Exodus 7:8-13

8 And the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron,

9 When Pharaoh shall say to you, Show ye signs to us, thou shalt say to Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast forth it before Pharaoh, and be it turned into a serpent. (When Pharaoh shall say to you, Show ye signs to us, thou shalt say to Aaron, Take thy staff, and throw it down before Pharaoh, and it shall be turned into a serpent.)

10 And so Moses and Aaron entered to Pharaoh, and did as the Lord commanded; and Aaron took the rod, and cast forth it before Pharaoh and his servants, the which rod was turned into a serpent. (And so Moses and Aaron came before Pharaoh, and did as the Lord commanded; and Aaron took his staff, and threw it down before Pharaoh and his servants, and the staff was turned into a serpent.)

11 Forsooth Pharaoh called forth wise men, and witches, and they also did by enchantments of Egypt, and by some privy things, in like manner; (And Pharaoh called forth Egypt's wise men, and witches, and they did likewise with their enchantments, and their secret words;)

12 and all casted forth their rods, which were turned into dragons; but the rod of Aaron devoured their rods. (and they all threw down their staffs, and they turned into serpents; but Aaron's staff devoured their staffs.)

13 And the heart of Pharaoh was made hard, and he heard not them, as the Lord commanded. (But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.)

Exodus 7:8-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 7

Moses and Aaron are ordered to go to Pharaoh, and require the dismission of the people of Israel, but they are told before hand that Pharaoh's heart would be hardened, and would refuse to let them go, until the hand of the Lord was stretched out, and great judgments were brought down upon, Egypt, and then they should come forth, Ex 7:1-5, which orders Moses and Aaron obeyed, and their age is observed, when this was done, Ex 7:6,7 and they are bid to work a miracle, when Pharaoh should demand one, by turning a rod into a serpent, which they did; but Pharaoh's magicians doing the same in appearance, his heart was hardened, Ex 7:8-14 and then they are directed to meet him at the river, and require the same as before; and if he refused, to smite the waters of the river with the rod, and turn them into blood, which they did, Ex 7:15-21, but Pharaoh's magicians doing the same by enchantments, he did not regard it, though the plague lasted seven days, Ex 7:22-25.