Exodus 9:31

31 (The flax and barley were destroyed, since the barley had headed and the flax was in bloom.

Exodus 9:31 in Other Translations

31 And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.

31 (The flax and the barley were struck down, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud.

31 (All the flax and barley were ruined by the hail, because the barley had formed heads and the flax was budding.

31 (The flax and the barley were ruined, for they were just ripening,

31 The flax and the barley were destroyed because the barley was ripe and the flax was budding,

Exodus 9:31 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 9:31

And the flax and the barley was smitten
With the hail, thunder, and lightning, and were beat down, bruised, broken, and blasted, and destroyed; of the former there were great quantities produced in Egypt, which was famous for linen, much was made there, and there were many that wrought in fine flax, see ( Isaiah 19:9 ) and the latter were used not only to feed their cattle, but to make a drink of, as we do, ale and strong beer; and so the Egyptians use it to this day, as Dr. Shaw ^F16 says, both to feed their cattle, and after it is dried and parched, to make a fermented, intoxicating liquor, called "bonzah"; probably the same with the barley wine of the ancients, and a species of the "sicar", or strong drink of the Scriptures: for the barley [was] in the ear, and the flax [was] bolled;
or in the stalk, quite grown up, and so the ears of the one were beat off, and the stalks of the other battered with the hail, and broken and destroyed.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Travels, tom. 2. c. 2. sect. 5. p. 407. Ed. 2.

Exodus 9:31 In-Context

29 Moses replied, “When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD’s.

30 But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the LORD God.”

31 (The flax and barley were destroyed, since the barley had headed and the flax was in bloom.

32 The wheat and spelt, however, were not destroyed, because they ripen later.)

33 Then Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city. He spread out his hands toward the LORD; the thunder and hail stopped, and the rain no longer poured down on the land.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 8:8; Ruth 1:22; Ruth 2:23; 2 Samuel 14:30; 2 Samuel 17:28; Isaiah 28:25; Ezekiel 4:9; Joel 1:11