Exodus 10:19 kjv
And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.
Exodus 10:19 nkjv
And the LORD turned a very strong west wind, which took the locusts away and blew them into the Red Sea. There remained not one locust in all the territory of Egypt.
Exodus 10:19 niv
And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea. Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt.
Exodus 10:19 esv
And the LORD turned the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt.
Exodus 10:19 nlt
The LORD responded by shifting the wind, and the strong west wind blew the locusts into the Red Sea. Not a single locust remained in all the land of Egypt.
Exodus 10 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 8:1 | God remembered Noah...and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged. | God's use of wind for removal/control. |
| Ex 9:6 | And the LORD did that thing on the morrow...and all the cattle of Egypt died; but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. | Totality of judgment/protection. |
| Ex 13:18 | God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea. | Introduces the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds) location. |
| Ex 14:21 | And the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night. | God's use of wind at the Red Sea for salvation. |
| Ex 14:27-28 | The sea returned to his strength...there remained not so much as one of them. | Total destruction of enemies in Red Sea. |
| Deut 28:38 | You shall carry much seed out into the field, and shall gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it. | Locusts as a form of divine curse/judgment. |
| Job 38:22-23 | Have you entered into the treasures of the snow...which I have reserved against the time of trouble... | God's sovereignty over weather and judgment. |
| Psa 78:26 | He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. | God controls the direction of winds. |
| Psa 103:12 | As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. | Complete removal of sin (figurative cleansing). |
| Psa 104:4 | Who makes his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire. | God uses elements, including winds, as His agents. |
| Psa 107:25 | For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves thereof. | God's command over all storms and winds. |
| Psa 135:5-7 | Whatever the LORD pleases, that he does in heaven...He causes the vapours to ascend...he makes lightnings for the rain; he brings the wind out of his treasuries. | God's universal sovereignty over nature. |
| Prov 30:27 | The locusts have no king, yet they go forth all of them by bands. | Highlights locusts' collective nature, yet subservience to God. |
| Isa 40:29 | He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength. | God's power to restore after devastation. |
| Isa 45:5-7 | I am the LORD, and there is none else...I make peace, and create evil. | God is the sole sovereign who brings both good and bad. |
| Jer 4:11-12 | A dry wind...even a full wind from those places...now also will I give sentence against them. | God uses strong winds for judgment. |
| Jer 8:13 | There shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree... | Prophecy of complete agricultural devastation. |
| Joel 1:4 | That which the palmerworm has left, has the locust eaten; and that which the locust has left, has the cankerworm eaten... | Description of extensive locust devastation. |
| Nahum 1:9 | What do you imagine against the LORD? He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. | God ensures complete removal; no repetition of judgment. |
| Zeph 1:2-3 | I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven... | God's judgment leading to sweeping away everything. |
| Rev 9:3 | And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power... | Locusts used as agents of judgment in Revelation. |
Exodus 10 verses
Exodus 10 19 Meaning
Exodus 10:19 describes the LORD's decisive act of bringing the plague of locusts to an end. It signifies God's complete control over natural forces, as He commanded a powerful west wind to swiftly remove every single locust from all the territory of Egypt, depositing them into the Sea of Reeds, thus completely cleansing the land from the devastation. This was an undeniable display of divine authority and a powerful reversal of the previous judgment.
Exodus 10 19 Context
Exodus 10:19 is the culmination of the eighth plague—the plague of locusts—which was a severe divine judgment intended to humble Pharaoh and demonstrate the LORD's absolute power over creation and over the gods of Egypt. Prior to this verse, Pharaoh had repeatedly hardened his heart, refusing to release the Israelites despite witnessing previous devastating plagues. The locusts had utterly consumed all vegetation that remained after earlier plagues, plunging Egypt into deeper despair and famine. This verse follows Pharaoh's desperate, albeit insincere, plea for the LORD to remove the locusts. The historical and cultural context underscores that plagues of locusts were a real and destructive threat to ancient agricultural societies like Egypt. By orchestrating a supernaturally precise and complete removal of the locusts via a strong west wind, the LORD was directly challenging Egyptian deities associated with wind, harvest, and fertility (e.g., Shu, the god of air; Renenutet, goddess of harvest). The LORD was proving His sovereignty by not only initiating the plague with precision (Ex 10:13) but also ending it with equally precise control, showing that He, and He alone, commanded nature to both destroy and restore.
Exodus 10 19 Word analysis
- And the LORD (וַיַּהֲפֹךְ יְהוָה - Vayyahafokh Yahweh): "Vayyahafokh," from the root hāphakh (to turn, overthrow, transform), signifies a decisive and complete reversal. This verb emphasizes the divine initiative; God actively intervenes to change the situation He Himself brought about. "Yahweh" (the LORD) consistently points to the sovereign, covenant-keeping God who is enacting His plan.
- turned (הפך - hāphakh): Highlights a direct and intentional action. The wind didn't just happen; it was precisely directed by God.
- a mighty strong west wind (ר֣וּחַ יָ֤ם חָזָק֙ מְאֹ֔ד - ruach yam chazak me'od):
- "Ruach" can mean "wind," "spirit," or "breath." Here, it's a powerful agent.
- "Yam" literally means "sea" but often signifies the west (where the Mediterranean Sea is located relative to Egypt). A "wind of the sea" therefore means a wind coming from the west, implying it swept over the populated, agricultural land.
- "Chazak me'od" means "very strong" or "mighty strong," underscoring the exceptional, non-natural power of the wind, making it clear this was divinely commanded, not coincidental.
- which took away (וַיִּשָּׂא - vayyissa): From the root nāśāʾ (to lift, carry). Implies the rapid and effective removal of the vast numbers of locusts by the powerful wind.
- the locusts (הָאַרְבֶּה - ha'arbeh): The specific insect identified as the instrument of the plague. Its very name, arbeh, can denote multitude.
- and cast them (וַיִּתְקָעֵ֥הוּ - vayyitqa'ehu): From the root tāqaʿ (to drive, thrust, pitch). This strong verb conveys a forceful, decisive, and even violent expulsion, ensuring complete riddance.
- into the Red sea (יָּמָּה־סּ֖וּף - yammah-suph): "Yam Suph," accurately "Sea of Reeds," is a specific body of water that later plays a pivotal role in the Exodus narrative (the miraculous parting and crossing). Its mention here emphasizes a complete disposal into an identifiable, unrecoverable location, while also foreshadowing future, greater displays of God's power over the same body of water.
- there remained not one locust (וְלֹא־נִשְׁאַ֣ר אַרְבֶּ֣ה אֶחָ֔ד - velo'-nish'ar arbeh echad): This highly emphatic phrase uses velo (and not) followed by nish'ar (remained) and echad (one). The repetition of the negative combined with "one" underscores the absolute totality and perfection of the cleansing. Not a single locust was left.
- in all the coasts of Egypt (בְּכֹ֖ל גְּב֥וּל מִצְרָֽיִם׃ - b'khol gevul Mitzrayim): "B'khol" (in all/throughout) and "gevul" (boundary/territory) denote the entire geographical scope. This signifies that every part of Egypt was comprehensively cleared, reinforcing the completeness of God's action.
Exodus 10 19 Bonus section
The deliberate act of collecting and depositing the locusts into the Sea of Reeds holds deeper significance. It is not just a geographical destination but a symbol of comprehensive annihilation and finality for God's judgments, setting the stage for future decisive acts of deliverance. Just as the sea becomes the grave for the locusts that plagued Egypt's land, it later becomes the grave for Pharaoh's army that pursued God's people (Ex 14). This continuity highlights God's consistent use of specific geographical locations as arenas for His powerful judgment against His enemies and for the salvation of His people. The divine precision (bringing a wind from one direction, then precisely turning it to another to remove) serves as a potent reminder of God's sovereign command over every detail of creation, affirming that nothing is beyond His comprehensive power and planning.
Exodus 10 19 Commentary
Exodus 10:19 is a concise yet profound statement on the LORD's ultimate dominion. After unleashing a locust plague that brought Egypt to the brink of ruin, God orchestrates an equally dramatic reversal. This is not merely a change in wind direction; it's a divinely willed transformation, demonstrating that God is the Master not just of chaos and destruction but also of order and restoration. The meticulous details—a specific "mighty strong west wind" and the precise disposal of "every single locust" into the "Red Sea"—show God's unassailable control. He proves that He determines not only the onset and severity of judgment but also its conclusion and completeness. This divine act served as another blow to Egyptian polytheism, showing Yahweh's unparalleled power over all their so-called gods of nature. It left no room for doubt about the source of the plague and its removal, yet still failed to genuinely transform Pharaoh's hardened heart, illustrating the depths of human stubbornness against divine revelation.