Exodus 7:15 kjv

Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.

Exodus 7:15 nkjv

Go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river's bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand.

Exodus 7:15 niv

Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes out to the river. Confront him on the bank of the Nile, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake.

Exodus 7:15 esv

Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent.

Exodus 7:15 nlt

So go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes down to the river. Stand on the bank of the Nile and meet him there. Be sure to take along the staff that turned into a snake.

Exodus 7 verses

Exodus 7 15 Meaning

Exodus 7:15 conveys God's specific instruction to Moses regarding the time and location for confronting Pharaoh. Moses is commanded to intercept Pharaoh early in the day as he departs for the Nile River, a place of significant ritual or daily activity for the Egyptian monarch. This precise directive highlights God's sovereignty, meticulous planning, and the chosen site for the initial divine demonstration against Pharaoh and Egypt's gods.

Exodus 7 15 Context

Exodus chapter 7 initiates the direct confrontation between God, through Moses and Aaron, and Pharaoh, escalating the conflict that began in chapters 5-6. Pharaoh has stubbornly refused to let Israel go, despising the God of the Hebrews. Verse 7:15 follows God's affirmation to Moses that He has made him "as God to Pharaoh" (Exod 7:1) and His declaration of intent to multiply His signs and wonders in Egypt (Exod 7:3). It also immediately precedes the execution of the first plague: the turning of the Nile's water into blood (Exod 7:17). Historically, the Nile was the lifeblood of Egypt, its floods bringing fertility, and it was worshipped as the god Hapi. Pharaoh, considered a divine intermediary and son of the sun god Re, likely engaged in daily rituals at the Nile for purification, to perform rites, or to inspect its vital flow. Meeting Pharaoh at the Nile was a direct challenge to his authority, his personal divinity, and the power of the Egyptian gods associated with the river, setting the stage for the decimation of what Egyptians held most sacred.

Exodus 7 15 Word analysis

• Go (לֵךְ - lekh): An imperative verb, signifying a direct, authoritative command from God to Moses. It denotes immediate and purposeful action, leaving no room for delay or hesitation.
• to Pharaoh (אֶל-פַּרְעֹה - ʾel-Parʿoh): Directs Moses to the seat of Egyptian power. Pharaoh embodies resistance to God's will. This encounter is a divine summons, not a request for an audience.
• in the morning (בַּבֹּקֶר - ba-bōqer): Specifies the precise time. Morning was often a time for significant activity, including judicial decisions, royal pronouncements, and religious rites in ancient cultures. This timing suggests an interruption of Pharaoh's regular routine.
• behold (הִנֵּה - hinnēh): An interjection used to draw immediate attention to what follows. It emphasizes the certainty and predictive nature of God's statement about Pharaoh's imminent action.
• he is going out (יֹצֵא - yōtsē'): Present participle, indicating ongoing action or a regular habit. Pharaoh's departure from his palace or quarters for a daily activity is pre-known to God, highlighting God's omniscience.
• to the water (אֶל-הַמַּיִם - ʾel-hammaim): Refers directly to the Nile River (implied from the immediate context of Egypt). The Nile was revered as a deity and the source of Egypt's life. Encountering Pharaoh at the very source of Egypt's vitality amplifies the impact of the impending plague.
• And you shall stand (וְנִצַּבְתָּ - wĕniṣṣavta): A consecutive perfect verb, signifying a decisive, firm posture. Moses is to take his ground strategically and boldly, not merely pass by. This isn't a casual meeting but a confrontation.
• by the river bank (שְׂפַת הַיְאֹר - sĕfat hayeʾor): Literally "the lip of the Nile." This specific location ensures the direct encounter at the Nile itself, where the first plague will be unleashed. It's the public face of Egypt's life and its false deities.
• to meet him (לִקְרָאתוֹ - liqra'to): Purposeful and direct engagement. Moses isn't just present but is there with the intent to address Pharaoh and deliver God's message. It's an appointment arranged by God.

• "Go to Pharaoh in the morning; behold, he is going out to the water.": This phrase establishes God's detailed knowledge and control over Pharaoh's routine. God isn't leaving anything to chance; He knows Pharaoh's schedule and directs Moses to intercept him precisely when he's engaging with the very source of Egypt's pride and power (the Nile). This pre-knowledge emphasizes God's omnipotence over earthly rulers.
• "And you shall stand by the river bank to meet him.": This command for Moses to take a deliberate, firm stance at the "lip of the Nile" signals the setting for a direct confrontation. It bypasses formal court etiquette and instead places Moses as God's representative at a site deeply significant to Egyptian life and religion, directly challenging Pharaoh's personal and divine authority right at the river's edge, making it a powerful stage for God's first strike against Egypt's gods.

Exodus 7 15 Bonus section

This precise instruction for Moses to meet Pharaoh at the Nile, where the first plague is enacted, sets a significant pattern for God's judgment against Egypt. The specific timing ("in the morning") suggests an interruption of a deeply ingrained ritual, making the disruption of life and worship immediate and undeniable. The Nile was worshipped not only as Hapi, but Pharaoh himself might have offered morning devotions to Re, the sun god, with the Nile being central to the cycle of life. Thus, turning the Nile to blood at the moment of a potential morning ritual signifies a direct assault on the core tenets of Egyptian polytheism and Pharaoh's divine claims, illustrating that the true God can corrupt their very source of life and religious security.

Exodus 7 15 Commentary

Exodus 7:15 serves as a strategic blueprint for the initial confrontation of the plagues, demonstrating God's sovereign command over time, place, and even the daily routine of Pharaoh. By directing Moses to intercept Pharaoh at the Nile's bank in the morning, God deliberately targets a moment and location infused with Egyptian religious and cultural significance. Pharaoh's morning excursion to the Nile, perhaps for ritual purification or worship of the river god Hapi, placed him at his most vulnerable regarding his perceived divine authority. This setting makes the ensuing turning of the Nile to blood (Exod 7:17) not merely an inconvenience, but a direct affront to Pharaoh's kingship and a palpable assault on the very gods Egypt revered, particularly the Nile and those associated with creation and life. The precise instruction signifies that God is in complete control, meticulously orchestrating events to display His unparalleled power over all earthly principalities and false deities.