Exodus 7:7 kjv

And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.

Exodus 7:7 nkjv

And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.

Exodus 7:7 niv

Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.

Exodus 7:7 esv

Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.

Exodus 7:7 nlt

Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was eighty-three when they made their demands to Pharaoh.

Exodus 7 verses

Exodus 7 7 Meaning

Exodus 7:7 establishes the advanced ages of Moses and Aaron at eighty and eighty-three years old, respectively, when they formally began their divinely appointed mission to confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This verse signifies God's precise timing and His sovereign choice to use individuals of mature age and extensive life experience for a monumental task, highlighting that God's power is not limited by conventional human understanding of prime capacity, but operates through yielded instruments. It marks a critical juncture, immediately preceding the initiation of the miraculous plagues that would challenge Egypt's deities and authority.

Exodus 7 7 Context

Exodus 7:7 marks the culmination of God's call to Moses and Aaron and their preparation for the confrontational ministry ahead. Prior chapters (Exodus 3-6) detail God's burning bush encounter with Moses, revealing His name (Yahweh), giving Moses the commission to deliver Israel, and promising miraculous signs. Moses expresses various doubts and hesitations, ultimately requiring Aaron as his spokesman. After an initial, disheartening meeting with Pharaoh (Exodus 5), God reiterates His covenant and power to Moses in Exodus 6, affirming that He will act mightily. Verse 7:7, positioned immediately before Moses and Aaron's empowered first official encounter with Pharaoh (where Aaron's staff turns into a serpent), serves as a precise chronological anchor. It highlights their state of readiness, mature in years and prepared by God for the formidable task of challenging the most powerful monarch on earth, emphasizing that this was God's chosen timing for His elderly, appointed servants to stand against the might of Egypt. This narrative context frames the ensuing plagues not as human magic but as divine judgments orchestrated by God through His chosen, unassuming instruments against a formidable pagan power structure, highlighting God's supreme authority over all earthly rulers and their supposed deities.

Exodus 7 7 Word analysis

• Moses: (מֹשֶׁה, Mosheh). Derived from a Hebrew verb meaning "to draw out," often associated with his being drawn out of the water (Ex 2:10). His name prophetically alludes to his future role: drawing Israel out of Egypt. This emphasizes divine providence in his early life setting the stage for his calling later.
• was: Implies a state of being at that particular moment, solidifying the chronological detail.
• eighty years old: (שְׁמֹנִים שָׁנָה, sh'monim shanah). A significant age for commencing such a monumental mission. This points to a life of extensive preparation—40 years in Pharaoh's court (receiving an elite education) followed by 40 years in Midian as a shepherd (developing character, humility, and faith in God). God's divine timetable is precise and includes long periods of quiet development.
• and: Connects Moses and Aaron in their joint divine assignment.
• Aaron: (אַהֲרֹן, Aharon). Moses' elder brother and appointed spokesman (Ex 4:14-16). His name's etymology is debated, possibly meaning "enlightened one" or "mountain of strength." His inclusion highlights the collaborative and complementary nature of leadership in God's plan.
• eighty-three years old: (שְׁלֹש וּשְׁמֹנִים שָׁנָה, sh'losh u'shmonim shanah). Three years older than Moses. This age further emphasizes God's use of aged individuals for significant ministry, counter-cultural to any human expectation of youthful vigor.
• when they spoke: (בְּדַבְּרָם, b'dabrâm). The Hebrew verb dabar (דבר) often signifies speaking with authority or declaration, especially divine communication. This was not a casual conversation but a divinely commissioned confrontation, representing God's demands to Pharaoh.
• to Pharaoh: (אֶל־פַּרְעֹה, el-par'oh). Pharaoh, as the king of Egypt, held himself to be a deity or direct representative of the gods. Moses and Aaron, two elderly men, standing before such a powerful figure highlights the stark contrast between human might and divine power operating through seemingly weak vessels. It serves as an early polemic, demonstrating that Yahweh's authority supersedes that of the self-proclaimed gods of Egypt.

Exodus 7 7 Bonus section

The consistent 40-year increments in Moses' life—40 years in Egypt (preparation), 40 years in Midian (personal transformation and quiet discipleship), and 40 years leading Israel (active ministry)—demonstrate God's methodical and extensive preparation for His chosen leaders. The emphasis on advanced age for both Moses and Aaron underscores a counter-cultural truth: God's use of experience, wisdom, and steadfast faith built over a lifetime, rather than relying solely on youthful strength. Their ages convey a sense of gravitas and the unlikeliness of their human success, further glorifying God's omnipotence in overcoming insurmountable odds through seemingly weak instruments. This prefigures the New Testament principle that God often uses the "foolish" or "weak" things of the world to confound the wise and strong (1 Cor 1:27).

Exodus 7 7 Commentary

Exodus 7:7 serves as a crucial introductory verse to the grand display of God's power through the plagues. The ages of Moses (80) and Aaron (83) are explicitly stated to underscore divine timing and the sovereign choice of God. Their advanced years challenge human assumptions about ability and capacity for arduous tasks, revealing that God often chooses unlikely instruments to achieve His mighty purposes. This isn't merely a historical detail but a profound theological statement: it highlights that their strength for the immense confrontation with Pharaoh came not from their physical vigor but from God's empowering presence and faithfulness to His promises. The verse silently refutes any notion that human youth or earthly status are prerequisites for divine service, emphasizing divine preparation, patient waiting on God's perfect timing, and obedience to His call regardless of age or personal circumstance. Their speaking to Pharaoh initiated a series of divine judgments that exposed the futility of Egypt's gods and the supremacy of the Lord God.