Exodus 10:21

21 The LORD said to Moshe, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Mitzrayim, even darkness which may be felt."

Exodus 10:21 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 10:21

And the Lord said unto Moses
About the eleventh day of the month Abib: stretch out thine hand toward heaven;
where the luminaries are, and from whence light comes: that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which
may be felt;
that is, what caused it, the gross vapours and thick fogs; for otherwise darkness itself, being a privation of light, cannot be felt: Onkelos paraphrases it,

``after that the darkness of the night is removed;''

so Jonathan; that it might appear to be different from that, and be much grosser.

Exodus 10:21 In-Context

19 The LORD turned an exceeding strong west wind, which took up the locusts, and drove them into the Sea of Suf. There remained not one arbeh in all the borders of Mitzrayim.

20 But the LORD hardened Par`oh's heart, and he didn't let the children of Yisra'el go.

21 The LORD said to Moshe, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Mitzrayim, even darkness which may be felt."

22 Moshe stretched forth his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Mitzrayim three days.

23 They didn't see one another, neither did anyone rise from his place for three days; but all the children of Yisra'el had light in their dwellings.