Exodus 9

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 9

1¶ 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.

2For if thou refuse to let [them] go, and wilt hold them still,

3Behold, 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.

4And 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.

5And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.

6And 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.

7And 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.

8¶ 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.

9And 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.

10And 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.

11And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.

12And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.

13¶ 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.

14For 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.

15For 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.

16And 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.

17As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?

18Behold, 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.

19Send 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.

20He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:

21And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.

22¶ 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.

23And 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.

24So 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.

25And 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.

26Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel [were], was there no hail.

27And 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.

28Intreat 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.

29And 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.

30But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.

31And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley [was] in the ear, and the flax [was] bolled.

32But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they [were] not grown up.

33And 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.

34And 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.

35And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Exodus 9 details three more plagues upon Egypt, demonstrating the LORD's power and Pharaoh's continued defiance. The fifth plague, a grievous murrain, killed all Egyptian livestock while sparing Israel's. This was followed by the sixth plague of boils upon both man and beast, affecting even the magicians. Finally, the seventh plague brought unprecedented hail mingled with fire, devastating the land and its inhabitants, yet sparing the land of Goshen, though Pharaoh's heart remained hardened.

Medium Summary

Chapter 9 of Exodus recounts the fifth, sixth, and seventh plagues sent by the LORD upon Egypt. The first, a severe murrain, afflicted only Egyptian livestock, causing widespread death, while the cattle of Israel remained untouched, yet Pharaoh's heart was hardened. Next, Moses and Aaron cast ashes into the air, resulting in boils breaking forth upon all Egyptians and their beasts, incapacitating even the magicians. Despite these afflictions, the LORD further hardened Pharaoh's heart. Subsequently, the LORD announced a devastating hail, unlike any seen before, warning Egyptians to seek shelter for their people and animals. This grievous hail, mingled with fire, smote all that was in the field throughout Egypt, destroying men, beasts, and vegetation, but miraculously spared the land of Goshen where the Israelites dwelt. Although Pharaoh momentarily confessed his sin and promised to release the people, his heart was hardened again once the plague ceased, preventing Israel's departure.

Long Summary

Exodus chapter 9 describes the progression of three more divine judgments upon Egypt, beginning with the fifth plague. The LORD commanded Moses to inform Pharaoh that a grievous murrain would strike Egyptian livestock, while specifically preserving the cattle of the children of Israel. As foretold, the plague occurred, resulting in the death of all Egyptian horses, asses, camels, oxen, and sheep, yet not a single Israelite animal perished, confirming the LORD's distinction. Despite this clear demonstration of power, Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, and he refused to release the Hebrews. The sixth plague followed, as Moses and Aaron sprinkled ashes from a furnace towards heaven, which transformed into boils and blains upon both man and beast throughout Egypt. This affliction was so severe that even the Egyptian magicians, who had previously mimicked some of Moses's actions, could not stand before him, yet the LORD continued to harden Pharaoh's heart, preventing him from hearkening. For the seventh plague, the LORD instructed Moses to warn Pharaoh of an unprecedented hail, mingled with fire, intended to demonstrate His supreme power over all the earth. Pharaoh's servants were given a chance to bring their people and livestock indoors, and some who feared the LORD's word complied, while others did not. Moses then stretched forth his rod, and a devastating storm of thunder, hail, and fire descended upon Egypt, smiting every man, beast, and plant in the fields, and breaking every tree. This plague was exceptionally severe, unlike any seen since Egypt became a nation, yet the land of Goshen, inhabited by the Israelites, was entirely spared. Overwhelmed, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron, confessing his sin and acknowledging the LORD's righteousness, promising to let the people go if the hail ceased. Moses agreed to intercede, knowing that Pharaoh and his servants would not yet truly fear the LORD. Upon Moses's prayer, the thunder, hail, and rain ceased. However, as soon as the immediate threat passed, Pharaoh sinned further, hardening his heart once more, and ultimately refused to let the children of Israel depart, fulfilling the LORD's prior declaration to Moses.

Core Concepts

  • Divine DistinctionThe LORD consistently differentiates between the Egyptians and the Israelites, sparing the latter from the plagues that devastate the former, as seen with the murrain and the hail.
  • Hardening of Pharaoh's HeartThroughout the chapter, Pharaoh's heart is repeatedly hardened, sometimes by his own will and sometimes explicitly stated as hardened by the LORD, preventing him from releasing Israel.
  • Demonstration of God's PowerEach plague serves to manifest the LORD's unparalleled power over all creation, demonstrating that "there is none like me in all the earth" and that His name should be declared globally.
  • Consequences of DisobedienceThe plagues illustrate the severe consequences of Pharaoh's continued refusal to obey the LORD's command, leading to widespread destruction and suffering for Egypt.
  • Prophetic FulfillmentThe events unfold precisely as the LORD declares through Moses, from the specific timing of the plagues to their effects and the eventual hardening of Pharaoh's heart.
  • Egyptian Magicians' LimitationsThe boils plague highlights the limitations of the Egyptian magicians, who are unable to stand before Moses due to their own affliction, signifying the superiority of the LORD's power.
  • Partial Obedience/FearSome of Pharaoh's servants heed the warning about the hail, bringing their people and cattle indoors, indicating a nascent fear of the LORD's word among some Egyptians, contrasting with Pharaoh's persistent defiance.