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Exodus 10:17 - Pharaoh's desperate plea: forgive?

Exodus 10:17 - שמות 10:17

Hebrew Text

וְעַתָּה שָׂא נָא חַטָּאתִי אַךְ הַפַּעַם וְהַעְתִּירוּ לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וְיָסֵר מֵעָלַי רַק אֶת־הַמָּוֶת הַזֶּה׃

English Translation

Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and entreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only.

Transliteration

Ve'ata sa na chatati ach hapa'am veha'tiru la'Adonai Eloheichem veyaser mei'alai rak et-hamavet hazeh.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְעַתָּ֗ה שָׂ֣א נָ֤א חַטָּאתִי֙ אַ֣ךְ הַפַּ֔עַם וְהַעְתִּ֖ירוּ לַיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם וְיָסֵר֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י רַ֖ק אֶת־הַמָּ֥וֶת הַזֶּֽה׃
וְעַתָּ֗ה שָׂ֣א נָ֤א חַטָּאתִי֙ אַ֣ךְ הַפַּ֔עַם וְהַעְתִּ֖ירוּ לַיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם וְיָסֵר֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י רַ֖ק אֶת־הַמָּ֥וֶת הַזֶּֽה׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

This verse (Shemot/Exodus 10:17) is part of Pharaoh's plea to Moshe (Moses) during the eighth plague, the plague of locusts. After the locusts devastate Egypt, Pharaoh appears to relent and asks Moshe to intercede on his behalf to remove the plague.

Pharaoh's Request: "Forgive My Sin Only This Once"

Rashi explains that Pharaoh's words, "שָׂא נָא חַטָּאתִי" ("forgive, I pray thee, my sin"), indicate a superficial repentance. Pharaoh does not fully acknowledge his wrongdoing but merely seeks temporary relief from the plague. The Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 13:6) highlights that Pharaoh's repentance was insincere—he was willing to admit fault only as long as the suffering persisted.

The Limitation: "Only This Once"

Pharaoh's phrase "אַךְ הַפַּעַם" ("only this once") reveals his reluctance to commit to lasting change. The Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 2:3) teaches that true repentance requires a complete abandonment of sin and a resolve not to repeat it. Pharaoh, however, seeks a one-time reprieve without genuine transformation.

"Entreat the Lord Your God"

Pharaoh refers to Hashem as "יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם" ("the Lord your God"), not his own. This phrasing, as noted by the Ohr HaChaim, demonstrates that Pharaoh still refuses to accept Hashem's sovereignty over Egypt. His appeal is pragmatic, not theological—he recognizes Moshe's connection to Hashem but does not internalize faith himself.

"That He May Take Away From Me This Death Only"

The request to remove "הַמָּוֶת הַזֶּה" ("this death") refers to the locusts, which brought famine-like devastation. The Malbim explains that Pharaoh feared the locusts would lead to mass starvation, hence his dramatic language. However, his concern was limited to immediate survival, not moral or spiritual rectification.

Key Lessons from the Verse

  • Superficial Repentance: Pharaoh's words exemplify incomplete teshuvah—admitting sin under duress without sincere commitment to change (based on Rambam's criteria).
  • Recognition Without Acceptance: Acknowledging Hashem's power (through Moshe) does not equate to embracing His authority (as emphasized by Ohr HaChaim).
  • Conditional Pleas: Pharaoh's "only this once" reflects a transactional approach to repentance, contrasting with the Torah's demand for enduring transformation.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the context of Exodus 10:17?
A: Exodus 10:17 is part of the story of the Ten Plagues in Egypt. Pharaoh says these words to Moshe (Moses) and Aharon (Aaron) after the plague of locusts, admitting his sin and asking them to pray to Hashem to remove the plague. Rashi explains that Pharaoh was only asking for temporary relief, not true repentance, which is why the plagues continued.
Q: Why did Pharaoh ask Moshe to pray for him?
A: Pharaoh recognized that the plagues were from Hashem and that Moshe had a special connection to Him. The Midrash teaches that Pharaoh saw Moshe’s prayers were effective in stopping previous plagues (like the hail in Exodus 9:33), so he hoped Moshe could intervene again. However, his request was insincere, as he later hardened his heart again.
Q: What does 'forgive my sin only this once' mean in Exodus 10:17?
A: Pharaoh was not truly repenting but merely seeking temporary relief from the plague. The Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah) teaches that true repentance requires sincere regret and commitment to change, which Pharaoh lacked. His words 'only this once' show he had no intention of permanently changing his ways.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Pharaoh's request in Exodus 10:17?
A: This verse teaches the importance of sincere repentance (teshuvah). Unlike Pharaoh, who only wanted to avoid suffering, we must genuinely regret our mistakes and commit to improving. The Talmud (Yoma 86b) explains that true teshuvah means not repeating the sin when faced with the same temptation.
Q: How does Exodus 10:17 relate to prayer?
A: The verse shows that even someone like Pharaoh recognized the power of prayer. However, the Sages teach that prayer must come with sincerity. The Talmud (Berachot 16b) emphasizes that effective prayer requires proper intention (kavanah). Pharaoh’s request failed because his heart was not truly aligned with his words.