Exodus 9
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The Lord God of the Hebrews - It is very likely that the term Lord, יויה Yehovah, is used here to point out particularly his eternal power and Godhead; and that the term God, אלהי Elohey, is intended to be understood in the sense of Supporter, Defender, Protector, etc. Thus saith the self-existent, omnipotent, and eternal Being, the Supporter and Defender of the Hebrews, "Let my people go, that they may worship me."
Open source ↗MURRAIN OF BEASTS. (Exo 9:1-7) Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle--A fifth application was made to Pharaoh in behalf of the Israelites by Moses, who was instructed to tell him that, if he persisted in opposing their departure, a pestilence would be sent among all the flocks and herds of the Egyptians, while those of the Israelites would be spared. As he showed no intention of keeping his promise, he was still a mark for the arrows of the Almighty's quiver, and the threatened plague of which he was forewarned was executed. But it is observable that in this instance it was not inflicted through the instrumentality or waving of Aaron's rod, but directly by the hand of the Lord, and the fixing of the precise time tended still further to determine the true character of the calamity (Jer 12:4).
Open source ↗Then the Lord said unto Moses,.... The same day the plague of the flies was removed: go in unto Pharaoh boldly, without any fear of him or his court: and tell him, thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews: speak in the name of Jehovah, the God whom the Hebrews worship, and who owns them for his people, and has a special love for them, and takes a special care of them, and is not ashamed to be called their God, as poor and as oppressed as they be: let my people go, that they may serve me; this demand had been often made, and, though so reasonable, was refused.
Open source ↗The fifth plague consisted of a severe Murrain, which carried off the cattle (מקנה, the living property) of the Egyptians, that were in the field. To show how Pharaoh was accumulating guilt by his obstinate resistance, in the announcement of this plague the expression, "If thou refuse to let them go" (cf. Exo 8:2), is followed by the words, "and wilt hold them (the Israelites) still" (עוד still further, even after Jehovah has so emphatically declared His will).
Open source ↗Here is, I. Warning given of another plague, namely, the murrain of beasts. When Pharaoh's heart was hardened, after he had seemed to relent under the former plague, then Moses is sent to tell him there is another coming, to try what that would do towards reviving the impressions of the former plagues. Thus is the wrath of God revealed from heaven, both in his word and in his works, against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. 1. Moses puts Pharaoh in a very fair way to prevent it: Let my people go, Exo 9:1. This was still the demand. God will have Israel released; Pharaoh opposes it, and the trial is, whose word shall stand. See how jealous God is for his people. When the year of his redeemed has come, he will give Egypt for their ransom; that kingdom shall be ruined, rather than Israel shall not be delivered. See how reasonable God's demands are. Whatever he calls for, it is but his own: They are my people, therefore let them go. 2. He describes the plague that should come, if he refused, Exo 9:2, Exo 9:3. The hand of the Lord immediately, without the stretching out of Aaron's hand, is upon the cattle, many of which, some of all kinds, should die by a sort of pestilence. This was greatly to the loss of the owners: they had made Israel poor, and now God would make them poor. Note, The hand of God is to be acknowledged even in the sickness and death of cattle, or other damage sustained in them; for a sparrow falls not to the ground without our Father. 3. As an evidence of the special hand of God in it, and of his particular favour to his own people, he foretels that none of their cattle should die, though they breathed in the same air and drank of the same water with the Egyptians' cattle: The Lord shall sever, Exo 9:4. Note, When God's judgments are abroad, thou…
Open source ↗9:1-7 The fifth plague was against the livestock. As with the withholding of flies from the area where the Hebrews lived (8:22-23), the distinction between the livestock of the Israelites and that of the Egyptians (9:4) shows that a natural explanation of this event is insufficient, even if the previous plagues contributed. The Egyptians, like many in the ancient Near East, worshiped the ram, the goat, and the bull as representing power and fertility. These animals had no power before the Lord, in whom true power resides.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh, H6547) — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… עִבְרִי (ʻIbrîy, H5680) — an Eberite (i.e. Hebrew) or descendant of Eber עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) עָבַד (ʻâbad, H5647) — to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.
Open source ↗מָאֵן (mâʼên, H3986) — unwilling שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) חָזַק (châzaq, H2388) — to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively…
Open source ↗יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God הָיָה (hâyâh, H1961) — to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or… מִקְנֶה (miqneh, H4735) — something bought, i.e. property, but only livestock; abstractly, acquisition שָׂדֶה (sâdeh, H7704) — a field (as flat) סוּס (çûwç, H5483) — a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight) חֲמוֹר (chămôwr, H2543) — a male ass (from its dun red) גָּמָל (gâmâl, H1581) — a camel בָּקָר (bâqâr, H1241) — beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing);… צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men) מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,… כָּבֵד (kâbêd, H3515) — heavy; figuratively in a good sense (numerous) or in a bad sense (severe, difficult,… דֶּבֶר (deber, H1698) — a pestilence
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God פָּלָה (pâlâh, H6395) — to distinguish (literally or figuratively) מִקְנֶה (miqneh, H4735) — something bought, i.e. property, but only livestock; abstractly, acquisition יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative…
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… מוֹעֵד (môwʻêd, H4150) — properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival;… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מָחָר (mâchâr, H4279) — properly, deferred, i.e. the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely,… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause מׇחֳרָת (mochŏrâth, H4283) — the morrow or (adverbially) tomorrow מִקְנֶה (miqneh, H4735) — something bought, i.e. property, but only livestock; abstractly, acquisition מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Open source ↗פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh, H6547) — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first מִקְנֶה (miqneh, H4735) — something bought, i.e. property, but only livestock; abstractly, acquisition יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… כָּבַד (kâbad, H3513) — to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous,… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence…
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) חֹפֶן (chôphen, H2651) — a fist (only in the dual) מְלֹא (mᵉlôʼ, H4393) — fulness (literally or figuratively) פִּיחַ (pîyach, H6368) — a powder (as easily puffed away), i.e. ashes or dust כִּבְשָׁן (kibshân, H3536) — a smelting furnace (as reducing metals) זָרַק (zâraq, H2236) — to sprinkle (fluid or solid particles) שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh, H6547) — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings
Open source ↗אָבָק (ʼâbâq, H80) — light particles (as volatile) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt שְׁחִין (shᵉchîyn, H7822) — inflammation, i.e. an ulcer פָּרַח (pârach, H6524) — to break forth as a bud, i.e. bloom; generally, to spread; specifically, to fly (as… אֲבַעְבֻּעָה (ʼăbaʻbuʻâh, H76) — an inflammatory pustule (as eruption) אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) בְּהֵמָה (bᵉhêmâh, H929) — properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)
Open source ↗לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) פִּיחַ (pîyach, H6368) — a powder (as easily puffed away), i.e. ashes or dust כִּבְשָׁן (kibshân, H3536) — a smelting furnace (as reducing metals) עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh, H6547) — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver זָרַק (zâraq, H2236) — to sprinkle (fluid or solid particles) שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… שְׁחִין (shᵉchîyn, H7822) — inflammation, i.e. an ulcer פָּרַח (pârach, H6524) — to break forth as a bud, i.e. bloom; generally, to spread; specifically, to fly (as… אֲבַעְבֻּעָה (ʼăbaʻbuʻâh, H76) — an inflammatory pustule (as eruption) אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) בְּהֵמָה (bᵉhêmâh, H929) — properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)
Open source ↗חַרְטֹם (charṭôm, H2748) — a horoscopist (as drawing magical lines or circles) יָכֹל (yâkôl, H3201) — to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might) עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver שְׁחִין (shᵉchîyn, H7822) — inflammation, i.e. an ulcer מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God חָזַק (châzaq, H2388) — to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively… לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh, H6547) — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver שָׁכַם (shâkam, H7925) — literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e. to start early in the morning בֹּקֶר (bôqer, H1242) — properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning יָצַב (yâtsab, H3320) — to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… פַּרְעֹה (Parʻôh, H6547) — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… עִבְרִי (ʻIbrîy, H5680) — an Eberite (i.e. Hebrew) or descendant of Eber עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) עָבַד (ʻâbad, H5647) — to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.
Open source ↗פַּעַם (paʻam, H6471) — a stroke, literally or figuratively (in various applications, as follow) שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) מַגֵּפָה (maggêphâh, H4046) — a pestilence; by analogy, defeat לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, and when Pharaoh goes out to the water, stand before him and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.
The elders of Israel will listen to what you say, and you must go with them to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’
After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”