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Two Jehovah's Witnesses were here yesterday, and we talked for a while about religion. We mentioned briefly God's killing of all the first born in Egypt in Exodus 12:29, whereupon one of the Witnesses said that it wasn't God who killed them. Not having a Bible close by, I just said I must misremember, and we started talking about something else.

Now, upon rereading Exodus 12:29 I think it's pretty clear that "the Lord" killed the first born. Is there some alternative interpretation of this, that this Lord is entirely separate from God? I'm confused, because the Witnesses otherwise seemed to have great knowledge of the Bible. What am I missing?

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I don't suppose it occurred to you to ask who in their view did, then? – Marc Gravell♦ Jan 31 at 23:16
Nope, we got onto another topic fairly quickly. – Quispiam Feb 1 at 20:59
sounds like a strategy... "say something that sounds soothing, and move on quickly" – Marc Gravell♦ Feb 1 at 21:01

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up vote 5 down vote accepted

Jehovah's Witness have a particular affinity for "Jehovah" as the proper name of God. One of the issues they often point out is that "the LORD," which translates the Tetragrammaton YHVH, is a Jewish superstition that has has somehow corrupted and dishonored the one of whom it speaks.

In their understanding of the Godhood (which is assuredly non-Chalcedonian, and non-Trinitarian), YHVH is a very different character from the more mainstream perspective. In their understanding, God is a force, albeit an approachable one, rather than a person. (Note: In this perspective, Jesus as the son of God is not God, but rather a god or godlike thing.)

Between these two things, I suspect the issue of disagreement was less one of "what actually happened," than of one of terminology - or perhaps the nature of God in this instance. The Biblical narrative (which many JW's reject as being corrupt, preferring instead their own NWT) indicates that Jehovah (whom Trinitarians view as God the Father) was in fact the one doing it. Exodus 11 states:

And Moses went on to say: “This is what Jehovah has said, ‘About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt, (New World Translation)

Moses said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt" (NET Bible)

The question then, is what there understanding of "the LORD" is. From their perspective, its not God - that is Jehovah. From a Chalcedonian perspective, however, it is a distinction without a difference.

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Just to be clear, I am not a JW, and may be mischaracterizing them - but I don't believe that to be the case. I welcome a JW correction here. Also, I would hope that votes would be based on how well I represent the JW position - not whether or not you agree with it. Personally, I disagree with the understanding, but I prefer to be faithful to an accurate understanding of their world view. – Affable Geek Jan 31 at 13:59
They do believe the word "LORD" found in the KJV and some other English translations is God. They simply understand that "LORD" isn't the correct transliteration of the Tetragrammaton. Thus, they prefer what they believe to be an actual transliteration, that being Jehovah based on the nekkudot found in the Masoretic text (which many scholars debate as being inaccurate for the Tetragrammaton itself as a result of the Jewish tendency to avoid chillul ha-Shem). Wow...so, where were we? From what I remember about the text is that one referred to as "the Destroyer" killed the first born. Dest=YHVH? – H3br3wHamm3r81 Feb 1 at 3:43
up vote 3 down vote

According to the text, yes.

Exodus 11 (NASV)

4 Moses said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt, 5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the millstones; all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 6 ‘Moreover, there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been before and such as shall never be again. 7 ‘But against any of the sons of Israel a dog will not even bark, whether against man or beast, that you may understand how the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’ 8 “All these your servants will come down to me and bow themselves before me, saying, ‘Go out, you and all the people who follow you,’ and after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.

9 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My wonders will be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; yet the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land.

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up vote -2 down vote

Did God kill the first born in Exodus?

What killed the first born of the Egyptians. Remember God watches over he word to perform it. For God to do his will it has to be spoken "sown" out a person on mouth for satan to do evil it has to spoken "sown" out a person's mouth, What did the king of the Egyptians say I cruse the first born of the Jews to death. Again remember what you sow you will reap, Moses said to the king you will have what you say out of your mouth again there is a part of God in everybody. The judgement came though his own words. Yes it was God's power that did the killing but it was use for death. God's word is a Two edged sword one side cuts for life the other side cuts for death which side do you use? again sow wisely understanding what you are Mark-4

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