Exodus 8:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The frogs shall go away from you and your houses and your servants and your people. They shall be left only in the Nile."

NIV: The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials and your people; they will remain only in the Nile."

NASB: The frogs will depart from you and your houses, and from your servants and your people; they will be left only in the Nile.'

CSB: the frogs will go away from you, your houses, your officials, and your people. The frogs will remain only in the Nile."

NLT: The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials, and your people. They will remain only in the Nile River.'

KJV: And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.

NKJV: And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.”

Moses has agreed to advocate for the end of the plague of frogs (Exodus 8:5–6) now that Pharaoh has claimed he will release the Israelite slaves (Exodus 8:8). Pharaoh was told to select when the disaster would end, so that there would be no doubt that it was done by the power of God (Exodus 8:9–10).

As with many of the plagues, this incident emphasizes the power of the Lord above that of imaginary deities and human kings. Despite Pharaoh's power and spite (Exodus 5:6–9), he can only give orders from one human to other humans. His magicians have some ability (Exodus 7:10–12, 22–23), but not enough to stop the current trouble. Egyptian religion includes deities like Heqet, the frog goddess, but she is ineffective. The same was true of Hapi and Khnum, idols connected to the Nile River (Exodus 7:19–20).

Pharaoh is used as an example of a lesson he himself will never really learn. Only the most extreme pressure (Exodus 3:19–20) will lead him to release the slaves (Exodus 8:15). Even that will be temporary (Exodus 14:5–9), resulting in brutal defeat and death (Exodus 14:27–29). Stubbornness against God never leads to positive ends. Sooner or later, there comes a point of no return followed by disaster (Proverbs 29:1).

Exodus 8:1–15 describes the second plague: frogs. The rotting Nile (Exodus 7:20–23) spits out a wave of frogs into Egyptian streets and homes. Pharaoh's conjurers can also summon frogs—but they can't remove them. So, Pharoh turns to Moses. They schedule a specific moment to lift the plague. This explicit timing made it clear that Israel's God, not the Egyptian frog goddess Heqet, was in control. As soon as the pressure of the plague is off, Pharoah changes his mind about releasing the Israelites.

After Pharaoh ignores the first plague (Exodus 7:20–23), God sends a swarm of frogs. Pharaoh's magicians can summon frogs, but they can't get rid of them. So, he appeals to Moses. Though the plague is lifted, Pharaoh re-jects the command to release Israelite slaves. This leads to a plague of gnats and then one of flies, with similar results. The arrival of these creatures might have been caused by the corruption of the Nile River, but only God's supernatural work could make them disappear. Future plagues will be increasingly severe (Exodus 9:6, 10, 22; 10:4, 22; 12:29–32).

Moses and Aaron offered a sign to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:10–13), but he still refused to release the Hebrew slaves (Ex-odus 1:11–14). This triggered the first of the ten plagues of Egypt: turning water into blood (Exodus 7:20–21). This chapter includes the next three disasters: frogs, gnats, and flies. Pharaoh stubbornly refuses to concede each time. Upcoming plagues will escalate (Exodus 9:6, 10, 22, 10:4, 22), leading to the death of Egypt's firstborn (Exodus 12:29–32) and Israel's release (Exodus 12:41).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.