Exodus 9:7

ESV And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

NIV Pharaoh investigated and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go.

NASB And Pharaoh sent men, and they learned that, behold, not even one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

CSB Pharaoh sent messengers who saw that not a single one of the Israelite livestock was dead. But Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he did not let the people go.

NLT Pharaoh sent his officials to investigate, and they discovered that the Israelites had not lost a single animal! But even so, Pharaoh’s heart remained stubborn, and he still refused to let the people go.

KJV And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

NKJV Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.

What does Exodus 9:7 mean?

The fifth plague (Exodus 9:1–5) was a clear supernatural sign. It came on rapidly, exactly as predicted, and affected only those animals owned by Egyptians. Since some Egyptian livestock are alive during future plagues (Exodus 9:9, 19–21), the comment that "all the livestock" of Egypt died is probably poetic. Similar Old Testament expressions imply vast numbers that aren't necessarily literal (Genesis 14:11; Exodus 8:17; 2 Samuel 3:36; 2 Chronicles 22:10–11). However, the description of the Hebrew animals is more focused: "not one" of them died (Exodus 9:6). This seems very literal and would have added to the supernatural character of the pestilence.

Pharaoh is apparently shocked at this turn of events. He "sends" someone to confirm that absolutely every Hebrew animal survived, while Egyptian flocks were virtually obliterated. It is true, proving that this is no coincidence or stroke of luck. Egyptian Idols such as Apis and Hathor cannot prevent this embarrassing display of God's power.

Despite this, Pharaoh is once again stubborn. He still refuses to obey the Lord's repeated commands (Exodus 5:1; 7:16; 8:1, 19–20, 32) to release the Hebrew slaves (Exodus 1:11–14). Pharaoh has been obstinate by his own choice so far (Exodus 5:2; 7:14, 22; 8:15, 19, 32). Here, again, he resists out of his existing hard-headed pride. In the next plague, the Lord will purposefully close off Pharaoh's mind (Exodus 9:12). When given another chance to choose, Egypt's king will remain in rebellion against God (Exodus 9:34–35). After this, God will offer no mercy (Exodus 4:21), instead using the disobedient king as an object lesson in judgment.

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