Exodus 8:18

ESV The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast.

NIV But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not. Since the gnats were on people and animals everywhere,

NASB The soothsayer priests tried with their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not; so there were gnats on every person and animal.

CSB The magicians tried to produce gnats using their occult practices, but they could not. The gnats remained on people and animals.

NLT Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered everyone, people and animals alike.

KJV And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.

NKJV Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast.

What does Exodus 8:18 mean?

Egyptian court magicians were able to duplicate prior miracles—or at least make it seem like they did (Exodus 7:11–12, 21–22; 8:7). During the last plague, it seems their success was limited (Exodus 8:8). Now, the sorcerers are at a loss. An all-pervading swarm of tiny insects has overtaken Egypt (Exodus 8:16–17). Whether the occultists' prior successes were tricks or supernatural acts by demons, they have no such luck now. They know, for certain, that this cannot be a trick. It cannot be done by the powers they have. This strikes against Egyptian belief in various insect- and marsh-related idols such as Wadjet.

The conjurers will interpret this situation correctly: they will attribute the plague to divine power (Exodus 8:19). They might not have fully understood the God of Israel, but they could recognize true supernatural power. Pharaoh, however, will continue to ignore these proofs. What should have been another sign that he should release the Israelites (Exodus 1:11–14; 5:1–4) becomes more evidence of his insincerity.

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