Exodus 7:22

ESV But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts. So Pharaoh 's heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

NIV But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh’s heart became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said.

NASB But the soothsayer priests of Egypt did the same with their secret arts; and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.

CSB But the magicians of Egypt did the same thing by their occult practices. So Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

NLT But again the magicians of Egypt used their magic, and they, too, turned water into blood. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.

KJV And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the Lord had said.

NKJV Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said.

What does Exodus 7:22 mean?

This is one of three instances where Egypt's occultists seem to duplicate a miraculous sign (Exodus 7:11–12; 8:7). God has turned the waters of Egypt—including the river, ponds, and containers—into blood (Exodus 7:19–20). Pharaoh's men do something which convinces their king that this plague is not from God. Pharaoh's reaction is expected (Exodus 3:19–20; 7:4).

Commentators debate whether the Egyptian conjurers performed a supernatural act. The other possibility is that their results were stage magic and sleight of hand. A strong point in favor of trickery is their response when the plagues become impossible to duplicate: they admit that what is happening is divine (Exodus 8:19). They can no longer dismiss these events as illusions. The other possibility is that the magicians are working supernatural acts through evil spirits. Either way, their main intent is to deceive (Mark 13:22) and deflect truth.

One of Egypt's false deities was Hapi, who was connected to the Nile and its annual flooding. Another Egyptian god of the Nile was Khnum. This plague proves both are powerless against the Lord God of Israel. Later plagues will target other aspects of nature associated with Egyptian idols.

Expand

What is the Gospel?

Download the app: