KJV ORIGINAL
And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
And I say to you, 'Let my son go, so that he may worship me.' If you refuse to let him go, I will kill your son—your firstborn.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
God is delivering His ultimatum to Pharaoh: release the Israelites (God's people) or face the death of Egypt's firstborn sons.
📚 Historical Context
This is God speaking to Moses about what to tell Pharaoh, calling Israel 'my son' to show their special relationship. Pharaoh had been enslaving the Israelites for generations and refusing to let them go despite miraculous signs. This warning foreshadows the final plague that would come upon Egypt—the death of the firstborn.
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