Exodus 7:21 kjv

And the fish that was 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.

Exodus 7:21 nkjv

The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

Exodus 7:21 niv

The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt.

Exodus 7:21 esv

And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

Exodus 7:21 nlt

The fish in the river died, and the water became so foul that the Egyptians couldn't drink it. There was blood everywhere throughout the land of Egypt.

Exodus 7 verses

Exodus 7 21 Meaning

Exodus 7:21 details the dire consequences of the first plague brought upon Egypt: the transformation of the Nile River and all Egyptian waters into blood. This verse specifically describes the resultant death of the fish in the Nile, leading to an unbearable stench. As a direct outcome, the Egyptians were rendered unable to drink water from the Nile, emphasizing a complete disruption of their vital resource. The verse concludes by stressing that this bloody contamination was pervasive, affecting all water sources throughout the entire land of Egypt.

Exodus 7 21 Context

Exodus 7:21 is a pivotal verse, marking the immediate outcome of the first of the ten plagues against Egypt. Following Pharaoh's persistent refusal to release the Israelites, despite Moses and Aaron's demonstrations of God's power (e.g., Aaron's staff becoming a serpent and consuming the Egyptian magicians' staffs), this plague is God's direct assault. Pharaoh's hardened heart, mentioned multiple times in the preceding verses (Ex 7:3, 7:13-14), sets the stage for divine judgment.

Historically and culturally, the Nile was the lifeblood of ancient Egypt, supplying water for drinking, irrigation, and transportation. Its annual flooding was essential for agricultural fertility, making the Nile revered as a divine entity, often associated with gods like Hapi (the Nile god of fertility) and Khnum (the god who created humanity on his potter's wheel, often linked to the Nile's source). By turning the Nile into blood, God not only deprived the Egyptians of their fundamental resource but also directly attacked the very core of their religious and national identity, demonstrating His supremacy over their deities and Pharaoh, who was himself considered a living god. This act was a profound theological statement, undermining the source of Egypt's life and power.

Exodus 7 21 Word analysis

• The fish: Hebrew: הַדָּגָה (ha-dâgâh). This term refers to "the fish," collectively. Their immediate death highlights the devastating impact of the plague not only on human sustenance but also on the natural ecosystem, demonstrating the plague's comprehensiveness and irreversibility.
• in the Nile: Hebrew: בַּיְאֹר (ba-ye’ōr). The term יְאֹר (ye'or) specifically designates the Nile River in this context, the central artery of Egyptian life. Its defilement meant a total disruption of their primary water source and economic engine. The plague targeted the very source of Egyptian wealth and comfort.
• died: Hebrew: וַתָּמָת (vat-tāmaṯ). This verb signifies a definite and conclusive end to life. It emphasizes the fatality of the plague on living creatures, not merely a temporary discomfort. This immediate widespread death would lead to putrefaction, making the water completely unusable.
• Nile stank: Hebrew: וַיִּבְאַשׁ (vay-yiv'aš). This word denotes "it stank," implying severe putrefaction and an offensive odor. This was not merely an aesthetic issue but a sanitary crisis. The stench would have been suffocating and constant, making daily life unbearable and serving as a continuous reminder of God's judgment. It shows a complete overturning of life into death, cleanliness into defilement.
• so that the Egyptians: Hebrew: וַיִּלְאוּ מִצְרַיִם (vay-yil'u mitzra-yim). Literally "and wearied were the Egyptians," indicating they were "unable," "faint," or "weary from" doing something. This conveys the sheer impossibility for them to perform the action. It's a depiction of profound hardship and exhaustion from seeking drinkable water.
• could not drink water from the Nile: Hebrew: לִשְׁתּוֹת מַיִם מִן־הַיְאֹר (lish-tōṯ mayim min-ha-ye'ōr). This phrase directly states the ultimate deprivation: the inability to access clean, vital water. This highlights God's absolute control over life's essentials and Pharaoh's impotence despite his perceived divine status.
• And there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt: Hebrew: וַיְהִי הַדָּם בְּכָל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם (vayhi had-dam b'chol-'ereṣ miṣra-yim). This is a crucial expansion of the plague's scope. It indicates the judgment was not limited to the main river but extended to every water source, including canals, ponds, and possibly even water stored in vessels in homes (as indicated in Exodus 7:19). This highlights the comprehensive and inescapable nature of God's judgment, demonstrating that no part of the land was spared from the immediate effects of the divine visitation.

Exodus 7 21 Bonus section

The first plague was a direct polemic against key Egyptian deities associated with the Nile and creation. Hapi, the god of the Nile's annual inundation and fertility, was shamed as his sacred river became putrid. Khnum, the ram-headed potter god often depicted shaping humans on his wheel, drawing from the Nile's clay, saw his life-giving element turned into an agent of death. Even Osiris, associated with the Nile's life-giving cycles and depicted with green or black skin representing fertility, was implicitly undermined as the Nile became a symbol of judgment. Furthermore, the fish of the Nile were sacred to certain Egyptians, making their death an additional blasphemy from their perspective, but a divine sign from God's. The depth of this initial plague lies not merely in physical suffering but in the shattering of Egyptian spiritual and theological foundations. This event vividly showcases the contrast between the true, living God who controls creation and the impotent idols of Egypt.

Exodus 7 21 Commentary

Exodus 7:21 succinctly encapsulates the devastating impact of the first plague, demonstrating God's sovereign power over creation and His direct challenge to the deities of Egypt. The Nile, worshipped as a god and essential for Egyptian survival, was transformed from a source of life into an emblem of death and decay. The immediate death of fish and the subsequent stench illustrate a state of de-creation, reversing the natural order and turning the fertile lifeline into a putrid grave. This divine act not only caused immense physical suffering by depriving Egyptians of drinkable water but also profoundly humiliated their gods and their Pharaoh, who boasted a divine connection to the Nile. The pervasiveness of the blood "throughout all the land of Egypt" underscores the comprehensive nature of this judgment, emphasizing that God's reach and authority extend beyond the river itself to every corner and water supply within their domain, leaving no refuge from His hand. This initial plague set a precedent for the subsequent judgments, each targeting specific aspects of Egyptian life and their pantheon, ultimately forcing Pharaoh to acknowledge the unparalleled power of the God of Israel.