Exodus 8:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants."’"

NIV: The frogs will come up on you and your people and all your officials.’ "

NASB: So the frogs will come up on you, your people, and on all your servants.'?’?'

CSB: The frogs will come up on you, your people, and all your officials."

NLT: Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all your officials.’'

KJV: And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.

NKJV: And the frogs shall come up on you, on your people, and on all your servants.” ’ ”

The Lord's first demand to Pharaoh was a simple statement: release the Israelite slaves (Exodus 5:1–4). Next came a harmless but miraculous sign (Exodus 7:10–13). This was followed by the horrific transformation of the Nile River into a mass of rotting blood and dead fish (Exodus 7:20–22). None of these, it seems, had a direct personal impact on the Pharaoh. Now, the Lord promises that this new plague will touch Pharaoh's home and life directly. The servants who would normally tend to his every need have already been distracted (Exodus 7:24). The new plague will directly interfere in their duties (Exodus 8:3).

Frogs (Exodus 8:1–2) were tied to the goddess Heqet, an Egyptian idol of fertility. The Lord's perfect control over the timing of these creatures is intended to prove that only God, not idols, have power (Exodus 8:10).

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.

Accessed 6/17/2025 2:49:14 AM