Exodus 7:18

18 and the fishes that be in the flood shall die; and the waters shall wax rotten, and the Egyptians drinking the water of the flood shall be tormented. (and the fish that be in the River shall die; and the waters shall grow rotten, and the Egyptians shall not be able to drink any water from this River.)

Exodus 7:18 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 7:18

And the fish that is in the river shall die
Their element being changed, and they not able to live in any other but water:

and the river shall stink;
with the blood, into which it should be congealed, and with the putrefied bodies of fishes floating in it:

and the Egyptians shall loath to drink of the water of the river;
the very colour of it, looking like blood, would set them against it, and create a nausea in them; or "shall be weary" ^F8, tired of drinking it in a little time, through the loathsomeness of it; or be weary in digging about it, ( Exodus 7:24 ) to get some clear water to drink of; or in seeking to find out ways and methods to cure the waters, that so they might be fit to drink of, as Jarchi interprets it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 (waln) "delassabuntur", Tigurine version, Vatablus. "Defatigabuntur", Cartwright.

Exodus 7:18 In-Context

16 and thou shalt say to him, The Lord God of Hebrews sent me to thee, and said, Deliver thou my people, that it make sacrifice to me in desert; and till to this present time thou wouldest not hear. (and thou shalt say to him, The Lord God of the Hebrews sent me to thee, and said, Let my people go, so that they can worship me in the wilderness; and until this time thou hast not listened to him.)

17 Therefore the Lord saith these things, In this thou shalt know, that I am the Lord; lo! I shall smite with the rod, that is in mine hand, the water of the flood, and it shall be turned into blood (lo! I shall strike the water of this River with the staff, that is in my hand, and that water shall be turned into blood);

18 and the fishes that be in the flood shall die; and the waters shall wax rotten, and the Egyptians drinking the water of the flood shall be tormented. (and the fish that be in the River shall die; and the waters shall grow rotten, and the Egyptians shall not be able to drink any water from this River.)

19 Also the Lord said to Moses, Say thou to Aaron, Take thy rod, and hold forth thine hand on the waters of Egypt, and on the floods of them, and on the streams of them, and on the marshes, and on all the lakes of waters, that those be turned into blood; and blood be in all the land of Egypt, as well in vessels of wood, as of stone. (And the Lord said to Moses, Say thou to Aaron, Take thy staff, and stretch forth thy hand over the waters of Egypt, yea, over the rivers, and the streams, and the marshes, and all the lakes, so that they all be turned into blood; and then blood shall be in all the land of Egypt, and even in wooden vessels, and in stone vessels.)

20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded; and Aaron raised the rod, and smote the water of the flood before Pharaoh and his servants, which water was turned into blood; (And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded; and Aaron raised up his staff, and struck the water of the River before Pharaoh and his servants, and the water was turned into blood;)