A frequent misinterpretation portrays this as divine sanction for theft or deception, misreading the KJV's 'borrow' as implying no intent to repay, but the Hebrew verb means 'request,' and Exodus 12:36 clarifies the Egyptians gave willingly due to favor toward Israel after the plagues, representing rightful spoils of war or compensation rather than robbery, underscoring God's faithfulness rather than endorsing dishonesty.
Exodus 11:2
King James Version (1769)
2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.
God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites to ask their Egyptian neighbors for gold and silver jewelry, ensuring they depart Egypt with valuables as promised to Abraham in Genesis 15:14, symbolizing divine justice by compensating them for centuries of unpaid labor and demonstrating God's provision and sovereignty as the final plague looms, prompting willing gifts from the Egyptians out of fear and respect.