Exodus 7

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 7

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

2Thou 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.

3And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

4But 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.

5And 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.

6And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.

7And Moses [was] fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.

8¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

9When 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.

10And 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.

11Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

12For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

13And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

14¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart [is] hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.

15Get 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.

16And 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.

17Thus 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.

18And 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.

19And 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.

20And 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.

21And 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.

22And 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.

23And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.

24And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.

25And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD empowers Moses as a "god" to Pharaoh, with Aaron as his prophet, and declares His intent to harden Pharaoh's heart to multiply signs and wonders. Moses and Aaron demonstrate God's power by turning Aaron's rod into a serpent, which then swallows the serpents created by Pharaoh's magicians. Despite this, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, leading to the first plague where all the waters of Egypt are turned to blood, killing fish and making the river undrinkable.

Medium Summary

The LORD commissions Moses, declaring him "a god to Pharaoh" and Aaron his prophet, and reveals His plan to harden Pharaoh's heart, thereby multiplying signs and wonders to bring Israel out of Egypt by great judgments. Moses and Aaron, aged eighty and eighty-three respectively, approach Pharaoh. When Pharaoh demands a miracle, Aaron casts his rod, which transforms into a serpent. Pharaoh's wise men and sorcerers replicate this feat with their enchantments, but Aaron's rod miraculously swallows their rods, yet Pharaoh's heart remains unyielding as prophesied. Consequently, the LORD instructs Moses to confront Pharaoh by the river and announce the first plague. Aaron then stretches his rod over all the waters of Egypt, turning them to blood, causing the fish to die and rendering the water undrinkable. Even though the Egyptian magicians perform a similar act, Pharaoh's heart is further hardened, and he disregards the sign, forcing Egyptians to dig for fresh water.

Long Summary

Exodus chapter 7 commences with the LORD's declaration to Moses, stating, "I have made thee a god to Pharaoh," with Aaron designated as his prophet. The LORD outlines His divine strategy: Moses is to speak all His commands, and Aaron will convey them to Pharaoh, demanding the release of the children of Israel. Crucially, the LORD reveals His intention to harden Pharaoh's heart, thereby multiplying His signs and wonders in Egypt, ensuring that the Egyptians will ultimately know Him as the LORD through the great judgments inflicted. Moses and Aaron faithfully execute these instructions, with Moses being eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they first confront Pharaoh. Upon Pharaoh's demand for a miracle, the LORD instructs Aaron to cast his rod before Pharaoh, which transforms into a serpent. Moses and Aaron perform this sign, and Aaron's rod becomes a serpent. Pharaoh, in turn, summons his wise men and sorcerers, whose magicians also cast down their rods, which similarly become serpents through their enchantments. However, a significant demonstration of divine power occurs when Aaron's rod proceeds to swallow up the rods of the Egyptian magicians. Despite this compelling display, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, and he refuses to heed Moses and Aaron, precisely as the LORD had foretold. The narrative then transitions to the first plague. The LORD informs Moses that Pharaoh's heart is still hardened and he refuses to release the people. Moses is commanded to meet Pharaoh by the river's brink in the morning, holding the rod that became a serpent. He is to declare God's message, demanding Israel's release to serve Him in the wilderness, and to announce that the LORD will smite the waters of the Nile. Aaron is instructed to stretch his rod over all the waters of Egypt—streams, rivers, ponds, and pools—turning them into blood. Moses and Aaron obey, and in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, the waters of the river are smitten and transformed into blood. Consequently, the fish in the river die, the river stinks, and the Egyptians are unable to drink its water, with blood appearing throughout the land. Though the Egyptian magicians also perform similar enchantments, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, and he disregards this plague, forcing the Egyptians to dig for alternative water sources. Seven days pass after the smiting of the river.

Core Concepts

  • Divine CommissionThe LORD appoints Moses as a "god" to Pharaoh and Aaron as his prophet, signifying their authoritative roles as God's representatives in confronting the Egyptian ruler.
  • Hardening of Pharaoh's HeartA central theme where the LORD explicitly states His intention to harden Pharaoh's heart, ensuring the multiplication of signs and wonders, and demonstrating His power through great judgments.
  • Rod to Serpent MiracleThe initial sign performed by Aaron, where his rod transforms into a serpent, demonstrating God's power, which is then challenged and ultimately superseded by Aaron's rod swallowing those of the Egyptian magicians.
  • Egyptian Magicians' ImitationPharaoh's wise men and sorcerers are able to replicate some of God's signs through their enchantments, highlighting their limited power and the distinction between their magic and divine miracles.
  • First Plague: Water to BloodThe initial and comprehensive judgment upon Egypt, where all the waters, including the Nile, are turned to blood, resulting in the death of fish and rendering the water undrinkable for the Egyptians.
  • God's Sovereignty and RevelationThrough the series of escalating signs and judgments, the LORD's ultimate purpose is revealed: for the Egyptians to "know that I am the LORD," demonstrating His supreme authority over all creation and false gods.
  • Pharaoh's Continued ResistanceDespite witnessing powerful signs and the devastating first plague, Pharaoh consistently refuses to release the Israelites, illustrating his stubbornness and the fulfillment of God's prophecy regarding his hardened heart.