Exodus 7:25 kjv

And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.

Exodus 7:25 nkjv

And seven days passed after the LORD had struck the river.

Exodus 7:25 niv

Seven days passed after the LORD struck the Nile.

Exodus 7:25 esv

Seven full days passed after the LORD had struck the Nile.

Exodus 7:25 nlt

Seven days passed from the time the LORD struck the Nile.

Exodus 7 verses

Exodus 7 25 Meaning

Exodus 7:25 signifies that seven full days elapsed after the LORD initiated the first plague by turning the waters of the Nile into blood. This duration emphasizes the complete and prolonged nature of God's judgment, profoundly impacting Egypt's most vital life source and economy, and revealing the sustained demonstration of divine power against the land and its false gods.

Exodus 7 25 Context

Exodus 7:25 immediately follows the description of the first plague in which Aaron, at God's command, struck the Nile, causing all its waters and other water sources in Egypt to turn into blood. The previous verses (Ex 7:14-24) detail the execution of this devastating plague, leading to the death of fish and rendering the water undrinkable. This specific verse notes the duration of the plague's initial, complete impact, serving as a transitional statement between the first act of judgment and the subsequent encounters with Pharaoh. It highlights the sustained nature of the crisis Pharaoh and Egypt faced before the narrative moves to their continued refusal to release Israel. Historically, Egypt's prosperity and survival were entirely dependent on the Nile, which was also central to their religious beliefs and deified through gods like Hapi. Smitting the Nile was a direct, life-threatening assault on their national existence and a decisive challenge to their false gods.

Exodus 7 25 Word analysis

• And seven days: (Hebrew: וַיִּמָּלֵא שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, vayyimalē shiv'at yamim)
  • וַיִּמָּלֵא (vayyimalē): "and were fulfilled," from the verb malē (מָלֵא), meaning "to be full, complete." The usage of the waw-consecutive with the Qal perfect emphasizes that the period fully ran its course, highlighting the completion and divine determination of the plague's duration. This stresses that the intended, complete period of God's judgment had transpired.
  • שִׁבְעַת (shiv'at): "seven," denoting the cardinal number. In biblical numerology, the number seven often signifies completeness, perfection, divine design, or a full cycle. Here, it underscores that the plague lasted for a full, significant, and divinely ordained period, rather than being an ephemeral event.
  • יָמִים (yamim): "days," the plural form of yom. This plural form emphasizes the continuity and prolonged nature of the suffering experienced by the Egyptians.
  • Significance: The specified seven-day duration highlights the deliberate and measured nature of God's judgment. It allowed for ample time for the devastating effects to be fully felt throughout Egypt and for Pharaoh to consider yielding, demonstrating God's patience even amidst judgment.
• were fulfilled: (See above, vayyimalē) - Directly denotes the culmination and endpoint of the defined period for the plague, underscoring its full execution according to God's plan.
• after the LORD: (Hebrew: אַחֲרֵי הַכּוֹת יְהוָה, aḥărê hakkôt YHWH)
  • אַחֲרֵי (aḥărê): "after," serving as a temporal marker indicating the conclusion of the specified period following the initial action. It precisely delimits the time from the moment the plague was unleashed.
  • הַכּוֹת (hakkôt): "smitting, striking," the infinitive construct from the verb nakah (נָכָה), meaning "to strike, smite, attack, kill." This powerful term describes the decisive, destructive act initiated by God through Moses and Aaron.
  • יְהוָה (YHWH): "The LORD." This is the proper, covenantal name of God, revealing His self-existence, eternal nature, and covenant faithfulness. Attributing the action directly to YHWH definitively establishes His divine agency and authority behind the plague, countering any notion that it was a natural disaster or an act of lesser gods.
  • Significance: This phrase attributes the devastating act to the one true God, explicitly demonstrating His unique sovereignty over all of creation and exposing the impotence of the Egyptian deities Pharaoh trusted in.
• had smitten: (See above, hakkôt) - Reinforces that the initial, forceful action of turning the Nile to blood had already been decisively carried out.
• the Nile: (Hebrew: אֶת־הַיְאֹר, et-hayeʾōr)
  • הַיְאֹר (hayeʾōr): "the Nile." The definite article (ha) emphasizes the singular, preeminent river that was the lifeblood of ancient Egypt. The Nile provided water for drinking, irrigation, fishing, and transport, essentially sustaining the entire civilization. Beyond its practical utility, the Nile was revered and even deified, with gods like Hapi associated with its floods and fertility.
  • Significance: Targeting the Nile was a multifaceted blow. It inflicted a catastrophic ecological and economic disaster, disrupting daily life and sustenance. More profoundly, it was a direct assault on the core of Egyptian religious beliefs, demonstrating YHWH's absolute dominion over forces that Egypt's gods supposedly controlled, thus undermining their entire worldview and showing the true God's supremacy.

• Word-Groups Analysis:
  • "And seven days were fulfilled": This phrase emphasizes God's sovereign control over the duration and severity of the judgment. It implies a deliberate, calculated period designed to fully impress upon Pharaoh and Egypt the gravity of the situation and the power of the LORD, giving opportunity for a response.
  • "after the LORD had smitten the Nile": This section powerfully conveys divine authorship and targets the epicenter of Egyptian life and false worship. It starkly contrasts YHWH's active, decisive power with the passivity and powerlessness of the Egyptian pantheon, serving as a potent theological polemic.

Exodus 7 25 Bonus section

• The duration of "seven days" for this first plague stands out because explicit timeframes are less common for other individual plagues, indicating a particular emphasis on the completeness and thoroughness of this initial judgment against the Nile, the heart of Egypt.
• The very specificity of "seven days" subtly highlights a period of divine rest or cessation following a significant work of judgment, echoing creation's seven-day pattern, but here applied to an act of destructive power and sovereignty.
• The sustained nature of the plague for seven days prevented Pharaoh and the Egyptians from dismissing it as a mere natural phenomenon or an isolated magical trick, demanding an acknowledgment of the sustained power behind it.
• The silence of Pharaoh and his magicians at the end of these seven days implies their utter bewilderment and inability to cope with the prolonged crisis, leaving them helpless before the LORD.
• This period allowed the Israelites to observe the judgment unfolding against their oppressors, serving to strengthen their faith in YHWH as the powerful God who keeps His promises.

Exodus 7 25 Commentary

Exodus 7:25 acts as a critical pivot within the plague narrative, solidifying the first demonstration of God's power. The declaration that "seven days were fulfilled" underscores the prolonged agony experienced by Egypt; this was not a momentary fright but a sustained period of a foundational life source being utterly corrupted. This extended duration allowed the plague's full devastating impact—rotting fish, foul stench, and extreme thirst—to thoroughly pervade the land, leaving no doubt as to its severity. The direct attribution of the smiting of "the Nile" to "the LORD" (YHWH) further reinforces the deliberate, sovereign nature of this act. This was a targeted judgment against the heart of Egyptian survival and their idolatrous reliance on a deified river. Pharaoh and his magicians, despite their initial attempt at replication, were completely unable to reverse the plague or restore the Nile, forcing the Egyptians to resort to digging for water (Ex 7:24), starkly highlighting the absolute power of the God of Israel. The verse's finality concerning the first plague sets the stage for escalating confrontations, demonstrating God's justice, patience, and unwavering resolve in delivering His people.