What Does Exodus 8:29 Mean in the King James?

And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intreat the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.

Exodus 8:29 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The swarm’s departure is not freedom: Pharaoh still has to release the people.

THE MEANING

The verse holds relief and freedom apart: the swarms may depart while the people remain withheld. The change is measured by what Pharaoh does next, whether he releases them or turns relief into another broken promise. The grip can remain even after the visible crisis lifts.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

When the affliction ends, the captivity is over. This verse shows that relief can coexist with continued withholding and deceit.

THE ROOT

שַׁלַּח

shalach

GROWS FROM

שלח

shalach

To send forth, release, or let go.

“let the people go” in this verse is shalach. The Hebrew uses shalach for Pharaoh’s act of releasing the people. The swarms can depart, but the people’s release depends on Pharaoh letting go of his hold; the verse makes those movements distinct.

ALSO GROWS

Shiloach: Sent; the name of the pool of Siloam.

שִׁלֹחַ

The sent waters become the place where sight is restored (John 9:7), linking release with restored seeing.

shulchan: Table; provision set out.

שֻׁלְחָן

The table carries the sense of provision extended outward; release opens what was held so it can be received.

shilluach: Sending away or dismissal.

שִׁלּוּחַ

This branch makes the letting-go in Moses’ demand explicit: Pharaoh is to send the people away from his control.

THE PATTERN

Relief does not amount to freedom while people remain withheld.

And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

Exodus 5:1 · KJVThe demand for release is clear from the beginning: the people must be sent out, not merely spared a hardship.

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:6 · KJVThe verse measures faithful action by whether the oppressed are actually released from what holds them.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Luke 4:18 · KJVThe work described joins healing with deliverance: those held captive are set at liberty.

THE THREAD

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.

Exodus 8:8 · KJV

The same verb, ⁨שַׁלַּח⁩ (shalach, send or release), appears in Pharaoh’s promise here and in Moses’ warning in verse 29. The test is whether relief from the plague is followed by the release Pharaoh pledged.

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