Preface: Exodus 9 covers plagues 7–9: A disease for livestock, boils erupting on all living creatures; and a great hail. It should not be a great surprise that Pharaoh first begged for relief, but then reneged on whatever he promised.

The Bible Summary of Exodus 9 (in 140 characters or less): The LORD sent a plague on the livestock of Egypt, then boils and then hail. Pharaoh begged for relief but then his heart was hardened.

There are many chapter commentaries on the book of Exodus. This will be the most extensive examination of Exodus 9, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text. Every attempt has been made to make this both a complete and self-contained study. Therefore, all references, vocabulary, and related concepts should be found within this extensive study. Easy access links to more in-depth studies of some vocabulary words, concepts and doctrines are also provided.

Outline of Chapter 9:

Introduction

         vv.     1–7           The Fifth Plague: Disease Promised on the Livestock

         vv.     8–12         The Sixth Plague: Boils Erupt on All Living Creatures

         vv.    13–35         The Seventh Plague: Hail

         vv.       13–19         The Warning

         vv.       20–21         Egyptian Response

         vv.       22–26         The Great Hail

         vv.       27–33         Pharaoh Relents

         vv.       34–35         Pharaoh’s Heart is Strengthened Against God

Chapter Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Quotations

         Introduction         Titles and/or Brief Descriptions of Exodus 9 (by various commentators)

         Introduction         Brief, but insightful observations of Exodus 9 (various commentators)

         Introduction         Fundamental Questions About Exodus 9

         Introduction         The Prequel of Exodus 9

         Introduction         The Principals of Exodus 9

         Introduction         The Places of Exodus 9

         Introduction         By the Numbers

         Introduction         Timeline for Exodus 9

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Exodus 9

         Introduction         Outlines of Exodus 9 (Various Commentators)

         Introduction         Synopsis of Exodus 9 from the Summarized Bible

         Introduction         The Big Picture (Exodus 7–10)

         Introduction         Paragraph Divisions of Modern Translation for Exodus 9

         Introduction         Changes—additions and subtractions (for Exodus 9)

         v.       3              Algerian Livestock, Dead from Plague (a photograph)

         v.       6              A Brief Review of Exodus 9:1–5

         v.       6              The Fifth Plague of Egypt (The Livestock Diseased) (a painting)

         v.       6              Hathor — Egyptian Goddess of Love and Protection (a graphic)

         v.       8              Filling in the Blanks for Exodus 9:8–12

         v.      10              Moses Throws Ashes into the Air {a graphic)

         v.      10              A brief review of Exodus 9:8–10

         v.      13              Exodus 9:11–13b—A Play on Words

         v.      15              Nut — Egyptian Goddess of the Sky (a graphic)

         v.      16              An expository examination of Romans 9:10b–17

         v.      16              A Brief Review of Exodus 9:13–16

         v.      19              A review of Exodus 9:13–19

         v.      21              A Brief Review of Exodus 9:20–21a

         v.      21              Would you believe if you saw a miracle from God?

         v.      22              The interim between v. 22 and v. 23

         v.      24              Texas-sized hail (photos)

         v.      25              Moses and the Great Storm over Egypt (a graphic)

         v.      27              A Brief Review of Exodus 9:25–27

         v.      29              Seth — Egyptian God of Storms and Disorder (a graphic)

         v.      29              The plague of hail and fire (The Phillip Medhurst Picture Torah 337)

         v.      35              The Heart

         v.      35              Pharaoh’s Heart Through the Plagues (a graphic)

         v.      35              A Brief Review of Exodus 9:33–35a

         v.      35              Doctrine of Scar Tissue and Blackout of the Soul

         v.      35              The Vocabulary for Scar Tissue of the Heart

         Summary            A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary

         Summary            Why Exodus 9 is in the Word of God

         Summary            What We Learn from Exodus 9

         Summary            Jesus Christ in Exodus 9

         Summary            A Review of Exodus 9

         Summary            Plague of Diseased Livestock - Patagonia (a graphic)

         Summary            The Plague of Boils (a graphic)

         Summary            The Seventh Plague—A Hailstorm (a graphic)

         Summary            An Example of How the Plagues Overlap

         Summary            Shmoop Summary of Exodus 9

         Summary            Edersheim Summarizes Exodus 9

         Addendum          Josephus’ History of this Time Period

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Exodus 9

         Addendum          Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Exodus 9

         Addendum          Word Cloud from a Reasonably Literal Paraphrase of Exodus 9

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Exodus 9

——————————

An Introduction to Exodus 9

I ntroduction: Exodus 9 continues the plagues brought upon Egypt by God. Herein we have the plague of the livestock, of the boils and of the hail. We have just completed Exodus 8. Up to this point, there have been 4 plagues/judgments: (1) blood in the waters of Egypt; (2) an invasion of frogs; (3) lice/gnats everywhere; and (4) a massive number of flies. Interestingly enough, the 4^th plague only affected the Egyptians and not the Israelites. These plagues would seemingly break down the strength and resolve of Pharaoh, to a point where he would make promises to let Moses and his people go. However, once the blight had been lifted, Pharaoh’s heart would strengthen and his resolve against the God of Israel would be restored. If anything, it appears that Pharaoh’s anti-God resolve became stronger with every judgment.

The Fifth Plague: Livestock Diseased

In chapter 9, there will be 3 more plagues, just as there were in Exodus 8—plagues (or judgments) #5–7. We will study the plague/judgment of a disease among the livestock, of boils on the skin, and of hail. The first two judgments will be covered briefly (12 verses total are allowed for both plagues); and much more time will be given to the 7^th judgment (23 verses). Like all of the judgments, these 3 judgments will be universally felt in Egypt. Like the 4^th plague, the people of Israel will be isolated from them (as we read so many times in Scripture, God makes a separation...).

This isolation from these plagues means that, any Egyptian at any time could have come into Goshen (where Israel resided) and asked for shelter from the judgments of the God of Israel. There is nothing which would have stopped an Egyptian from doing that. However, if any did, we are unaware of them. These plagues are not upon Pharaoh alone.

The 4^th plague was the plague of flies. Pharaoh refused to let God’s people go, and God brought flies to Egypt, and they were everywhere—there was no escaping these flies. Pharaoh told Moses that he would let the people go to worship God (although he put some unauthorized restrictions on them). Moses went to God, God removed the flies; but Pharaoh turned negative once again, refusing to allow the people of God the chance to worship their God.

There are two basic options in the actual events: (1) Moses returned once the flies had gone, and Pharaoh said, “Sorry, no one is going anywhere;” at which point, Moses and Aaron return to speak to God. Or, option (2) where Moses speaks to God before the flies are removed. God tells Moses that He will remove the flies; after which, God also says, “But Pharaoh will not let My people go; therefore, when you go to speak with him and if he refuses to let My people go, then you tell him about the 5^th plague.” I lean toward the second scenario, although it really does not matter, in the grand scheme of things, which specific series of events is correct.

In the latter approach, Moses is speaking to God while there are flies throughout Egypt, and God tells Moses that Pharaoh will sound agreeable until the flies are removed, but that he will go back on his promises. At that time, Moses would bring the 5^th judgment upon Egypt.

Whereas, I believe that these plagues may have had some overlap as I have suggested above. By overlap, I mean that God may have discussed 2 plagues at the same meeting with Moses (I do not mean that two plagues are happening at the same time). So, Moses would go to God and say, “I told Pharaoh I would petition You to remove the 4^th judgment.” God might then say, “I will do as you have promised Pharaoh, but he will renege on what he promised. Therefore, I have a 5^th judgment locked and loaded; it is ready to go. So, when he tells you My people may not come out to worship Me, you warn him about the 5^th plague.”

In the way that they are presented in the book of Exodus, there appears to be no overlap. Each plague is recounted as if it is disjoint from the other plagues.

Let me try to explain this in a different way. I have, at one time in my life, had a 10 course meal. My guess is, you probably have not. But, every 5 minutes or so, a waiter will pick up the dishes from the previous course and then bring out each new individual course. Let’s say you wanted to bore your friends, and you tell them about each individual course. You would recount them as 10 separate events. However, it may have been that you had not completed the 4^th course, so you kept it back and ate it along with the 5^th course when that was served. But when recounting this event, you probably treated every course as a separate event.

The actual plagues of God do not overlap in the sense of, there are two plagues happening at once. But, when Moses goes back to God to ask for God to remove a plague, God very likely at that time says, “I will remove this judgment, but Pharaoh will strengthen his heart; and so, you will then speak to him about the next judgment.”

Timeline for Exodus 9

——————————

The Fifth Plague: Disease Promised on the Livestock

Let’s begin the 5^th judgment:

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:                       Note: I compare the Hebrew text to English translations of the Latin, Syriac (= Aramaic) and Greek texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation; George Lamsa’s translation, and Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton’s translation as revised and edited by Paul W. Esposito, respectively. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.). I often use the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible instead of Brenton’s translation, because it updates the English text.

The Septuagint was the earliest known translation of a book (circa 200 b.c.). Since this translation was made before the textual criticism had been developed into a science and because different books appear to be translated by different men, the Greek translation can sometimes be very uneven.

When there are serious disparities between my translation and Brenton’s (or the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible), I look at the Greek text of the Septuagint (the LXX) to see if a substantive difference actually exists (and I reflect these changes in the English rendering of the Greek text). I use the Greek LXX with Strong’s numbers and morphology available for e-sword. The only problem with this resource (which is a problem for similar resources) is, there is no way to further explore Greek verbs which are not found in the New Testament. Although I usually quote the Complete Apostles’ Bible here, I have begun to make changes in the translation when their translation conflicts with the Greek and note what those changes are.

The Masoretic text is the Hebrew text with all of the vowels (vowel points) inserted (the original Hebrew text lacked vowels). We take the Masoretic text to be the text closest to the original. However, differences between the Masoretic text and the Greek, Latin and Syriac are worth noting and, once in a great while, represent a more accurate text possessed by those other ancient translators.

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

The comparisons which I do are primarily between the English translations which are taken from the ancient tongues. For the most part, the variances are so minor that I rarely investigate them any further than that.

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Bracketed portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls are words, letters and phrases lost in the scroll due to various types of damage. Underlined words or phrases are those in the Dead Sea Scrolls but not in the Masoretic text.

I will only list the translation from the Dead Sea Scrolls if it exists and if it is different from the Masoretic text.

The Targum of Onkelos is actually the Pentateuchal Targumim, which are The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel. On the Pentateuch With The Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum From the Chaldee by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. From http://www.becomingjewish.org/texts/targum/onkelos_Exodus.html and first published in 1862.

Occasionally, there is an obvious error in the English translation, and I correct those without additional mention or footnoting. For instance, the online version of the Targum of Onkelos which I use has gorund in Ex. 4:9; I simply corrected the text. This may occur once or twice in a chapter.

I attempt to include translations which are different in their vocabulary and phrasing. On many occasions, I may include a translation which is not substantially different than another listed translation.

Most of the translations can be found here.

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And so says Y^ehowah unto Moses, “Go unto Pharaoh and you have said unto him, ‘Thus has said Y^ehowah, Elohim of the Hebrews: send away My people and they will serve Me.

Dead Sea Scrolls                   . Translation for Onkelos and Pseudo-Jonathan by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. (1862).

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   And the Lord said to Mosheh, Go in to Pharoh, and say to him, Thus saith the Lord, the God of the Jehudaee, Emancipate My people, that they may worship before Me.

Revised Douay-Rheims         And the Lord said to Moses: Go in to Pharao, and speak to him: Thus said the Lord God of the Hebrews: Let my people go to sacrifice to me.

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        Then Mar-Yah said to Mosha, "Go in to Pharaoh, and tell him, 'This is what Mar-Yah, God of the Hebrews, says: "Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Peshitta (Syriac)                    THEN the LORD said to Moses, Go to Pharaoh and say to him, Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go that they may serve me.

V. Alexander’s Aramaic T.     .

Updated Brenton (Greek)       And the Lord said to Moses, Go in to Pharaoh, and you shall say to him, Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             Then the Lord said to Moses, Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go so that they may give me worship.

Easy English                          The animals become ill and die

Then the Lord said to Moses: ‘Go to Pharaoh and say to him: “The Lord, the God of the Israelites says: ‘Let my people go. Let them worship me.

Good News Bible (TEV)         Death of the Animals

The Lord said to Moses, “Go to the king and tell him that the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says, ‘Let my people go, so that they may worship me.

The Message                         Strike Five: Animals

God said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘God, the God of the Hebrews, says: Release my people so they can worship me.

Names of God Bible               The Fifth Plague—Death of Livestock

Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what Yahweh Elohim of the Hebrews says: Let my people go to worship me.

NIRV                                      The Plague on Livestock

Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, “Go to Pharaoh. Tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says, “Let my people go. Then they will be able to worship me.

Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

Common English Bible           .

Contemporary English V.       The LORD sent Moses with this message for the king of Egypt: The LORD God of the Hebrews commands you to let his people go, so they can worship him.

The Living Bible                     “Go back to Pharaoh,” the Lord commanded Moses, “and tell him, ‘Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, demands that you let his people go to sacrifice to him.

New Berkeley Version           .

New Life Version                    Animals Owned by Egyptians Die

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says this: “Let My people go, so they may worship Me.

New Living Translation           A Plague against Livestock

“Go back to Pharaoh,” the Lord commanded Moses. “Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me.

Unlocked Dynamic Bible        Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Go to the king and say to him, ’This is what Yahweh, the one we Hebrews worship, says: “Allow my people to go, in order that they may worship me.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          So the Lord told Moses:

‘Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what Jehovah the God of the Hebrews has said: Send My people away so they can serve Me!

Beck’s American Translation .

International Standard V        The Plague on the Egyptian Cattle

Then the LORD told Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD God of the Hebrews says: “Let my people go so they may serve [Or worship] me.

New Advent (Knox) Bible       Then the Lord bade Moses present himself before Pharao with this message from the Lord, the God of the Hebrews; Give my people leave to go and offer me sacrifice.

Translation for Translators     Yahweh sent a terrible disease to afflict the Egyptians' livestock

Then Yahweh said to Moses/me, “Go to the king and say to him, ‘This is what Yahweh, the one we Hebrews worship, says: “Allow my people to go, in order that they may worship me.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Awful Scroll Bible                   Jehovah was to say to Moses: Be going in to Pharaoh, even is you to have warned him, Jehovah, he of mighty ones of the Hebrews, is to have said: You was to let loose my people, that they were to serve me.

Ferrar-Fenton Bible                Consequently, the Ever-living said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus says the Ever-living God of the Hebrews, —Let My people go and serve Me.

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           And the Lord said unto Moses: go unto Pharao and tell him, thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: send out my people that they may serve me.

HCSB                                     The Fifth Plague: Death of Livestock

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him: This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

Lexham English Bible            Plague Five: Livestock Death

And Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, "Release my people so that they may serve me.".

NIV, ©2011                             The plague on livestock

Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh and say to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, so that they may worship me.”

Tree of Life Version                Livestock, Boils, Hail

Then Adonai said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, and tell him: This is what Adonai, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so they may serve Me.’ .

Urim-Thummim Version         Then YHWH spoke to Moses, Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, This is what YHWH Elohim of the Hebrews declares, Let My people go that they may serve Me.

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  The fifth plague: death of Egyptian livestock

Yahweh said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is the message of Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews: Let my people go and offer sacrifices to me.

The Heritage Bible                 And Jehovah said to Moses, Go in to Pharaoh, and speak to him, Thus says Jehovah God of the Hebrews, Send my people out, that they may serve me,...

New American Bible (2011)   Fifth Plague:The Pestilence.

Then the LORD said to Moses: Go to Pharaoh and tell him: Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews: Let my people go to serve me.

New Jerusalem Bible             Yahweh then said to Moses, 'Go to Pharaoh and say to him, "Yahweh, God of the Hebrews, says this: Let my people go and worship me.

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           Then Adonai said to Moshe, “Go to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘Here is what Adonai, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, so that they can worship me.

The Complete Tanach           The Lord said to Moses, "Come to Pharaoh and speak to him, 'So said the Lord, God of the Hebrews, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

exeGeses companion Bible   And Yah Veh says to Mosheh,

Go in to Paroh and word to him,

Thus says Yah Veh Elohim of the Hebrews:

Send my people away to serve me:...

Judaica Press Complete T.    .

Kaplan Translation                 Epidemic: The Fifth Plague

God told Moses to go to Pharaoh, and in the name of God, Lord of the Hebrews, say to him, 'Let My people leave and serve Me. The Kaplan Translation, particularly in Exodus through Deuteronomy, takes note of historic rabbinic opinions.

in the name of...

Literally, 'and say to him, 'this is what God....' '

Orthodox Jewish Bible           Then Hashem said unto Moshe, Go in unto Pharaoh, tell him, Thus saith Hashem Elohei HaIvrim, Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

The Scriptures 1998              And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Go in to Pharaoh and speak to him, ‘Thus said יהוה Elohim of the Heb?rews, “Let My people go, so that they serve Me.

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                Egyptian Livestock Die

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.

The Expanded Bible              The Disease on the Farm Animals

Then the Lord told Moses, “Go to ·the king of Egypt [^L Pharaoh] and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go to ·worship [serve] me.

The Geneva Bible                  .

Kretzmann’s Commentary    Verses 1-7

The Plague of the Pestilence of Beasts

Then the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let My people go that they may serve Me. This was now the standing formula of demand.

NET Bible®                             The Fifth Blow: Disease

¹Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Release my people that they may serve me!. After trying many different approaches, I found it best to list NET Bible® footnotes directly below, as they do online. Occasionally, some footnotes will quoted elsewhere in this document.

^1sn This plague demonstrates that Yahweh has power over the livestock of Egypt. He is able to strike the animals with disease and death, thus delivering a blow to the economic as well as the religious life of the land. By the former plagues many of the Egyptian religious ceremonies would have been interrupted and objects of veneration defiled or destroyed. Now some of the important deities will be attacked. In Goshen, where the cattle are merely cattle, no disease hits, but in the rest of Egypt it is a different matter. Osiris, the savior, cannot even save the brute in which his own soul is supposed to reside. Apis and Mnevis, the ram of Ammon, the sheep of Sais, and the goat of Mendes, perish together. Hence, Moses reminds Israel afterward, “On their gods also Yahweh executed judgments” (Num 33:4). When Jethro heard of all these events, he said, “Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all the gods” (Exod 18:11).

The Voice                               Eternal One (to Moses): Once again, go visit Pharaoh and give him My message: “The Eternal, God of the Hebrew people, says to you, ‘Release My people, so that they can serve Me.

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

Brenner’s Mechanical Trans....and "YHWH ^{He Is}" said to "Mosheh ^{Plucked out}", come to "Paroh ^{Great house}" and you will speak to him in this way, "YHWH ^{He Is}" the "Elohiym ^Powers" of the ones of "Ever ^{Other side}" said, send my people and they will serve me,...

Concordant Literal Version    Then Yahweh said to Moses: Enter to Pharaoh, and speak to him, Thus says Yahweh, Elohim of the Hebrews: Dismiss My people that they may serve Me.

English Standard Version      The Fifth Plague: Egyptian Livestock Die

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Green’s Literal Translation    And Jehovah said to Moses, Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, So says Jehovah the God of the Hebrews, Send away My people that they may serve Me.

Modern English Version         The Fifth Plague: Livestock Die

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, and speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews: Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.

NASB                                     Egyptian Cattle Die

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

New European Version          The Plague on the Livestock

Then Yahweh said to Moses, Go in to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

New King James Version       The Fifth Plague: Livestock Diseased

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

Young's Updated LT              .

The gist of this passage:     God is speaking to Moses, and he is to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let God’s people go. This will begin the fifth plague.

Translation: Y^ehowah said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and you will say to him,...

God has removed the 4^th plague, the curse of flies. Pharaoh had agreed to let the people go, but he has reneged on that agreement. God may be speaking to Moses before the removal of the flies at this point. My point being, Moses does not necessarily listen to Pharaoh renege on a promise, throw his hands up in the air, go back to Goshen, go back to the tent of meeting (not the Tent of Meeting), tell God, and God sends him back with the next plague ready to go.

Like the other plagues, not everything is going to be recounted. God would speak to Moses; Moses, at least at the beginning, would repeat these things to Aaron (who is probably there). Then Aaron and Moses would go to Pharaoh and these words of God would be repeated. Then Pharaoh would refuse and the warning of the plague would become a reality. However, in most cases, portions of the narrative would be left out—usually what was said to Pharaoh was not repeated.

Just as Moses no longer tells Aaron what to speak; God no longer tells Moses what to tell Aaron to say. This was God's preferred plan and it looks as though Moses is finally coming along. He is seeing some results of God's great power–he is seeing that God knows exactly how Pharaoh is going to react, and he is beginning to feel comfortable in his role. No longer is he concerned about his ability or lack of ability when it comes to public speaking. This is not an issue to Moses. What God tells him to do and what God does—these are the true issues in his life. When it comes to things spiritual, we do not need to dwell upon our weaknesses or upon our strengths. Even people with very low I.Q.'s can teach God's Word, can evangelize, can give, can visit the sick, can give words of comfort and encouragement. When it comes to our secular place in life, certainly we have to be cognizant of our abilities and our short comings. However, when it comes to our spiritual service, how we feel about ourselves is not an issue. How God feels about us and what God has in store for us—that is the issue. Moses is no longer trapped by his lack of speaking ability, as he said (he was a fantastic public speaker).

Now God's plan for his life and move at full speed. This does not eliminnate Aaron from God's plan; it allows Aaron the opportunity to delve into what God had planned specifically for him.

Translation:...‘Thus has spoken Y^ehowah, Elohim of the Hebrews:...

God often acts through intermediaries. God did not go to Pharaoh directly, in a dream, and warn him. God used Moses (and Aaron) to relay the warnings of these plagues.

This is a quote within a quote within a quote.

Moses goes to Pharaoh and speaks on behalf of God. God calls for His people to be allowed to leave and serve Him.

Now, actually, at this point in the narrative, God is speaking to Moses; but, as far as we are concerned, that is equivalent to Moses speaking directly to Pharaoh. When God told Moses to do something, Moses did it.

Translation: ...send My people out so that they [may] serve Me.

What God demands of Pharaoh is the same thing, “Send My people out of Egypt so that they may serve Me.”

Exodus 9:1 Y^ehowah said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and you will say to him, ‘Thus has spoken Y^ehowah, Elohim of the Hebrews: send My people out so that they [may] serve Me. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

God sends Moses back to Pharaoh, and that famous line is repeated: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.”

Just as we have studied in previous judgments, there are many repetitive details which are left out. At this point in the narrative, God is speaking to Moses and telling him exactly what to say to Pharaoh. This plague narrative will not tell us about Moses going to see Pharaoh—how he finds him or where he finds him, or any of those details. Nor will we have these words from vv. 1–4 repeated in this narrative, even thought they will be spoken by Moses to Pharaoh. All of that will be assumed to have happened. In vv. 1–5, God is speaking to Moses. In v. 6, what God says will happen, happens. And in v. 7, Pharaoh’s response of negative volition will be noted. This entire plague is covered in 7 verses.

Exodus 9:1 Jehovah said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, has said to you: send My people out so that they may serve Me. (Kukis paraphrase)

The warning which God is issuing to Moses to speak to Pharaoh will become God’s action in v. 6. There will be no repetition of this warning in the text (that is, we will not read, then Moses went to Pharaoh and he warned...).

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Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        For if a refusal you to send, and still you are holding in them, behold, a hand of Y^ehowah is on your cattle which in the field, [and] on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen and on the flock—a pestilence grievous very.

Dead Sea Scrolls                   .

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   But if thou refuse to release, and hitherto thou hast constrained them, behold, the stroke of the Lord's hand shall be as it hath not been yet, upon thy cattle that are in the field, upon the horses, and upon the asses, upon the camels, oxen, and sheep, with a very mighty death. [JERUSALEM. Great conturbation.].

Revised Douay-Rheims         But if you refuse, and withhold them still:

Behold my hand shall be upon your fields: and a very grievous murrain upon your horses, and asses, and camels, and oxen, and sheep.

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        For if you refuse to let them go, and hold them still, behold, the hand of Mar-Yah is on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks with a very grievous pestilence.

Lamsa’s Peshitta (Syriac)     For if you refuse to let them go (and until now you have withheld them), Behold, the LORD will smite your cattle which are in the desert, the horses, the asses, the camels, the oxen, and the sheep; there shall be a very severe plague.

Updated Brenton (Greek)       If, however, you refuse to let My people go, but yet detain them — behold, the hand of the Lord shall be upon your cattle in the fields, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen and on the sheep — a very great pestilence.

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             For if you will not let them go, but still keep them in your power, Then the hand of the Lord will put on your cattle in the field, on the horses and the asses and the camels, on the herds and the flocks, a very evil disease.

Easy English                          If you refuse to let them go, you will have trouble. If you still keep them in Egypt, the Lord will send a very bad illness on your animals. All your animals in the fields will become ill. The horses, the donkeys, the camels, the cows, the sheep and the goats will all become very ill.

Easy-to-Read Version–2006  If you continue to hold them and refuse to let them go, then the Lord will use his power against your animals in the fields. He will cause all of your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, and sheep to get sick with a terrible disease.

Good News Bible (TEV)         If you again refuse to let them go, I will punish you by sending a terrible disease on all your animals—your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats.

The Message                         If you refuse to release them and continue to hold on to them, I’m giving you fair warning: God will come down hard on your livestock out in the fields—horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep—striking them with a severe disease.

NIRV                                      Do not refuse to let them go. Do not keep holding them back. If you refuse, my powerful hand will bring a terrible plague on you. I will strike your livestock in the fields. I will strike your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep and goats.

New Simplified Bible              »If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them in slavery, Jehovah will bring a terrible plague on your livestock, including your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats.

Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

Common English Bible           .

Contemporary English V.       If you keep refusing, he will bring a terrible disease on your horses and donkeys, your camels and cattle, and your sheep and goats.

The Living Bible                     If you refuse, the power of God will send a deadly plague to destroy your cattle, horses, donkeys, camels, flocks, and herds.

New Berkeley Version           .

New Life Version                    For if you will not let them go, and still hold them, the hand of the Lord will come with a very bad disease on your animals in the field: on the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the cattle and the flocks.

Unlocked Dynamic Bible        If you still refuse to let them go, I warn you that I will punish you with my power by sending a terrible disease on all your livestock to make them sick and die, on your horses, on your donkeys, on your camels, on your cattle, and on your flocks of sheep and goats.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          If you don’t send My people away and if you prevent them from going, 3 {Look!} the Lord will touch the cattle in your fields – the horses, burros, camels, bulls, and sheep – and many will die!

Beck’s American Translation .

New Advent (Knox) Bible       If thou dost still refuse, wouldst still keep them in thy power, then my hand shall be felt all through this countryside; a most grievous plague shall fall upon horse and ass and camel, on oxen and sheep.

Translation for Translators     If you still refuse to let them go [DOU], I warn you that I will punish you with my power [MTY] by sending a terrible disease on all your animals—on your horses, donkeys, camels, on your cattle, and on your flocks of sheep and goats.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Awful Scroll Bible                   Is you to refuse to let them loose, even is to hold strong? - The hand of Jehovah is to be befalling, on your livestock in the field, horses, asses, camels, large cattle, and small cattle; a very great and grievous pestilence.

Conservapedia                       "'For if you refuse to dismiss them, and continue to hold them in captivity then the hand of the LORD will strike your cattle in the fields, your horses, your donkeys, your camels, your oxen, and your sheep, with an exceedingly severe plague of murrain.'" Murrain refers to a common disease of livestock.

Ferrar-Fenton Bible                However, if you are unwilling to release them, and you are again obstinate with them, then the hand of the Ever-living shall bring upon your herd that are in the field, and upon your horses, and asses, and camels, and cattle, and sheep, a very severe punishment.

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           If you will not let them go but will hold them still: behold, the hand of the Lord shall be upon your cattle which you have in the field, upon horses, asses, camels, oxen, and sheep, with a mighty great *murrain (highly infectious diseases).

Lexham English Bible            But if you [are] refusing to release and you still [are] keeping hold of them, look, the hand of Yahweh [is] about to be [present with] a very {severe} plague on your livestock that are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the cattle, and on the sheep and goat.

Tree of Life Version                For if you refuse to let them go, and hold them still, behold, the hand of Adonai will fall upon your livestock that are in the field—on the horses, donkeys, camels, herds and flocks. There will be a crushing plague.

Unlocked Literal Bible            But if you refuse to let them go, if you still keep them back, then Yahweh’s hand will be on your cattle in the fields and on the horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks, and it will cause a terrible disease.

Urim-Thummim Version         For if you refuse to let them go, and will continue to hold them, the hand of YHWH is on your livestock that is in the field, on the horses, donkeys, camels, oxen, and upon the sheep, there will be a very grievous plague of disease.

Wikipedia Bible Project          Because if you keep from sending, and you still hold them, Here the hand of Yahweh will be upon your livestock which is in the field, on the horses and on the donkeys and on the camels and on the cattle and on the sheep, a very heavy murrain.

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

The Heritage Bible                 Because if you are unwilling to send them out, and will still seize them, Behold, the hand of Jehovah will be upon your livestock which are in the field, upon the horses, upon the donkeys, upon the camels, upon the cattle, and upon the flock animals, in a very heavy pestilence.

New American Bible (2011)   For if you refuse to let them go and persist in holding them, the hand of the LORD will strike your livestock in the field—your horses, donkeys, camels, herds and flocks—with a very severe pestilence.

New English Bible–1970        If you refuse to let them go and still keep your hold on them, the LORD will strike your grazing herds, your horses and assses, your camels, cattle, and sheep with a terrible pestilence.

New Jerusalem Bible             If you refuse to let them go and detain them any longer, look, the hand of Yahweh will strike your livestock in the fields, horses, donkeys, camels, oxen and flocks with a deadly plague.

Revised English Bible–1989   If you refuse to let them go, if you still keep them in subjection, the LORD will strike your livestock out in the country, the horses and donkeys, camels, cattle, and sheep with a devastating pestilence.

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           If you refuse to let them go and persist in holding on to them, the hand of Adonai is on your livestock in the field — on the horses, donkeys, camels, cattle and flocks — and will make them suffer a devastating illness.

The Complete Tanach           For if you refuse to let them go, and you still hold on to them,.

behold, the hand of the Lord will be upon your livestock that is in the field, upon the horses, upon the donkeys, upon the camels, upon the cattle, and upon the sheep, a very severe pestilence.

exeGeses companion Bible   ...for if you refuse to send them away

and still hold them,

behold, the hand of Yah Veh

becomes on your chattel in the field

- on the horses, on the he burros, on the camels,

on the oxen and on the flocks

- a mighty heavy pestilence:...

Kaplan Translation                 For if you refuse to let them leave, and continue holding them, God's power [Literally, 'hand.'] will be directed against your livestock in the field. The horses, donkeys, camels, cattle and sheep [will die from] a very serious epidemic.

Orthodox Jewish Bible           For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,

Hinei, the Yad Hashem is upon thy mikneh (livestock) which is in the sadeh, upon the susim, upon the donkeys, upon the camels, upon the herd, and upon the tzon; there shall be a very grievous dever.

The Scriptures 1998              “For if you refuse to let them go, and still hold them, see, the hand of יהוה is on your livestock in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the cattle, and on the sheep – a very grievous pestilence.

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Expanded Bible              If you refuse to let them go and ·continue to hold [tighten your grip on] them, the ·Lord will punish you and will send [^L hand of the Lord will strike with] a terrible ·disease [pestilence] on your farm animals that are in the fields. He will cause your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, goats, and sheep to become sick.

Kretzmann’s Commentary    For if thou refuse to let them go and wilt hold them still, hold them back, using force upon them, in spite of the fact that Jehovah had made known His will so emphatically,

behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle which is in the field, the domestic animals of every variety, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep, upon the flocks; there shall be a very grievous murrain, a destructive pestilence, against which human skill would avail nothing.

NET Bible®                             For if you refuse to release them² and continue holding them,³ then the hand of the Lord will surely bring⁴ a very terrible plague⁵ on your livestock in the field, on the horses, the donkeys, the camels,⁶ the herds, and the flocks.

^2tn The object “them” is implied in the context.

^3tn עוֹד (’od), an adverb meaning “yet, still,” can be inflected with suffixes and used as a predicator of existence, with the nuance “to still be, yet be” (T. O. Lambdin, Introduction to Biblical Hebrew, 171-72, §137). Then, it is joined here with the Hiphil participle מַחֲזִיק (makhaziq) to form the sentence “you are still holding them.”

^4tn The form used here is הוֹיָה (hoyah), the Qal active participle, feminine singular, from the verb “to be.” This is the only place in the OT that this form occurs. Ogden shows that this form is appropriate with the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) to stress impending divine action, and that it conforms to the pattern in these narratives where five times the participle is used in the threat to Pharaoh (7:17; 8:2; 9:3, 14; 10:4). See G. S. Ogden, “Notes on the Use of הויה in Exodus IX. 3,” VT 17 (1967): 483-84.

^5tn The word דֶּבֶר (dever) is usually translated “pestilence” when it applies to diseases for humans. It is used only here and in Ps 78:50 for animals.

^6sn The older view that camels were not domesticated at this time (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 70; W. F. Albright, Archaeology and the Religion of Israel, 96; et. al.) has been corrected by more recently uncovered information (see K. A. Kitchen, NBD3 160-61).

The Voice                               Eternal One (to Moses): If you refuse to release them and strengthen your grip on them, then the hand of the Eternal will come down hard on you: a terrible disease will afflict all of your livestock in the fields—horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, and sheep.