Exodus 9:8-17

The Plague of Boils

8 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take for yourselves handfuls * of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.
9 "It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and will become 1boils breaking out with sores on man and beast through all the land of Egypt."
10 So they took soot from a kiln, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses threw it toward the sky, and it became boils breaking out with sores on man and beast.
11 2The magicians could not stand before Moses because * of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians.
12 And 3the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses.
13 Then the LORD said to Moses, "4Rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, "5Let My people go, that they may serve Me.
14 "For this time I will send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people, so that 6you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth.
15 "For if by now I had put forth My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, you would then have been cut off from the earth.
16 "But, indeed, 7for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth.
17 "Still you exalt yourself against My people by not letting them go.

Exodus 9:8-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 9

This chapter relates the plague of murrain upon the cattle, and which yet was not upon the cattle of the Israelites, Ex 9:1-7 and the plague of boils and blains on man and beast, Ex 9:8-11 and Pharaoh's heart being hardened, Moses is sent to him with a message from the Lord, threatening him that all his plagues should come upon him, and particularly the pestilence, if he would not let Israel go; and signifying, that to show his power in him, and declare his name throughout the earth, had he raised him up, and a kind of amazement is expressed at his obstinacy and pride, Ex 9:12-17, and he is told that a terrible storm of hail should fall upon the land, and destroy all in the field; wherefore those that regarded the word of the Lord got their cattle within doors, but those that did not took no care of them, Ex 9:18-21 and upon Moses's stretching out his hand, when ordered by the Lord, the storm began, and destroyed every thing in the field throughout the land, excepting the land of Goshen, Ex 9:22-26 upon which Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, acknowledged his sin, and the justice of God, begged they would entreat for him, which Moses did; but when the storm was over, Pharaoh's heart was still more hardened, and he refused to let the people go, Ex 9:27-35.

Cross References 7

  • 1. Deuteronomy 28:27; Revelation 16:2
  • 2. Exodus 8:18
  • 3. Exodus 4:21; Exodus 10:1, 20; Exodus 14:8; Joshua 11:20; John 12:40
  • 4. Exodus 8:20
  • 5. Exodus 4:23
  • 6. Exodus 8:10; Deuteronomy 3:24; 2 Samuel 7:22; 1 Chronicles 17:20; Psalms 86:8; Isaiah 45:5-8; Isaiah 46:9; Jeremiah 10:6, 7
  • 7. Proverbs 16:4; Romans 9:17

Footnotes 6

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