Exodus 11:4
ESV
So Moses said, "Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt,
NIV
So Moses said, "This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt.
NASB
Then Moses said, 'This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt,
CSB
So Moses said, "This is what the Lord says: About midnight I will go throughout Egypt,
NLT
Moses had announced to Pharaoh, 'This is what the Lord says: At midnight tonight I will pass through the heart of Egypt.
KJV
And Moses said, Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
NKJV
Then Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt;
What does Exodus 11:4 mean?
Pharaoh has just threatened to kill Moses if the two men ever meet in person again (Exodus 10:28–29). The Egyptian king has repeatedly defied God's commands to release the Israelite people (Exodus 1:11–14). This brought nine separate disasters on the nation (Exodus 7:21; 8:6, 17, 24; 9:6, 10, 24; 10:14, 23). Because Moses refuses to accept anything other than total freedom, Pharaoh is stubborn.The prior passage (Exodus 11:1–3) records instructions Moses was to give the Israelites. These would be passed along and obeyed with great success (Exodus 12:35–36). But Moses is still standing in front of Pharaoh. He now delivers an intense threat straight from the Lord (Exodus 4:21–23).
During the night, the Lord will kill all of Egypt's firstborn (Exodus 11:5–6). This will once again distinguish between God's people and their captors (Exodus 11:7). The Egyptians will beg the Hebrews to leave immediately (Exodus 11:8). Only after delivering this message will Moses turn and leave Pharaoh.
