Exodus 8:19 kjv

Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

Exodus 8:19 nkjv

Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had said.

Exodus 8:19 niv

the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the LORD had said.

Exodus 8:19 esv

Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

Exodus 8:19 nlt

"This is the finger of God!" the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh's heart remained hard. He wouldn't listen to them, just as the LORD had predicted.

Exodus 8 verses

Exodus 8 19 Meaning

Exodus 8:19 states that the Egyptian magicians, unable to replicate the plague of gnats, confessed to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." Despite this direct acknowledgement of divine power, Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, and he did not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had foretold. The verse marks a crucial turning point, as the magicians, representing the pinnacle of Egyptian supernatural capability, admitted defeat and the superiority of the God of Israel.

Exodus 8 19 Context

Exodus 8:19 occurs during the third of the ten plagues brought upon Egypt, specifically the plague of gnats (or lice). Earlier, the magicians were able to replicate Moses and Aaron's signs of turning staffs into serpents (though Aaron's staff swallowed theirs) and turning water into blood. They also managed to bring up frogs in the second plague, though it added to Pharaoh's misery. However, with the plague of gnats, originating from the dust of the ground (Exod 8:16-17), their "secret arts" (לָטִים, lāṭîm) failed. This immediate context highlights the increasing power gap between Yahweh's work through Moses and the limited abilities of the Egyptian sorcerers.

Historically and culturally, Egyptian society placed great importance on their priests, wise men, and magicians who served as interpreters of divine will and wielders of magical power, often attributed to their numerous gods. Pharaoh himself was considered divine. This verse forms a powerful polemic against the supposed power of these Egyptian gods and their intermediaries. By declaring "This is the finger of God," the magicians directly invalidated their own deities and practices, confessing Yahweh's singular, unmatched power. The plague's origin from dust may have also challenged Egyptian beliefs about the land or specific deities associated with creation from primeval dust.

Exodus 8 19 Word analysis

• Then the magicians (הַחַרְטֻמִּים - ha-ḥarṭummîm): These were highly respected professionals in ancient Egypt, privy to royal secrets, knowledgeable in astrology, divination, and various forms of magic. Their admission of failure is significant because it comes from within Pharaoh's trusted inner circle and acknowledges their professional limit and their gods' impotence. Their former partial successes amplified the stark reality of their total failure here.
• said to Pharaoh (אֶל-פַּרְעֹה - ʾel-Parʿōh): This is a direct, public admission. It means Pharaoh can no longer deny the divine nature of the plagues, especially when his own experts concede.
• "This is the finger (אֶצְבַּע - ʾetsbaʿ) of God (אֱלֹהִים - ʾĔlōhîm).":
  • Finger of God: This idiom signifies direct, immediate, and irresistible divine intervention and power. It implies precision, effortlessness, and authority, a powerful creative or destructive force that is undeniable and cannot be replicated or withstood by human (or demonic) power. It is not merely a "hand" or "arm," suggesting even the slightest touch of God's power is overwhelming. The phrase asserts the exclusive, unchallengeable nature of the plague's source.
  • God (אֱלֹהִים): While a general term for deity, in this context, uttered by the magicians in the presence of Moses and Aaron, it refers to Yahweh, the God of Israel. It’s a reluctant acknowledgement that the true, living God is at work, not merely a stronger demon or a rival deity from their pantheon, but the sovereign ruler over all.
• But Pharaoh's heart was hardened (וַיֶּחֱזַק לֵב פַּרְעֹה - vayyeḥězaq lēv Parʿōh): The verb ḥāzaq implies strength, firmness, or being stiff-necked. Pharaoh remained stubbornly resistant. This hardening is attributed both to Pharaoh himself and to God in Exodus, reflecting the interplay of human will and divine sovereignty. Here, it notes his ongoing, active resistance despite clear evidence.
• and he did not listen (וְלֹא שָׁמַע - vĕlōʾ šāmaʿ) to them: Despite the powerful confession from his own experts and the escalating suffering, Pharaoh chose not to heed Moses and Aaron's message to let the people go. His lack of listening demonstrates a fundamental rejection of God's will and message.
• just as the Lord (כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה - kaʾăšer dibber Yĕhwâ) had spoken: This confirms God's earlier prophecies to Moses (e.g., Exod 4:21, 7:3-4). It underscores the faithfulness and sovereign control of God over all events, including the human will, even in opposition to His revealed will.

Exodus 8 19 Bonus section

The specific failure with the plague of gnats might also carry a subtle polemic. Many Egyptian priests maintained ritual purity, shaving their bodies and avoiding vermin. A plague of gnats covering both man and beast, emerging from the dust, would have made priestly cleanliness impossible, mocking their religious practices and their ability to stand before their own gods. Furthermore, the inability of the magicians to create even the smallest of living things, such as gnats, demonstrated their gods' lack of power over creation itself, a stark contrast to Yahweh, the Creator of all. This incident also serves as an example of how the very natural order, when manipulated by God, can become an instrument of His judgment and revelation, making manifest His power to those who oppose Him.

Exodus 8 19 Commentary

Exodus 8:19 stands as a pivotal moment in the plagues. For the first time, not Moses or Aaron, but the highly respected Egyptian magicians, admitted divine agency, declaring, "This is the finger of God." This confession revealed the impotence of all Egyptian magic and deities against the unique, unassailable power of Yahweh. It marked the definitive point where their "secret arts" completely failed, underscoring the infinite qualitative difference between divine power and any human or demonic imitation. The term "finger of God" succinctly expresses direct, effortless, and irresistible divine intervention, highlighting God's immediate involvement in the judgment. Yet, in tragic contrast, Pharaoh's heart remained stubbornly hardened, a testament to the persistent nature of spiritual rebellion and the pre-ordained fulfillment of God's sovereign plan. This verse demonstrates that even undeniable proof of God's existence and power does not guarantee repentance or obedience; it can further entrench a defiant heart. It serves as a stark reminder of human spiritual blindness and God's ultimate control even over human resistance.