Exodus 9:15

15 For now I will stretch out My hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence, and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.

Exodus 9:15 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 9:15

For now will I stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and
thy people with pestilence
Which yet we never find was done; for though this by many is referred to the slaying of the firstborn, yet it is not certain that this was done by the pestilence: besides, Pharaoh was not then smitten, nor his people, only their firstborn; wherefore these words are to be rendered, not in the future, but in the imperfect or preterpluperfect tense, thus; "for when now I stretched out my hand, or if now I had stretched out my hand to smite thee and thy people with pestilence" F1; that is, at the time when he smote the cattle with the murrain or pestilence, when he could as well have smote him and his people with it; there was no want of power in God to do it, and had he done it, it would have been all over with him and them: and thou shall be cut off from the earth;
or "thou hadst been, or wouldest have been cut off from the earth" F2 must have perished out of it, and been no more in the land of the living.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 (ytxlv hte yk) "modo enim cum extendi", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius, "vel si extendissem", Fagius, Cocceius; so Jarchi, Gersom, Targ. Onk. & Jon.
F2 (dxktw) "sic fuisses excisus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius, Cocceius.

Exodus 9:15 In-Context

13 And the LORD said unto Moses, "Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh and say unto him, `Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews: Let My people go, that they may serve Me.
14 For I will at this time send all My plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants and upon thy people, that thou mayest know that there is none like Me in all the earth.
15 For now I will stretch out My hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence, and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.
16 And in very deed, for this cause have I raised thee up: to show in thee My power, and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth.
17 As yet exaltest thou thyself against My people, that thou wilt not let them go?
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.