Exodus 8:17

ESV And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt.

NIV They did this, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats came on people and animals. All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats.

NASB They did so; and Aaron extended his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on every person and animal. All the dust of the earth turned into gnats through all the land of Egypt.

CSB And they did this. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and when he struck the dust of the land, gnats were on people and animals. All the dust of the land became gnats throughout the land of Egypt.

NLT So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. When Aaron raised his hand and struck the ground with his staff, gnats infested the entire land, covering the Egyptians and their animals. All the dust in the land of Egypt turned into gnats.

KJV And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

NKJV And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

What does Exodus 8:17 mean?

This plague took place when Aaron followed God's command to take his staff and touch it to the ground (Exodus 8:16). The insects involved are hard to identify. Languages—especially ancient ones—don't always use the same categories for naming animals. The word kinnim' is from a root implying "fastening," so these may have been biting insects such as lice, fleas, or mosquitoes. Biting insects are notorious for spreading disease, so these may have been part of a mechanism the Lord used to send the fifth plague of diseased livestock (Exodus 9:3). Or He may have inflicted the livestock directly.

In any case, the infestation is so massive that it seems like the very dust of Egypt's desert climate has turned into bugs. Pharaoh should have recognized this as a warning from God, as his court magicians will. Instead, the Pharaoh will continue to resist (Exodus 8:18–19)

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