Exodus 10:21

21 Forsooth the Lord said to Moses, Hold forth thine hand into heaven (Stretch forth thy hand toward the heavens), and (let) darkness/es be on (all) the land of Egypt, so thick that they may be groped.

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 which made a full strong wind to blow from the west, and it took, and cast the locust(s) into the Red Sea ; soothly there (was) left not one, in all the coasts of Egypt. (and the Lord made a strong wind to blow from the west, and it took, and threw the locusts into the Red Sea; and there was not one left in all the land of Egypt.)

20 And the Lord made hard the heart of Pharaoh, and he let not go the sons of Israel. (But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and still he would not let the Israelites go.)

21 Forsooth the Lord said to Moses, Hold forth thine hand into heaven (Stretch forth thy hand toward the heavens), and (let) darkness/es be on (all) the land of Egypt, so thick that they may be groped.

22 And Moses held forth his hand into heaven, and horrible darknesses were made in all the land of Egypt; (And Moses stretched forth his hand toward the heavens, and a horrible darkness came upon all the land of Egypt;)

23 and in three days no man saw his brother, neither moved himself from that place in which he was. Wherever the children of Israel dwelled, light was. (and for three days no one saw their brother, nor moved themselves from where they were. But there was light wherever the Israelites were.)