1And the LORD said unto Moses,
See, I have made you a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.
2You shall speak all that I command you: and Aaron your brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.
3And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
4But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth my armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
5And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth my hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.
6And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.
7And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spoke unto Pharaoh.
8And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
9When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for proof: then you shall say unto Aaron, Take your rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
10And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
11Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
12For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
13And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
14And the LORD said unto Moses,
Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuses to let the people go.
15Get you unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goes out unto the water; and you shall stand by the river's bank until he comes; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shall you take in your hand.
16And you shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews has sent me unto you, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, before you would not hear.
17Thus says the LORD, In this you shall know
that I am the LORD: behold, I will strike with the rod that is in my hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
18And the fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river.
19And the LORD spoke unto Moses,
Say unto Aaron, Take your rod, and stretch out your hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.
20And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
21And the fish that were in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
22And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.
23And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he lay to heart this also.
24And all the Egyptians dug round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
25And seven days were fulfilled, after the LORD had smitten the river.
Commentaries for Exodus 7:0