Exodus 8:18

18 The magicians tried with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they couldn't. There were lice on man, and on animal.

Exodus 8:18 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 8:18

And the magicians did so with their enchantments, to bring
forth lice
They made use of their magical art, and juggling tricks they were masters of, to produce the like sort of creatures, or at least to make such appear, or seem to appear, to the eyes of men:

but they could not;
God would not suffer them to do it, to impose upon Pharaoh, and deceive him and the Egyptians any longer; and a stop is put to them, when such small and despicable creatures were produced, the more to put them to shame and confusion, and to show that what they did before was not real, and that what they did in appearance was only by divine permission;

so there were lice upon man and upon beast;
these lay in great numbers on both, biting and distressing them in a most terrible manner; for as the magicians could not produce such creatures, it was not in their power to remove them.

Exodus 8:18 In-Context

16 The LORD said to Moshe, "Tell Aharon, 'Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the eretz, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Mitzrayim.'"

17 They did so; and Aharon stretched out his hand with his rod, and struck the dust of the eretz, and there were lice on man, and on animal; all the dust of the eretz became lice throughout all the land of Mitzrayim.

18 The magicians tried with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they couldn't. There were lice on man, and on animal.

19 Then the magicians said to Par`oh, "This is the finger of God:" and Par`oh's heart was hardened, and he didn't listen to them; as the LORD had spoken.

20 The LORD said to Moshe, "Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Par`oh; behold, he comes forth to the water; and tell him, 'This is what the LORD says, "Let my people go, that they may serve me.