Exodus 9:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt."

NIV: It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on people and animals throughout the land."

NASB: Then it will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and will turn into boils breaking out with sores on every person and animal through all the land of Egypt.'

CSB: It will become fine dust over the entire land of Egypt. It will become festering boils on people and animals throughout the land of Egypt."

NLT: The ashes will spread like fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, causing festering boils to break out on people and animals throughout the land.'

KJV: And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.

NKJV: And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.”

Moses was instructed to throw handfuls of soot or ashes into the air in front of Pharaoh (Exodus 9:8). As the ashes dissipated, they would become a fine dust bringing "boils" and "sores" on men and animals alike. This sixth plague (Exodus 3:20) would involve debilitating, painful skin conditions. Such problems are noted in the lives of men like Job (Job 2:7–8) and Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:21).

The exact nature of these boils is uncertain. Several possibilities have been suggested. On one hand, the Egyptians recently experienced a wave of infesting insects (Exodus 8:17, 24). These can bring disease, including bacteria that cause painful ulcers on the skin. In that case, it would mean God using that mechanism to further punish Pharaoh and the Egyptian slaveholders. On the other hand, the effects seem to happen so rapidly that the men standing in front of Moses are rendered unable to stand (Exodus 9:11). In either case, there is no question that God is the cause of the disaster. Where Egyptian idols such as Sekhmet and Isis were expected to prevent such things, they will fail.

This passage does not explicitly say that the lands and people of Israel would be spared (Exodus 9:4, 26; 10:23). Given the context, however, it seems likely that the Hebrews were not subjected to these boils and sores. God will later include similar troubles as part of Israel's promised punishment for breaking their covenant with the Lord (Deuteronomy 28:27, 35).

Exodus 9:8–12 records the sixth plague (Exodus 3:20), involving skin lesions and sores. Up until now, Pharaoh has been deliberately obstinate and hard-headed (Exodus 5:2; 7:13–14, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7). He has ignored every command from God and each sign of divine power. In this passage, Pharaoh nears a point of no return (Proverbs 29:1). As promised (Exodus 4:21), the Lord makes an example of Egypt's ruler by making the Egyptian king even more headstrong. This will lead to an exceptional display of divine power: an epic hailstorm.

After four devastating plagues, Pharaoh continues to resist God's command to free the Hebrew slaves. Through Moses, the Lord sends two more: death of Egyptian livestock and an epidemic of skin lesions. Pharoah refuses to respond to the first, and God makes him stubborn after the second. This leads to the most terrifying sign yet: the seventh plague of hail and fire. Pharoah claims to repent. Yet as soon as the hail stops, he again chooses obstinance. After this, the Lord will use Pharaoh as a tool to demonstrate divine judgment.

Moses and Aaron brought the Lord's command that Pharaoh should release Hebrew slaves (Exodus 5:1–4). Over and over, Egypt's king was obstinate. This resulted in divine plagues meant to demonstrate God's power and authority (Exodus 7:20; 8:6, 17, 24). In this chapter, God sends three more disasters: a plague on livestock, an epidemic of skin sores, and an obliterating storm of hail and lightning. Pharaoh will once again choose stubbornness, passing a point of no return (Proverbs 29:1). For the remaining plagues (Exodus 10—12) and after (Exodus 14:4), Pharaoh will be a living example of the Lord's divine judgment (Exodus 4:21).

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.