Exodus 7:11

With the Hebrew beneath

Exodus 7:11, word by word

Then Pharaohפַּרְעֹהparo

Pharaoh

Pharaoh: the title of the kings of Egypt, not a personal name.

Where else “paro” appears

calledיִּקְרָאyikra

call

To raise the voice to someone so that he comes, or to invite him.

Where else “yikra” appears

the wise menחֲכָמִיםchachamim

wise

Someone who knows how to live well, revering YHWH.

Where else “chachamim” appears

and the sorcerersמְכַשְּׁפִיםmechashfim

practice sorcery

Practice sorcery; a sorcerer. The law of Israel forbids it (Deuteronomy 18:10).

Where else “mechashfim” appears

the magiciansחַרְטֻמֵּיchartume

magicians

Magicians: Egyptian experts devoted to interpreting dreams and signs and to secret arts.

Where else “chartume” appears

of Egyptמִצְרַיִםmitsrayim

Egypt, Mizraim

See it on the mapWhere else “mitsrayim” appears

didיַּעֲשׂוּyaasu

do

To carry out an act or to deal with someone in a certain way, for good or ill.

Where else “yaasu” appears

by their secret artsלַהֲטֵיlahate

secret arts

Secret arts done in hiding, like those of the magicians of Egypt.

Where else “lahate” appears

Translation note

The account tells that the magicians of Egypt imitated the first signs (7:11, 22; 8:7), but could not do the following ones and ended up saying, “It is the finger of Elohim” (8:18-19; 9:11). Right here, Aaron’s staff swallows theirs (7:12).

The context