Exodus 7:17

17 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.

Exodus 7:17 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 7:17

Thus saith the Lord, in this thou shalt know that I am the
Lord
By the following instance of his power and vengeance:

behold, I will smite with the rod that is in my hand;
which though in the hand of Moses, ( Exodus 7:18 ) yet he being his ambassador, and representing him, is said to be in the hand of the Lord; and with this he threatens to smite

upon the waters which are in the river;
the river Nile, and the canals thereof:

and they shall be turned to blood;
and if this river was their god, it would abundantly appear that the God of the Hebrews was Jehovah, and above all gods, and particularly above theirs.

Exodus 7:17 In-Context

15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning. Lo, he goeth out unto the water, and thou shalt stand by the river's brink until he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.

16 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.

17 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.

18 And the fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river."'"

19 And the LORD spoke 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.'"