Exodus 8:1-6

The Second Plague: Frogs

1 [a] Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, "Let my people go, that 1they may serve me.
2 But if you 2refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country with 3frogs.
3 The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into 4your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and your people,[b] and into your ovens and your kneading bowls.
4 The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants."'"
5 [c] And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 5'Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt!'"
6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and 6the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.

Exodus 8:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 8

In this chapter Pharaoh is threatened with the plague of frogs, in case he refused to let Israel go, which accordingly was brought upon him, Ex 8:1-6 and though the magicians did something similar to it, yet these were so troublesome to Pharaoh, that he promised to let the people go, and sacrifice to God, if they removed; and a time being fixed for the removal of them, it was accordingly done at the entreaty of Moses and Aaron, Ex 8:7-14 but there being a respite, Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and the plague of lice is ordered, and which was executed; and though this the magicians essayed to do, and could not, but owned it to be the finger of God, yet Pharaoh's heart was hardened, Ex 8:15-19 wherefore he is threatened with a swarm of flies, which should not infest Goshen, only the places where the Egyptians dwelt, and it was so, Ex 8:20-24 upon which Pharaoh called for Moses, and declared himself willing the people would sacrifice in the land; but this not being satisfactory, he agreed they should go into the wilderness, but not so far; and on the account of the entreaty of Moses, the plague was removed; but still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not let the people go, Ex 8:25-32.

Cross References 6

  • 1. ver. 20; Exodus 3:12, 18
  • 2. Exodus 7:14; Exodus 9:2
  • 3. [Revelation 16:13]
  • 4. Psalms 105:30
  • 5. See Exodus 7:19
  • 6. Psalms 78:45; Psalms 105:30

Footnotes 3

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.