“Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only.”
My Notes
What Does Exodus 10:17 Mean?
"Forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once." Pharaoh asks Moses for forgiveness — again. This is at least the second time he's asked (see 9:27: "I have sinned this time"). Each time, the forgiveness request is temporary: forgive just this once. Remove this plague. Then the cycle repeats: plague, request, removal, hardening.
The phrase "only this once" (rak happa'am) reveals the limitation of Pharaoh's repentance: he's not asking for transformation. He's asking for relief. One more time. This plague only. The request is for consequence-removal, not character-change. Pharaoh wants the locusts gone, not his heart changed.
The description of the plague as "this death" (hamavet hazeh) shows Pharaoh recognizes the locusts as lethal: they'll destroy the remaining crops and produce famine. The plague isn't just annoying — it's death-dealing. And Pharaoh calls it what it is while asking for one more reprieve.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Is your repentance targeted at specific consequences or at the heart condition behind them?
- 2.How many times have you said 'just this once' to God?
- 3.What's the difference between wanting the pain to stop and wanting to change?
- 4.What pattern in your life follows Pharaoh's cycle: crisis → repentance → relief → hardening?
Devotional
Forgive me just this once. Pharaoh's prayer is the most temporary repentance in Scripture: forgive me for this plague. Remove this consequence. I'll deal with the next one when it comes.
The pattern is exhaustingly predictable: plague arrives. Pharaoh suffers. Pharaoh repents. Plague is removed. Pharaoh hardens. Next plague arrives. Repeat. Every cycle, Pharaoh asks for forgiveness 'only this once' — as if each request is the first. As if the pattern doesn't exist. As if 'just this once' hasn't been said multiple times already.
The 'only this once' reveals everything about false repentance: it's plague-specific, not heart-general. Pharaoh doesn't say 'change my heart.' He says 'remove the locusts.' The request is for environmental relief, not internal transformation. Take away the consequence and leave the condition that produced it.
This is the repentance of everyone who wants the pain to stop without addressing the cause: the addict who wants withdrawal relief without sobriety. The spouse who wants the fight to end without addressing the pattern. The person who wants God to fix the situation without fixing the person in the situation.
Real repentance doesn't say 'just this once.' Real repentance says 'for good.' Real repentance addresses the heart, not the headline. Pharaoh's repentance expires with the plague. Genuine repentance outlasts the crisis.
Is your repentance plague-specific or heart-general?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin, only this once,.... Pretending that he would never offend any more, and if…
This death only - Pliny calls locusts a pestilence brought on by divine wrath. Pharaoh now recognizes the justice of his…
Forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once - What a strange case! And what a series of softening and hardening, of…
Here is, I. The invasion of the land by the locusts - God's great army, Joe 2:11. God bids Moses stretch out his hand…
only this once Gen 18:32.
this death only only this terribly destructive pest. The term -death" depicts vividly the…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture