Exodus / Chapter 7

Exodus 7

29 verses • Westminster Leningrad Codex 2 traditions available

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

God makes Moses 'like God to Pharaoh' with Aaron as his prophet, announces the hardening of Pharaoh's heart, and initiates the plague sequence. Aaron's staff swallows the magicians' staffs, the Nile turns to blood, but Pharaoh's heart remains hard.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

The chapter introduces three theologically dense elements at once: the knowledge formula ('the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD,' v5), the hardening motif using three different Hebrew verbs (chazaq, qasheh, kaved), and the recognition that Israel's enslaved workers are reidentified as God's tseva'ot ('hosts/armies,' v4). The magicians can replicate the blood-plague but cannot reverse it — imitation is not mastery.

Translation Friction

The hardening vocabulary required careful handling: chazaq ('strengthen/make firm'), qasheh ('make hard'), and kaved ('make heavy') each carry distinct nuances. We preserved these distinctions across our renderings rather than flattening them into a single English word. The phrase netatikha Elohim lePar'oh ('I have made you like God to Pharaoh,' v1) we rendered with 'like God' rather than simply 'a god,' because the Hebrew establishes Moses as God's authorized representative, not a deity.

Connections

Moses as 'God to Pharaoh' fulfills the arrangement previewed in 4:16. The knowledge formula ('they shall know that I am the LORD') will recur throughout Ezekiel (e.g., Ezekiel 6:7; 12:15). The staff-swallowing contest in v12 inverts the serpent's power from Genesis 3. The Nile-to-blood targets Egypt's source of life and worship. **Tradition comparisons:** The Samaritan Pentateuch shows 2 moderate variant(s) in this chapter. See the [Samaritan Pentateuch](/samaritan-pentateuch/exodus). JST footnote at Exodus 7:3: Hardening of Pharaoh's heart reassigned: God no longer the agent; Pharaoh hardens his own heart See the [JST notes](/jst/exodus).

Exodus 7:1

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה רְאֵ֛ה נְתַתִּ֥יךָ אֱלֹהִ֖ים לְפַרְעֹ֑ה וְאַהֲרֹ֥ן אָחִ֖יךָ יִהְיֶ֥ה נְבִיאֶֽךָ׃

The LORD said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.

KJV And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'I have made you like God to Pharaoh' (netatikha Elohim lePar'oh) — Moses stands in the God-role relative to Pharaoh: he speaks with divine authority, commands signs, and pronounces judgment. Aaron functions as Moses's 'prophet' (navi) — the one who speaks the words on behalf of the authority.
Exodus 7:2

אַתָּ֣ה תְדַבֵּ֔ר אֵ֖ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲצַוֶּ֑ךָּ וְאַהֲרֹ֤ן אָחִ֙יךָ֙ יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְשִׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאַרְצֽוֹ׃

You shall speak everything that I command you, and Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to let the sons of Israel go from his land.

KJV Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The chain of revelation is formalized: God speaks to Moses, Moses speaks to Aaron, Aaron speaks to Pharaoh. This structure mirrors the prophetic office that will define Israel's relationship with God throughout its history.
Exodus 7:3

וַאֲנִ֥י אַקְשֶׁ֖ה אֶת־לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֑ה וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֧י אֶת־אֹתֹתַ֛י וְאֶת־מוֹפְתַ֖י בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

But I will harden Pharaoh's heart. I will multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.

KJV And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

וַאֲנִי אַקְשֶׁה אֶת־לֵב פַּרְעֹה va'ani aqsheh et-lev Par'oh
"I will harden Pharaoh's heart" — make stubborn, make hard, make unyielding

God's hardening confirms and solidifies Pharaoh's existing rebellion. It is judicial confirmation, not arbitrary coercion — God strengthens the resistance Pharaoh has already chosen.

Translator Notes

  1. 'I will harden Pharaoh's heart' (va'ani aqsheh et-lev Par'oh) — the verb qasheh means 'make hard, make stubborn.' God's hardening does not create rebellion from nothing but confirms and solidifies Pharaoh's own resistance. The purpose is to multiply signs — to demonstrate God's sovereignty so thoroughly that neither Egypt nor Israel can mistake who controls history.

Joseph Smith Translation (Footnotes)theological

Hardening of Pharaoh's heart reassigned: God no longer the agent; Pharaoh hardens his own heart

The KJV 'I will harden Pharaoh's heart' becomes a statement that Pharaoh will harden his own heart. This is the most prominent JST resolution of the Exodus hardening problem, which has been a locus of debate about divine determinism and human free will. The JST reading aligns with the Arminian/free-will position and with several later Exodus verses where Pharaoh is said to harden his own heart.

Exodus 7:4

וְלֹֽא־יִשְׁמַ֤ע אֲלֵכֶם֙ פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְנָתַתִּ֥י אֶת־יָדִ֖י בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וְהוֹצֵאתִ֨י אֶת־צִבְאֹתַ֜י אֶת־עַמִּ֤י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בִּשְׁפָטִ֖ים גְּדֹלִֽים׃

Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.

KJV But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'My hosts, My people' (et-tsiv'otai et-ammi) — the military term tseva'ot ('hosts, armies') is applied to Israel for the first time. The enslaved workers are reidentified as God's army. The exodus is not merely escape but a military withdrawal of God's own forces from enemy territory.
Exodus 7:5

וְיָדְע֤וּ מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה בִּנְטֹתִ֥י אֶת־יָדִ֖י עַל־מִצְרָ֑יִם וְהוֹצֵאתִ֥י אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִתּוֹכָֽם׃

The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand over Egypt and bring the sons of Israel out from among them.

KJV And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

וְיָדְעוּ מִצְרַיִם כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה veya'du Mitsrayim ki-ani YHWH
"the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD" — recognition formula, knowledge of divine identity

The plagues' stated purpose: that Egypt will come to know YHWH's identity and sovereignty. Judgment is revelation — each plague teaches who God is.

Translator Notes

  1. The knowledge formula — 'they shall know that I am the LORD' (veya'du Mitsrayim ki-ani YHWH) — states the theological purpose of the plagues. The signs are revelatory, not merely punitive. Egypt will learn God's identity through judgment.
Exodus 7:6

וַיַּ֥עַשׂ מֹשֶׁ֖ה וְאַהֲרֹ֑ן כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה אֹתָ֖ם כֵּ֥ן עָשֽׂוּ׃

Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the LORD commanded them.

KJV And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The obedience formula echoes Noah (Genesis 6:22) and Moses at Sinai: exact compliance with divine command, reported without embellishment.
Exodus 7:7

וּמֹשֶׁה֙ בֶּן־שְׁמֹנִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ן בֶּן־שָׁלֹ֥שׁ וּשְׁמֹנִ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה בְּדַבְּרָ֖ם אֶל־פַּרְעֹֽה׃ {פ}

Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.

KJV And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Moses at eighty and Aaron at eighty-three — both are old men beginning the most consequential mission in Israel's history. Their ages signal that God's timing operates outside human career trajectories.
Exodus 7:8

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר׃

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

KJV And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. A new divine speech introduces the first sign before Pharaoh — the staff-to-serpent demonstration.
Exodus 7:9

כִּי֩ יְדַבֵּ֨ר אֲלֵכֶ֤ם פַּרְעֹה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר תְּנ֥וּ לָכֶ֖ם מוֹפֵ֑ת וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֗ן קַ֧ח אֶֽת־מַטְּךָ֛ וְהַשְׁלֵ֥ךְ לִפְנֵֽי־פַרְעֹ֖ה יְהִ֥י לְתַנִּֽין׃

"When Pharaoh says to you, 'Perform a wonder,' you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,' and it will become a serpent."

KJV When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The staff becomes a tannin ('serpent, sea creature, dragon') — a word associated with chaos monsters in creation mythology (cf. Isaiah 27:1; 51:9). The sign challenges Egyptian cosmic symbolism at its root.
Exodus 7:10

וַיָּבֹ֨א מֹשֶׁ֤ה וְאַהֲרֹן֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה וַיַּ֣עֲשׂוּ כֵ֔ן כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁלֵ֨ךְ אַהֲרֹ֜ן אֶת־מַטֵּ֗הוּ לִפְנֵ֥י פַרְעֹ֛ה וְלִפְנֵ֥י עֲבָדָ֖יו וַיְהִ֥י לְתַנִּֽין׃

So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD had commanded. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent.

KJV And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Aaron performs the sign as instructed — obedience precedes results. The sign is public, performed before Pharaoh and his court.
Exodus 7:11

וַיִּקְרָא֙ גַּם־פַּרְעֹ֔ה לַֽחֲכָמִ֖ים וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִ֑ים וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֨וּ גַם־הֵ֜ם חַרְטֻמֵּ֥י מִצְרַ֛יִם בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶ֖ם כֵּֽן׃

Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts.

KJV Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Pharaoh summons his own practitioners — chartumim ('magicians') and mekashefim ('sorcerers'). Their ability to replicate the sign by 'secret arts' (belahateihem) gives Pharaoh grounds for dismissal, though the replication is surface-level, not equal.
Exodus 7:12

וַיַּשְׁלִ֙יכוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ מַטֵּ֔הוּ וַיִּהְי֖וּ לְתַנִּינִ֑ם וַיִּבְלַ֥ע מַטֵּֽה־אַהֲרֹ֖ן אֶת־מַטֹּתָֽם׃

Each one threw down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.

KJV For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

וַיִּבְלַע vayyivla
"swallowed up" — swallowed, consumed, devoured

Aaron's staff swallowing the Egyptian staffs demonstrates decisive superiority, not mere parity. The verb bala will reappear when the sea swallows Egypt's army (15:12).

Translator Notes

  1. Aaron's staff swallows the Egyptian staffs — the contest is not merely matched but won. Superior power is demonstrated through consumption. The verb bala ('swallowed') is the same verb used when the earth swallows Korah (Numbers 16:32). God's instruments consume rivals.
Exodus 7:13

וַיֶּֽחֱזַק֙ לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְלֹ֥א שָׁמַ֖ע אֲלֵהֶ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}

Yet Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.

KJV And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'Pharaoh's heart was hardened' (vayyechezaq lev Par'oh) — the first occurrence of the hardening formula in the plague narrative. The verb chazaq means 'was strengthened, became firm.' His heart locks into resistance.
Exodus 7:14

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה כָּבֵ֖ד לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֑ה מֵאֵ֖ן לְשַׁלַּ֥ח הָעָֽם׃

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is stubborn; he refuses to let the people go.

KJV And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. God identifies Pharaoh's heart as kaved ('heavy, stubborn') — the same root as Moses's 'heavy mouth' (4:10). Both the prophet and the tyrant have something 'heavy,' but God works through the prophet's heaviness while judging the tyrant's.
Exodus 7:15

לֵ֣ךְ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֞ה בַּבֹּ֗קֶר הִנֵּה֙ יֹצֵ֣א הַמַּ֔יְמָה וְנִצַּבְתָּ֥ לִקְרָאת֖וֹ עַל־שְׂפַ֣ת הַיְאֹ֑ר וְהַמַּטֶּ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ לְנָחָ֖שׁ תִּקַּ֥ח בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃

Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes out to the water. Stand by the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that was turned into a serpent.

KJV Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river’s brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Moses is to intercept Pharaoh at the Nile in the morning — possibly during a ritual visit. The confrontation happens at Egypt's sacred river, turning worship space into judgment space.
Exodus 7:16

וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֗יו יְהֹוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י הָעִבְרִים֙ שְׁלָחַ֤נִי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר שַׁלַּח֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י וְיַֽעַבְדֻ֖נִי בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְהִנֵּ֥ה לֹא־שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ עַד־כֹּֽה׃

Say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you, saying: Let My people go, so that they may serve Me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened.

KJV And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The demand 'Let My people go so they may serve Me' (shallach et-ammi veya'avduni) uses the same verb for 'serve' (avad) that describes Israel's slavery. The contest is about who Israel will serve — Pharaoh or God.
Exodus 7:17

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּזֹ֣את תֵּדַ֔ע כִּ֖י אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י מַכֶּ֣ה ׀ בַּמַּטֶּ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־בְּיָדִ֗י עַל־הַמַּ֛יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּיְאֹ֖ר וְנֶהֶפְכ֥וּ לְדָֽם׃

Thus says the LORD: By this you shall know that I am the LORD — I am about to strike the water in the Nile with the staff in my hand, and it will be turned to blood.

KJV Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'By this you shall know that I am the LORD' — the knowledge formula accompanies the first plague. Each plague is designed to teach, not merely to punish. The Nile, Egypt's lifeline and object of worship, is the first target.
Exodus 7:18

וְהַדָּגָ֧ה אֲשֶׁר־בַּיְאֹ֛ר תָּמ֖וּת וּבָאַ֣שׁ הַיְאֹ֑ר וְנִלְא֣וּ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִשְׁתּ֥וֹת מַ֖יִם מִן־הַיְאֹֽר׃ {ס}

The fish in the Nile will die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will be unable to drink water from the Nile."

KJV And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The death of the fish and the stinking of the river reverse the Nile's life-giving function. Egypt's source of sustenance becomes a source of death and repulsion.

Samaritan Pentateuch (4th c. BCE divergence)moderate

"(SP adds execution: Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said...)"

SP's plague narrative systematically harmonizes divine command and human execution. Where MT has only God's instruction, SP adds the account of Moses carrying it out, and vice versa. This pattern recurs through all ten plagues and represents the largest block of expansive material in the SP.

Exodus 7:19

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֱמֹ֣ר אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֡ן קַ֣ח מַטְּךָ֣ וּנְטֵֽה־יָדְךָ֩ עַל־מֵימֵ֨י מִצְרַ֜יִם עַֽל־נַהֲרֹתָ֣ם ׀ עַל־יְאֹרֵיהֶ֣ם וְעַל־אַגְמֵיהֶ֗ם וְעַ֛ל כׇּל־מִקְוֵ֥ה מֵימֵיהֶ֖ם וְיִֽהְיוּ־דָ֑ם וְהָ֤יָה דָם֙ בְּכׇל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וּבָעֵצִ֖ים וּבָאֲבָנִֽים׃

The LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron: Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt — over their rivers, their canals, their pools, and every body of water — so that they may become blood. There shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and stone."

KJV And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The plague extends beyond the Nile to every water source in Egypt — rivers, canals, pools, even water stored in vessels. The judgment is comprehensive, leaving no workaround.
Exodus 7:20

וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן֩ מֹשֶׁ֨ה וְאַהֲרֹ֜ן כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ צִוָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֗ה וַיָּ֤רֶם בַּמַּטֶּה֙ וַיַּ֤ךְ אֶת־הַמַּ֙יִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּיְאֹ֔ר לְעֵינֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה וּלְעֵינֵ֖י עֲבָדָ֑יו וַיֵּהָ֥פְכ֛וּ כׇּל־הַמַּ֥יִם אֲשֶׁר־בַּיְאֹ֖ר לְדָֽם׃

Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded. He raised the staff and struck the water in the Nile in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and all the water in the Nile was turned to blood.

KJV And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Moses and Aaron obey, and the Nile turns to blood. The act is performed 'in the sight of Pharaoh' — the sign is public and undeniable. The Nile, worshipped as the god Hapi, bleeds.
Exodus 7:21

וְהַדָּגָ֨ה אֲשֶׁר־בַּיְאֹ֥ר מֵ֙תָה֙ וַיִּבְאַ֣שׁ הַיְאֹ֔ר וְלֹא־יָכְל֣וּ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִשְׁתּ֥וֹת מַ֖יִם מִן־הַיְאֹ֑ר וַיְהִ֥י הַדָּ֖ם בְּכׇל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

The fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank so that the Egyptians could not drink water from it. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

KJV And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The consequences are immediate: dead fish, unbearable stench, undrinkable water. Egypt's prosperity, built on the Nile, is poisoned at its source.
Exodus 7:22

וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵ֛ן חַרְטֻמֵּ֥י מִצְרַ֖יִם בְּלָטֵיהֶ֑ם וַיֶּחֱזַ֤ק לֵב־פַּרְעֹה֙ וְלֹא־שָׁמַ֣ע אֲלֵהֶ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃

But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts, so Pharaoh's heart remained hard, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.

KJV And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The magicians replicate the sign — a pyrrhic victory, since more blood-water is the last thing Egypt needs. Their success gives Pharaoh an excuse to resist, and his heart 'remains hard' (vayyechezaq).
Exodus 7:23

וַיִּ֣פֶן פַּרְעֹ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֖א אֶל־בֵּית֑וֹ וְלֹא־שָׁ֥ת לִבּ֖וֹ גַּם־לָזֹֽאת׃

Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart.

KJV And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'He did not take even this to heart' (velo-shat libbo gam-lazot) — Pharaoh retreats into his palace and refuses to internalize the sign. The verb shut ('set, place') with lev ('heart') means he did not allow the event to affect his inner disposition.
Exodus 7:24

וַיַּחְפְּר֧וּ כׇל־מִצְרַ֛יִם סְבִיבֹ֥ת הַיְאֹ֖ר מַ֣יִם לִשְׁתּ֑וֹת כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָֽכְלוּ֙ לִשְׁתֹּ֔ת מִמֵּימֵ֖י הַיְאֹֽר׃

All the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the Nile.

KJV And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The people dig for filtered water — a desperate workaround that reveals the plague's severity. The populace suffers while Pharaoh remains unmoved in his palace.
Exodus 7:25

וַיִּמָּלֵ֖א שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים אַחֲרֵ֥י הַכּוֹת־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־הַיְאֹֽר׃ {פ}

Seven full days passed after the LORD struck the Nile.

KJV And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Seven days — a complete cycle — pass after the plague. The duration signals divine patience: time for repentance before the next judgment.
Exodus 7:26

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה בֹּ֖א אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה שַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־עַמִּ֖י וְיַֽעַבְדֻֽנִי׃

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD: Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.

KJV And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The second plague sequence begins with the same formula: 'Let My people go so they may serve Me.' Each plague reissues the same demand, proving that God's patience has not replaced God's purpose.
Exodus 7:27

וְאִם־מָאֵ֥ן אַתָּ֖ה לְשַׁלֵּ֑חַ הִנֵּ֣ה אָנֹכִ֗י נֹגֵ֛ף אֶת־כׇּל־גְּבוּלְךָ֖ בַּֽצְפַרְדְּעִֽים׃

If you refuse to let them go, I will strike all your territory with frogs.

KJV And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Frogs as a plague challenge the Egyptian frog-goddess Heqet, associated with fertility and childbirth. The gods of Egypt are systematically confronted by the God of Israel.
Exodus 7:28

וְשָׁרַ֣ץ הַיְאֹר֮ צְפַרְדְּעִים֒ וְעָלוּ֙ וּבָ֣אוּ בְּבֵיתֶ֔ךָ וּבַחֲדַ֥ר מִשְׁכָּבְךָ֖ וְעַל־מִטָּתֶ֑ךָ וּבְבֵ֤ית עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ וּבְעַמֶּ֔ךָ וּבְתַנּוּרֶ֖יךָ וּבְמִשְׁאֲרוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

The Nile shall swarm with frogs, and they shall come up into your house and into your bedroom and onto your bed and into the houses of your servants and on your people and into your ovens and into your kneading bowls.

KJV And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs:

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The invasion is total — bedroom, bed, ovens, kneading bowls. The sacred (Heqet) becomes the revolting. No space in Egyptian life remains untouched.
Exodus 7:29

וּבְכָ֥ה וּֽבְעַמְּךָ֖ וּבְכׇל־עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ יַעֲל֖וּ הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִֽים׃

The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants."

KJV And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The frogs come upon Pharaoh himself — the king is not insulated from the judgment he causes. His person bears the consequences of his refusal.

Samaritan Pentateuch (4th c. BCE divergence)moderate

"(SP adds: And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh...)"

Another harmonistic expansion in the plague of frogs. SP ensures the reader sees both the command and its fulfillment explicitly.

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