Exodus 9:8

ESV And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw them in the air in the sight of Pharaoh.

NIV Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh.

NASB Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 'Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from a kiln, and Moses shall toss it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.

CSB Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of furnace soot, and Moses is to throw it toward heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

NLT Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 'Take handfuls of soot from a brick kiln, and have Moses toss it into the air while Pharaoh watches.

KJV And the Lord said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

NKJV So the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh.

What does Exodus 9:8 mean?

This begins to describe the sixth plague (Exodus 9:9–12). Like the third plague (Exodus 8:16), this one is unannounced. However, it is done in Pharaoh's presence so there is no doubt about its cause. The word for what Moses throws into the air is piyach, used only in this passage in Scripture. These are either the fine ashes from a furnace or a collection of the sooty residue left in its chimney. The result will be an outbreak of skin inflammations, diseases, and other conditions (Exodus 9:9).

As with other disasters, this one is filled with symbolism. Kilns were used to bake bricks: the main task of Israel as slaves in Egypt (Exodus 1:11–14; 5:14). God's control over the Nile and animal life proved His superiority to Egyptian deities such as Khnum, Hapi, and Heqet. Plagues on livestock countered trust in idols like Hathor and Apis (Exodus 9:1–7). Rampant disease would counter the supposed powers of Isis and Sekhmet, both associated with health or disease. Soot falling to create a plague suggests an affliction coming from the heavens above.

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