CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Exodus 9
Chapter 9 of 40
Chapter Overview
What happens in Exodus 9
Three more devastating plagues hit Egypt: a disease kills the Egyptian livestock, painful boils break out on people and animals, and a violent hailstorm destroys crops and kills anyone caught outside. Each time, the land of Goshen where the Israelites live is untouched.
Scripture
Exodus 9
The Fifth Plague: Livestock Disease
Study note
God sent a severe disease on all the Egyptian livestock — horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, and sheep. But not a single animal belonging to the Israelites died. Pharaoh sent people to check, and sure enough, none of Israel's animals were harmed. This plague attacked Egypt's economy and also struck at the Egyptian gods Hathor and Apis, who were worshipped as sacred cattle. Even after seeing this, Pharaoh hardened his heart.
1 The Lord told Moses. "Go to Pharaoh. Tell him this. 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says this. Let my people go so they can worship me.'" Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
2 "If you keep refusing and continue holding them captive," For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,
3 "the Lord will strike your animals out in the fields with a deadly disease. Your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, and sheep will all be hit." Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.
4 "But the Lord will protect the animals owned by the Israelites. Not a single one of their animals will die." And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel.
5 The Lord announced a specific deadline: "Tomorrow the Lord will bring this about in the land." And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.
6 The very next day, the Lord did it. All the Egyptian livestock died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites was lost. And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.
7 Pharaoh sent investigators to check, and sure enough — not a single Israelite animal had died. But Pharaoh's heart remained hard, and he still would not let the people go. And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
The Sixth Plague: Boils
Study note
God told Moses and Aaron to take handfuls of soot from a furnace and throw it into the air in front of Pharaoh. The soot spread across Egypt and caused painful boils to break out on every Egyptian person and animal. The Egyptian magicians were so badly affected that they could not even stand before Moses. This plague may have mocked the Egyptian healing goddess Isis. For the first time, the text says the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart rather than Pharaoh hardening it himself.
8 Then the Lord told Moses and Aaron, "Fill your hands with ashes from a furnace. Moses, throw the ashes up into the air while Pharaoh watches." And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.
9 "The ashes will spread like fine dust over the entire land of Egypt. Wherever the dust lands, it will cause agonizing boils to erupt on people and animals." And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.
10 So they scooped up ashes from a furnace, stood in front of Pharaoh, and Moses flung the ashes skyward. Painful, oozing boils broke out on every person and animal in Egypt. And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.
11 The boils were so severe that even the magicians could not stand up in front of Moses. They were covered with boils themselves, just like everyone else in Egypt. And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.
12 But the Lord made Pharaoh's heart hard and unresponsive. Pharaoh refused to listen, exactly as the Lord had warned Moses. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.
The Seventh Plague: Hail
Study note
God sent Moses to warn Pharaoh about the worst hailstorm Egypt had ever seen. God explained His purpose: He could have wiped out Egypt already, but He kept Pharaoh alive so that His power would be known throughout the whole earth. God mercifully warned the Egyptians to bring their animals and servants inside. Some officials who feared God listened and were saved. The hail came mixed with fire and thunder, destroying crops and trees across Egypt. Only Goshen was spared. Pharaoh confessed he had sinned, but as soon as the storm stopped, he hardened his heart again.
13 The Lord told Moses, "Tomorrow morning, get up early and go stand before Pharaoh. Tell him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has this message: Let my people go so they can worship me.'" And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
14 "This time I am going to hit you with my full power — you personally, your officials, and your people. After this, you will understand that there is no one in the entire world like me." For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.
15 "I could have already wiped you and your entire nation off the face of the earth with a single plague." For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.
16 "But I have kept you alive for one reason -- to show my power through you and to make my name known across the whole earth." And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
17 "Yet you continue to oppose my people and refuse to release them." As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?
18 "So hear this — tomorrow at this very hour, I will send the most destructive hailstorm Egypt has ever experienced. Nothing like it has happened since the day Egypt was established." Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
19 "Issue orders right now to bring your livestock and anything else in the fields to shelter. Any person or animal left outside when the hail falls will die." Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
20 Some of Pharaoh's officials took the Lord's warning seriously. They rushed to bring their servants and animals indoors. He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
21 But others blew off the Lord's warning and left their servants and animals outside in the open fields. And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Reach your hand up toward the sky. Hail will rain down on the entire land of Egypt — on people, on animals, and on every plant in the fields." And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.
23 Moses raised his staff toward the sky. The Lord unleashed thunder and hail, and bolts of lightning struck the earth. A ferocious hailstorm pounded the land of Egypt. And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
24 Hail hammered down while lightning crackled nonstop. It was the most catastrophic storm in Egypt's entire history. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
25 The hail smashed everything left out in the open across Egypt. People, animals, plants, and trees were all beaten down. And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.
26 The only place that escaped the storm was Goshen, where the Israelites lived. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.
27 Pharaoh urgently sent for Moses and Aaron. "I am in the wrong this time," he admitted. "The Lord is in the right. My people and I are guilty." And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
28 "Pray to the Lord! We cannot take any more of this thunder and hail. I will release you — you do not have to stay a minute longer." Entreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
29 Moses told him, "Once I am outside the city, I will lift my hands in prayer to the Lord. The thunder will stop and the hail will end. Then you will know that the whole earth belongs to the Lord." And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD's.
30 "But I am well aware that you and your officials still have not learned to truly respect the Lord God." But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.
31 The flax and barley crops were destroyed because the barley was already ripe with grain heads and the flax was blooming. And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
32 But the wheat and spelt survived because they had not yet sprouted — they mature later in the growing season. But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.
33 Moses walked out from Pharaoh's presence, left the city, and lifted his hands toward the Lord. The thunder, hail, and rain stopped completely. And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.
34 The instant Pharaoh realized the rain, hail, and thunder were over, he went right back to sinning. Both he and his officials hardened their hearts. And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
35 Pharaoh's heart turned stubborn once more, and he would not release the Israelites — just as the Lord had told Moses would happen. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.
Key Themes
Themes in Exodus 9
God's protection of His people amid judgmentThe purpose of God's power: that all may know He is LordPartial repentance that does not lead to real changeGod's patience in giving repeated warnings
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
Exodus 16 Romans 9:17
Paul quotes this verse to illustrate God's sovereignty, showing that God raised up Pharaoh to display His power and proclaim His name throughout the earth.
Apply This Today
Living Exodus 9
God told Pharaoh that He raised Him up for a specific purpose: so the whole world would see God's power. Even the most powerful human rulers are part of God's larger plan. When you face someone who seems untouchable, remember that God is sovereign over every leader and every nation.
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