Exodus 8:5 kjv

And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.

Exodus 8:5 nkjv

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.' "

Exodus 8:5 niv

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Stretch out your hand with your staff over the streams and canals and ponds, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.'?"

Exodus 8:5 esv

And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt!'"

Exodus 8:5 nlt

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Raise the staff in your hand over all the rivers, canals, and ponds of Egypt, and bring up frogs over all the land.'"

Exodus 8 verses

Exodus 8 5 Meaning

Exodus 8:5 details the Lord's direct instruction to Moses, commanding him to tell Aaron to perform the action that initiates the second plague upon Egypt: the proliferation of frogs. This verse highlights the precise chain of divine command, the designated agent (Aaron with his staff), the specific targets (Egypt's water sources), and the resulting phenomenon (frogs covering the land), all as an act of divine judgment against Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt, to secure the liberation of Israel.

Exodus 8 5 Context

Exodus chapter 8 immediately follows the first plague (water to blood) and the hardening of Pharaoh's heart. Despite Moses and Aaron demonstrating God's power through the first plague (Ex 7:20-25), Pharaoh remained defiant. This verse signals the onset of the second plague, deliberately escalating the divine judgment against Egypt. Historically, the Egyptians heavily relied on the Nile River and its various branches, canals, and ponds for life, agriculture, and worship. The second plague of frogs, targeting these essential water sources, directly assaulted the comfort and the religious beliefs of the Egyptians, specifically striking at deities like Heqet, the frog-headed goddess of fertility and childbirth, and Sobek, the crocodile-headed god of the Nile's waters and fertility. The plague's intent was not merely discomfort but a theological assault, proving the superiority of YHWH over Egypt's entire pantheon and compelling Pharaoh to acknowledge His authority and release the Israelites.

Exodus 8 5 Word analysis

• Then the Lord (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה - vayyomer YHWH): "The Lord" refers to YHWH, the covenant name of God, signifying His personal, active involvement and sovereign will. "Said" indicates a direct divine utterance, underscoring His initiative and authority.
• said to Moses (אֶל־מֹשֶׁה - 'el-Moshe): Moses serves as the primary conduit of divine revelation and instruction, highlighting his role as God's chosen messenger and prophet to Pharaoh.
• 'Tell Aaron (אֱמֹר אֶל־אַהֲרֹן - 'emor 'el-Aharon)': A direct command from God, through Moses, to Aaron. This demonstrates the established hierarchy of communication, where Aaron functions as Moses's appointed helper and spokesperson (Ex 4:16, 7:1-2), validating his authority in performing divine acts.
• "Stretch out (נְטֵה - neteh)': An imperative verb, conveying a decisive, authoritative physical action. This act symbolizes the projection of divine power through human agency.
• your hand (יָדְךָ - yadcha)': Signifies the execution of a task, an instrument of power and direct action. In biblical context, the hand often represents power, authority, or agency.
• with your staff (בְּמַטְּךָ - bematt'cha)': The staff (or "rod") is a key motif in the plague narratives, representing God's delegated authority and miraculous power (Ex 4:2, 4:20, 7:9). It is not the staff itself that holds power, but God working through it.
• over the rivers (עַל־הַיְאֹרִים - 'al-hayy'orim)': The definite article "the" indicates specific rivers, primarily the Nile and its major branches, which were the lifeline of Egypt. These water bodies were also central to Egyptian religious reverence.
• over the canals (עַל־הַנַּהֲרֹת - 'al-hannaharot)': Refers to smaller streams, canals, or irrigation channels fed by the Nile system. This shows a broader scope of the plague beyond just the main river.
• and over the ponds (וְעַל־הָאֲגַמִּים - ve'al-ha'agamim)': Refers to stagnant pools, swamps, and reservoirs. This specifies that no body of water would be spared, ensuring a comprehensive infestation, invading all aspects of Egyptian daily life.
• 'and cause frogs to come up (וְהַעֲלֵה אֶת־הַצְפַרְדְּעִים - veha'aleh 'et-hatzefarde'im)': The verb ha'aleh is causative ("cause to come up"), implying an act beyond natural proliferation, a direct divine command bringing forth an unprecedented number of frogs.
• on the land of Egypt (עַל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם - 'al-eretz Mitzrayim)': Defines the geographical extent of the plague, indicating it would affect the entire nation, not just localized areas.

Words-group analysis:

• "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Tell Aaron'": Establishes the divine hierarchy of command and accountability. God is the initiator, Moses the primary recipient, and Aaron the executor of the divine will.
• "'Stretch out your hand with your staff'": This phrase embodies the active performance of a miracle. It highlights that the sign is not a random occurrence but a deliberate, commanded act through a chosen instrument, linking God's invisible power to visible reality.
• "'over the rivers, over the canals, and over the ponds'": This tripartite phrase signifies the pervasive and comprehensive nature of the plague. It implies that every water source, vital to Egyptian life, sustenance, and ritual, will become the source of their affliction, demonstrating God's total control over their environment.
• "'and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt'": This is the precise, miraculous outcome commanded. It underscores God's ability to manipulate nature's elements beyond normal patterns, directly challenging Egyptian beliefs in a controlled cosmos overseen by their deities and affirming YHWH's ultimate sovereignty.

Exodus 8 5 Bonus section

The deliberate detail of specifying "rivers, canals, and ponds" is not mere redundancy. It emphasizes the extent of God's reach into every facet of Egyptian life connected to water. This demonstrates God's perfect foreknowledge and absolute control over His creation, turning what sustained Egypt into an instrument of its discomfort and eventual judgment. The repetition of the instruction "Stretch out your hand with your staff" across the plagues also serves to underscore that the signs are not random occurrences but precise, commanded acts of a sovereign God, orchestrated to reveal His power and to bring about His purposes for His people.

Exodus 8 5 Commentary

Exodus 8:5 is pivotal, directly launching the second plague. It exemplifies God's strategic judgment, which is personal (from YHWH), communicated through chosen agents (Moses and Aaron), and executed with specific actions (stretching out the staff) upon precise targets (Egypt's water sources) to achieve a defined outcome (the frog infestation). This plague was more than a nuisance; it was a profound spiritual attack. Frogs were typically revered in Egyptian culture, especially associated with Heqet, the goddess of fertility. By making frogs an overwhelming, omnipresent, and decaying scourge, God turned something sacred and benevolent into a repulsive instrument of His judgment, demonstrating His absolute dominion over the supposed powers of Egypt's gods. The widespread nature of the frogs, invading every home and place, signified a disruption of order, purity, and life itself, forcing a direct confrontation between the divine power of YHWH and the impotence of Pharaoh and his gods.