Exodus 8:31 kjv

And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.

Exodus 8:31 nkjv

And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained.

Exodus 8:31 niv

and the LORD did what Moses asked. The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained.

Exodus 8:31 esv

And the LORD did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained.

Exodus 8:31 nlt

And the LORD did as Moses asked and caused the swarms of flies to disappear from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. Not a single fly remained.

Exodus 8 verses

Exodus 8 31 Meaning

The LORD, in accordance with the request made by Moses, completely removed the dense swarms of flies from the land of Egypt. This removal was exhaustive, impacting Pharaoh, his officials, and all the people, ensuring not a single fly remained. It highlights God's immediate and absolute control over creation and His faithfulness to His word spoken through His servant.

Exodus 8 31 Context

Exodus chapter 8 details the second, third, and fourth plagues brought upon Egypt. Specifically, Exodus 8:20-32 describes the fourth plague: the plague of arov, which means "swarms of flies" or perhaps a mixture of harmful insects. God differentiated between the Egyptians and the Israelites, ensuring no arov affected the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived (Exo 8:22). This plague was a direct attack on Egyptian gods associated with creation and nature, such as Khepri (the god represented by the scarab beetle), or even aspects of Ra, the sun god, as flies might have been seen as life given by the sun, now turned against them. Pharaoh, distressed by the severity of the plague, pleaded with Moses to intercede with the LORD to remove the flies, promising to let the Israelites go. Moses set a time for the plague's removal (Exo 8:29) to show Pharaoh that the LORD was real and sovereign, not a deity of chance. Exodus 8:31 narrates the immediate and complete fulfillment of Moses' request, proving God's absolute control over the natural world. This prompt removal served as a test for Pharaoh, giving him a clear sign and an opportunity to keep his word. However, as 8:32 reveals, Pharaoh hardened his heart once again.

Exodus 8 31 Word analysis

• And the LORD: Hebrew וַֽיהוָ֖ה (wa-YHWH). YHWH is the sacred, personal, covenant name of God, indicating His active, faithful, and personal involvement in human history. It signifies the ever-present, self-existent One who keeps His promises. This emphasizes divine agency, not an accident or natural occurrence.

• did: Hebrew וַיַּ֤עַשׂ (way-ya'as). From the verb עָשָׂה (asah), "to do, make, accomplish." Here, it signifies the direct and immediate execution of an action, highlighting God's power and prompt responsiveness to Moses' intercession.

• according to the word: Hebrew כִּדְבַ֥ר (kid'var). כְּ (kᵉ-) means "according to" or "like," and דָּבָר (dabar) means "word, utterance, command, matter." This phrase signifies that God's action was precisely aligned with, and a direct response to, what Moses had spoken. It underlines the efficacy of Moses' intercession and God's attentiveness to His prophet.

• of Moses: Hebrew מֹשֶׁ֑ה (moshe). Identifies Moses as God's chosen messenger and intercessor. God validates His servant's role.

• and he removed: Hebrew וַיָּ֨סַר (way-yaśar). From the verb סוּר (sur), in the Hiphil (causative) form. It means "to cause to turn aside," "to remove," "to take away." The Hiphil emphasizes God's direct and decisive action in making the flies disappear.

• the swarms of flies: Hebrew הֶעָרֹ֛ב (he'arov). הָֽעָרֹב (hāʿārōv) is derived from עָרַב (arab), meaning "to mix" or "swarm." While often translated "flies," commentators and scholars suggest it referred to a mixed horde of stinging or biting insects (e.g., horseflies, stable flies, dung beetles, scarab beetles). This detail is significant as it potentially targeted Egyptian deities like Khepri (the scarab-headed god of resurrection/morning sun) or others associated with various animal forms or aspects of nature, showing their impotence before YHWH. The severity was not just annoyance, but infestation causing great suffering and pollution.

• from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people: Hebrew מִפַּרְעֹה֙ מֵעֲבָדָיו֙ וּמֵֽעַמּ֔וֹ (miparʿoh meʿavadaw u-meʿammo). This demonstrates the comprehensive reach of God's plague and subsequent removal. It affected the entire nation, from the highest authority (Pharaoh) to his royal officials and the general populace, emphasizing God's universal dominion within Egypt.

• there remained not one: Hebrew לֹ֥א נִשְׁאַֽר (lo nish'ar). לֹא (lo) is "not," and נִשְׁאַר (nish'ar) is "remained, left over" from the verb שָׁאַר (sha'ar). This phrase highlights the absolute and total completion of the divine act. It was not a gradual dispersal or a partial abatement, but a total disappearance. This completeness underscored God's omnipotence and precision.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And the LORD did according to the word of Moses": This phrase emphasizes divine sovereignty paired with responsiveness to human intercession. God chose to act in response to Moses' prayer, honoring His covenant with Moses and demonstrating that His plans unfold through chosen human agents. It reinforces that Moses was truly God's spokesman, validating his authority before Pharaoh.
  • "he removed the swarms of flies... there remained not one": This full phrase speaks to the specificity, effectiveness, and completeness of God's action. The sudden appearance and sudden, absolute disappearance of the flies showcased a deliberate supernatural intervention, impossible through natural means. It removed all doubt about the source of both the plague and its cessation. This powerful demonstration directly countered any belief in Egypt that their gods could control nature, revealing their powerlessness against YHWH.

Exodus 8 31 Bonus section

• Differentiating Grace: This plague was notable for the first explicit differentiation between the Egyptians and the Israelites (Exo 8:22), with the land of Goshen being untouched. This set a precedent for future plagues and underscored God's protective love for His people even amidst His judgments on their oppressors. The removal confirmed this special protection.
• Progressive Revelation: The progression of the plagues (water to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, then livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, firstborn) escalated in severity and increasingly targeted core aspects of Egyptian life and their pantheon. The arov plague moved beyond mere inconvenience to a truly destructive infestation, forcing Pharaoh to initiate contact, indicating the growing pressure. The removal was a dramatic demonstration designed to impress him deeply.
• Biblical Pattern of Repentance and Reversal: The pattern of a leader pleading for divine intervention during a plague, followed by the plague's removal and the leader's subsequent relapse (as seen with Pharaoh), mirrors human nature's tendency to seek God only in crisis and forget Him in comfort. This cycle repeats in various forms throughout biblical narratives, underscoring the deceitfulness of a hardened heart.

Exodus 8 31 Commentary

Exodus 8:31 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating several theological truths within the narrative of the plagues. Firstly, it emphatically displays God's absolute sovereignty over creation. The precise and instantaneous removal of the innumerable arov demonstrates that God does not merely allow natural phenomena but commands them. This power served as a stark contrast to the impotence of Egyptian deities, who were purportedly responsible for fertility, sun, and insect life, like Khepri. The plague of arov, and its immediate removal, was a direct polemic against these gods, showing YHWH to be the true God of creation and life.

Secondly, the verse highlights God's faithfulness and responsiveness to His prophet's intercession. God acts precisely "according to the word of Moses," validating Moses' role as a true prophet and mediator. This relationship between God and His chosen servant would have been a powerful message to both Israel and Egypt, affirming that YHWH was indeed Israel's God. It establishes a pattern where divine judgment can be averted or removed through genuine repentance and faithful prayer, yet this requires genuine submission, which Pharaoh notably failed to provide.

Thirdly, the completeness of the removal—"there remained not one"—emphasizes God's power and decisiveness. There was no partial success; it was a total victory over the pestilence, demonstrating divine might beyond any natural explanation. This definitive act also served as a moment of clear grace for Pharaoh and Egypt, a palpable sign intended to lead them to release Israel. Yet, tragically, Pharaoh’s response (in 8:32) to this profound act of divine mercy was further hardening, setting the stage for more severe judgments. The verse thus stands as a testament to God's immense power and mercy, and simultaneously, to humanity's capacity for hardened defiance even in the face of undeniable truth.