague on livestock
8  The plague of boils
13  The message of Moses about the hail,
22  The plague of hail
27  Pharaoh pleads with Moses, but yet is hardened

What do the individual words in Exodus 9:2 mean?

For if refuse you to let [them] go and still hold them
כִּ֛י אִם־ מָאֵ֥ן אַתָּ֖ה לְשַׁלֵּ֑חַ וְעוֹדְךָ֖ מַחֲזִ֥יק בָּֽם

מָאֵ֥ן  refuse 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: מָאֵן  
Sense: refusing, unwilling to obey.
לְשַׁלֵּ֑חַ  to  let  [them]  go 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
וְעוֹדְךָ֖  and  still 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, second person masculine singular
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
מַחֲזִ֥יק  hold 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.