King James Version
Exodus 7
25 verses with commentary
Moses and Aaron Before Pharaoh
And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
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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.
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And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
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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.
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The crucial phrase that I may lay my hand upon Egypt reveals God's redemptive-judicial aim. The Hebrew לְמַעַן (lema'an, "that" or "in order that") indicates purpose: Pharaoh's hardness becomes the occasion for demonstrating Yahweh's power over Egypt and its gods. God's hand (יָד, yad) symbolizes His power—the same hand that would part the Red Sea, provide manna, and write the commandments. Here it executes judgment on Egypt's false gods (12:12) and liberates Israel.
Bring forth mine armies (אֶת־צִבְאֹתַי, et-tziv'otai) describes Israel as Yahweh's tzava'ot—His hosts or armies. This military language elevates Israel's identity: not merely escaped slaves but Yahweh's organized forces marching out in divine order (12:51, 13:18). The plural my people the children of Israel emphasizes covenant relationship: Israel belongs to Yahweh, not Pharaoh. Egypt's stubbornness cannot thwart God's redemptive plan.
By great judgments (בִּשְׁפָטִים גְּדֹלִים, bishphatim gedolim) anticipates the ten plagues. The noun shphatim comes from shaphat (שָׁפַט, "to judge"), indicating these weren't mere natural disasters but divine judicial sentences against Egypt's false deities. Each plague targeted specific Egyptian gods—the Nile (Hapi), the sun (Ra), etc.—revealing their impotence before Yahweh. This prefigures God's ultimate judgment on all evil and idolatry, culminating in Christ's victory over sin, death, and Satan (Colossians 2:15; Revelation 20).
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.
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The divine name Yahweh (יְהוָה, often rendered LORD) appears emphatically. This is the covenant name revealed to Moses at the burning bush (3:14-15)—"I AM THAT I AM." When God acts in history, He reveals His character and name. The Egyptians worshiped countless deities—Ra (sun), Osiris (underworld), Isis (magic), Hapi (Nile), etc.—but Yahweh alone is God. The plagues systematically demonstrated each Egyptian god's impotence, establishing Yahweh's absolute sovereignty.
When I stretch forth mine hand (בִּנְטֹתִי אֶת־יָדִי, bin'toti et-yadi) depicts God's active intervention. The outstretched hand symbolizes divine power executing judgment and salvation—the same hand that later wrote the Law on stone tablets (Deuteronomy 9:10). This anthropomorphic language makes God's invisible power visible and comprehensible. The phrase bring out the children of Israel from among them emphasizes the exodus as separation—God distinguishes His covenant people from Egypt, foreshadowing the church's calling to be separate from the world (2 Corinthians 6:17).
Theologically, this verse reveals that God's judgments serve missional purposes—even in wrath, God makes Himself known. The plagues weren't arbitrary displays of power but targeted revelations of Yahweh's character and supremacy. This anticipates the gospel age where God's judgment on sin at Calvary reveals both His justice and mercy, calling all nations to know Him (Romans 1:16-17).
And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.
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The phrase ka'asher tzivah YHWH (כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה, "as the LORD commanded") establishes the pattern for all ten plagues: God commands, Moses and Aaron obey, and judgment follows. Their obedience despite past failures (4:10-14, 5:22-23) demonstrates matured faith. This simple statement of compliance serves as a theological hinge—from this point forward, God's power will manifest through their faithful agency. The repetitive structure anticipates the litany of plagues where each begins with divine command and ends with execution.
And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.
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This detail refutes human assumptions about useful service. By worldly standards, octogenarians were past leadership age, yet God's economy differs: "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age" (Psalm 92:14). Their advanced years actually enhanced divine glory—deliverance would clearly be God's work, not vigorous human effort. The age specification also explains their desert endurance: they spent 40 more years in wilderness, dying at 120 and 123 respectively. The emphasis on age highlights that God's calling transcends human limitations.
And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
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The simple word saying (לֵאמֹר, lemor) introduces divine instruction that Moses must faithfully transmit. Throughout Exodus, this pattern repeats: God speaks, Moses and Aaron obey, and through their obedience God's purposes advance. This models proper leadership—human leaders serve as mediators of divine will, not originators of their own agendas. The church continues this pattern: leaders must speak God's Word faithfully, not human wisdom (1 Peter 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:2).
The verse's placement is strategic—immediately after God declares His purpose to make Himself known through judgment (7:5), He provides Moses and Aaron specific instructions for the confrontation's beginning. God doesn't merely announce purposes but equips His servants with detailed guidance. This demonstrates divine patience and thoroughness: before the first plague, God rehearses the sign that will authenticate Moses' authority. The serpent miracle serves as credential establishing that Moses truly speaks for Yahweh.
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.
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God's instruction specifies thou shalt say unto Aaron—Moses directs, Aaron acts. This division of roles continues the pattern established earlier (7:1-2). The command Take thy rod (קַח אֶת־מַטְּךָ, qach et-mattekha) refers to Aaron's staff, which becomes the instrument of divine power. The rod itself possesses no inherent magic—it's merely wood. But when God works through it, it becomes the tool of miracles, demonstrating that power resides in Yahweh, not in human instruments or techniques.
And it shall become a serpent (וִיהִי לְתַנִּין, vihi l'tannin) uses tannin (תַּנִּין), which can mean serpent, dragon, or large sea creature. Here it likely refers to a cobra (the uraeus that symbolized Egyptian royalty and deity). The choice of sign is theologically significant: the serpent symbol of Egyptian divine power becomes God's instrument to demonstrate Yahweh's superiority. God uses Egypt's own symbols against them, showing that He controls even what they worship.
The verse demonstrates God's omniscience—He knows Pharaoh will demand authentication before the confrontation occurs. This foreknowledge assures Moses that nothing in the coming conflict will surprise God. Every challenge has been anticipated, every response prepared. This should encourage believers: God isn't caught off-guard by opposition but has already prepared the way for His purposes to triumph (Isaiah 46:9-10).
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.
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And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Aaron, not Moses, performs the sign as God ordained (7:9). The rod (matteh, מַטֶּה) becomes a serpent (tannin, תַּנִּין)—not the common snake (nachash) of 4:3, but a great sea creature or dragon, the term used for primordial chaos monsters (Genesis 1:21, Psalm 74:13, Isaiah 27:1). In Egyptian theology, the cobra (uraeus) symbolized Pharaoh's power and divine authority, worn on the royal crown. Aaron's rod becoming a tannin challenges Egyptian cosmic order at its foundation. This sign declares: YHWH controls chaos itself; Egypt's symbols of power are nothing before Him.
Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
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They also did in like manner (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־כֵן, vayya'asu-ken) indicates successful replication—their staffs also became serpents. The phrase with their enchantments (בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶם, belahatehem) literally means "with their secret arts" or "flames," suggesting occult practices involving incantations and magical techniques. This creates a theological problem: did they perform genuine supernatural acts, or was it sophisticated trickery?
Scripture doesn't explicitly answer whether demonic power enabled real transformation or whether clever illusion deceived observers. However, verse 12 provides the key: Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods—demonstrating Yahweh's superior power over all Egyptian magic and gods. The confrontation isn't merely Moses versus magicians but Yahweh versus Egypt's deities (12:12). The magicians could replicate some signs (7:22, 8:7) but eventually failed (8:18-19), confessing "This is the finger of God."
Theologically, this passage reveals: (1) Satan possesses limited power to counterfeit God's works (2 Thessalonians 2:9); (2) God permits this display to demonstrate His ultimate supremacy; (3) Pharaoh's hardening increases as he finds excuse to resist. Paul references these magicians—Jannes and Jambres (2 Timothy 3:8)—as examples of those who oppose truth, resist God, and ultimately prove corrupt and foolish.
For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
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But Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. The decisive reversal! The Hebrew va'yivla (וַיִּבְלַע, "and it swallowed") indicates complete consumption—not mere victory but total domination. Aaron's single rod devours all the Egyptian rods-turned-serpents. This demonstrates qualitative difference: Egyptian magic can imitate but cannot overcome. The image of swallowing anticipates Israel swallowing Egypt's army in the Red Sea (15:12). God's power doesn't merely exceed opposition—it consumes it entirely. Yet even this clear sign fails to move Pharaoh (v. 13), showing that spiritual blindness persists despite undeniable evidence.
And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
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The text oscillates between God hardening Pharaoh's heart and Pharaoh hardening his own heart (Exodus 8:15, 32), presenting the mystery of divine judgment working through human rebellion. Paul references this in Romans 9:17-18 to demonstrate God's sovereign right to show mercy or judgment. As the LORD had said confirms God's foreknowledge (Exodus 4:21; 7:3) and His control over history's outcome.
The First Plague: Water to Blood
And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. pools: Heb. gathering of their waters
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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.
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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.
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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.
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And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.
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And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
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And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.