Focused Passage

Exodus 8:1-15

Frogs, Gnats, Flies, and the LORD’s Distinction

The LORD escalates judgment through frogs, gnats, and flies; Pharaoh bargains and hardens his heart; Egypt’s magicians confess the finger of God; and the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and His people.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

2 But if you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs.

3 The Nile will teem with frogs, and they will come into your palace and up to your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and your people, and into your ovens and kneading bowls.

4 The frogs will come up on you and your people and all your officials.’”

5 And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers and canals and ponds, and cause the frogs to come up onto the land of Egypt.’”

6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.

7 But the magicians did the same thing by their magic arts, and they also brought frogs up onto the land of Egypt.

8 Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I will let your people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD.”

9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “You may have the honor over me. When shall I pray for you and your officials and your people that the frogs (except for those in the Nile) may be taken away from you and your houses?”

10 “Tomorrow,” Pharaoh answered. “May it be as you say,” Moses replied, “so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God.

11 The frogs will depart from you and your houses and your officials and your people; they will remain only in the Nile.”

12 After Moses and Aaron had left Pharaoh, Moses cried out to the LORD for help with the frogs that He had brought against Pharaoh.

13 And the LORD did as Moses requested, and the frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields died.

14 They were piled into countless heaps, and there was a terrible stench in the land.

15 When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, however, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Then the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֔ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular Go בֹּ֖א H935 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Pharaoh פַּרְעֹ֑ה H6547 Noun - proper - masculine singular and tell him that וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular . . . אֵלָ֗יו H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular this is what כֹּ֚ה H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular says אָמַ֣ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Let My people עַמִּ֖י H5971 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular go שַׁלַּ֥ח H7971 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker so that they may worship Me וְיַֽעַבְדֻֽנִי׃ H5647 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural | first person common singular
Verse 2

Original words

But if וְאִם־ H518 Conjunction you אַתָּ֖ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular refuse מָאֵ֥ן H3986 Adjective - masculine singular to let them go לְשַׁלֵּ֑חַ H7971 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct - הִנֵּ֣ה H2009 Interjection I אָנֹכִ֗י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular will plague נֹגֵ֛ף H5062 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker vvv כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct your whole country גְּבוּלְךָ֖ H1366 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular with frogs בַּֽצְפַרְדְּעִֽים׃ H6854 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Verse 3

Original words

The Nile הַיְאֹר֮ H2975 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular will teem וְשָׁרַ֣ץ H8317 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular with frogs צְפַרְדְּעִים֒ H6854 Noun - feminine plural and they will come וְעָלוּ֙ H5927 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural vvv וּבָ֣אוּ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural into your palace בְּבֵיתֶ֔ךָ H1004 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and up to your bedroom וּבַחֲדַ֥ר H2315 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . מִשְׁכָּבְךָ֖ H4904 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and onto וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition your bed מִטָּתֶ֑ךָ H4296 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular into the houses וּבְבֵ֤ית H1004 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of your officials עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ H5650 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and your people וּבְעַמֶּ֔ךָ H5971 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and into your ovens וּבְתַנּוּרֶ֖יךָ H8574 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular and kneading bowls וּבְמִשְׁאֲרוֹתֶֽיךָ׃ H4863 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 4

Original words

The frogs הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִֽים׃ H6854 Article | Noun - feminine plural will come up יַעֲל֖וּ H5927 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural on you וּבְכָ֥ה Conjunctive waw | Preposition and your people וּֽבְעַמְּךָ֖ H5971 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and all וּבְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct your officials עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ H5650 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

And the LORD יְהוָה֮ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁה֒ H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular Tell אֱמֹ֣ר H559 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular . . . אֶֽל־ H413 Preposition Aaron אַהֲרֹ֗ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular Stretch out נְטֵ֤ה H5186 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker your hand יָדְךָ֙ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular with your staff בְּמַטֶּ֔ךָ H4294 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular over עַל־ H5921 Preposition the rivers הַ֨נְּהָרֹ֔ת H5104 Article | Noun - masculine plural - עַל־ H5921 Preposition and canals הַיְאֹרִ֖ים H2975 Article | Noun - masculine plural . . . וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and ponds הָאֲגַמִּ֑ים H98 Article | Noun - masculine plural and cause the frogs הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֖ים H6854 Article | Noun - feminine plural . . . עַל־ H5921 Preposition to come up onto וְהַ֥עַל H5927 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the land אֶ֥רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרָֽיִם׃ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 6

Original words

So Aaron אַהֲרֹן֙ H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker stretched out וַיֵּ֤ט H5186 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular his hand יָד֔וֹ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular over עַ֖ל H5921 Preposition the waters מֵימֵ֣י H4325 Noun - masculine plural construct of Egypt מִצְרָ֑יִם H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular and the frogs הַצְּפַרְדֵּ֔עַ H6854 Article | Noun - feminine singular came up וַתַּ֙עַל֙ H5927 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular and covered וַתְּכַ֖ס H3680 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the land אֶ֥רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרָֽיִם׃ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 7

Original words

But the magicians הַֽחֲרְטֻמִּ֖ים H2748 Article | Noun - masculine plural did וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural the same thing כֵ֥ן H3651 Adverb by their magic arts בְּלָטֵיהֶ֑ם H3909 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural and they also brought frogs הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֖ים H6854 Article | Noun - feminine plural up וַיַּעֲל֥וּ H5927 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker onto עַל־ H5921 Preposition the land אֶ֥רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרָֽיִם׃ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 8

Original words

Pharaoh פַרְעֹ֜ה H6547 Noun - proper - masculine singular summoned וַיִּקְרָ֨א H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Moses לְמֹשֶׁ֣ה H4872 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and Aaron וּֽלְאַהֲרֹ֗ן H175 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and said וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Pray הַעְתִּ֣ירוּ H6279 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular to take וְיָסֵר֙ H5493 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular the frogs הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֔ים H6854 Article | Noun - feminine plural away from me מִמֶּ֖נִּי H4480 Preposition | first person common singular and my people וּמֵֽעַמִּ֑י H5971 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Then I will let your people הָעָ֔ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular go וַאֲשַׁלְּחָה֙ H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker that they may sacrifice וְיִזְבְּח֖וּ H2076 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural to the LORD לַיהוָֽה׃ H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

Moses מֹשֶׁ֣ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to Pharaoh לְפַרְעֹה֮ H6547 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular You may have the honor הִתְפָּאֵ֣ר H6286 Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine singular over me עָלַי֒ H5921 Preposition | first person common singular When לְמָתַ֣י׀ H4970 Preposition-l | Interrogative shall I pray אַעְתִּ֣יר H6279 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular for you לְךָ֗ Preposition | second person masculine singular and your officials וְלַעֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ H5650 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and your people וּֽלְעַמְּךָ֔ H5971 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular that the frogs הַֽצֲפַרְדְּעִ֔ים H6854 Article | Noun - feminine plural except for those תִּשָּׁאַֽרְנָה׃ H7604 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural . . . רַ֥ק H7535 Adverb in the Nile בַּיְאֹ֖ר H2975 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular may be taken away לְהַכְרִית֙ H3772 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct from מִמְּךָ֖ H4480 Preposition | second person masculine singular you and your houses וּמִבָּתֶּ֑יךָ H1004 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

Tomorrow לְמָחָ֑ר H4279 Preposition-l | Adverb [Pharaoh] answered וַיֹּ֖אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular [May it be] as you say כִּדְבָ֣רְךָ֔ H1697 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Moses replied וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular so that לְמַ֣עַן H4616 Conjunction you may know תֵּדַ֔ע H3045 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular that כִּי־ H3588 Conjunction there is no one אֵ֖ין H369 Adverb like the LORD כַּיהוָ֥ה H3068 Preposition-k | Noun - proper - masculine singular our God אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Verse 11

Original words

The frogs הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֗ים H6854 Article | Noun - feminine plural will depart וְסָר֣וּ H5493 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural from you מִמְּךָ֙ H4480 Preposition | second person masculine singular and your houses וּמִבָּ֣תֶּ֔יךָ H1004 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and your officials וּמֵעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ H5650 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and your people וּמֵעַמֶּ֑ךָ H5971 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular they will remain תִּשָּׁאַֽרְנָה׃ H7604 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural only רַ֥ק H7535 Adverb in the Nile בַּיְאֹ֖ר H2975 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 12

Original words

After Moses מֹשֶׁ֛ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Aaron וְאַהֲרֹ֖ן H175 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular had left וַיֵּצֵ֥א H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . מֵעִ֣ם H5973 Preposition-m Pharaoh פַּרְעֹ֑ה H6547 Noun - proper - masculine singular Moses מֹשֶׁה֙ H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular cried out to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular for help וַיִּצְעַ֤ק H6817 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular עַל־ עַל־ H5921 Preposition with דְּבַ֥ר H1697 Noun - masculine singular construct the frogs הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֖ים H6854 Article | Noun - feminine plural that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative He had brought שָׂ֥ם H7760 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular against Pharaoh לְפַרְעֹֽה׃ H6547 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 13

Original words

And the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular did וַיַּ֥עַשׂ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular as Moses מֹשֶׁ֑ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular requested כִּדְבַ֣ר H1697 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct and the frogs הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֔ים H6854 Article | Noun - feminine plural in מִן־ H4480 Preposition the houses הַבָּתִּ֥ים H1004 Article | Noun - masculine plural . . . מִן־ H4480 Preposition the courtyards הַחֲצֵרֹ֖ת H2691 Article | Noun - common plural . . . וּמִן־ H4480 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and the fields הַשָּׂדֹֽת׃ H7704 Article | Noun - masculine plural died וַיָּמֻ֙תוּ֙ H4191 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 14

Original words

They were piled וַיִּצְבְּר֥וּ H6651 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural . . . אֹתָ֖ם H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural into countless heaps חֳמָרִ֣ם H2563 Noun - masculine plural . . . חֳמָרִ֑ם H2563 Noun - masculine plural and there was a terrible stench וַתִּבְאַ֖שׁ H887 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular in the land הָאָֽרֶץ׃ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 15

Original words

When Pharaoh פַּרְעֹ֗ה H6547 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction saw that וַיַּ֣רְא H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular there was הָֽיְתָה֙ H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular relief, however הָֽרְוָחָ֔ה H7309 Article | Noun - feminine singular he hardened וְהַכְבֵּד֙ H3513 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker his heart לִבּ֔וֹ H3820 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular and would not וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle listen שָׁמַ֖ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to [Moses and Aaron] אֲלֵהֶ֑ם H413 Preposition | third person masculine plural just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ס H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular had said דִּבֶּ֥ר H1696 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or made heavy; also in verse 32

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.