Exodus 8:7 kjv

And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.

Exodus 8:7 nkjv

And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.

Exodus 8:7 niv

But the magicians did the same things by their secret arts; they also made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.

Exodus 8:7 esv

But the magicians did the same by their secret arts and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.

Exodus 8:7 nlt

But the magicians were able to do the same thing with their magic. They, too, caused frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.

Exodus 8 verses

Exodus 8 7 Meaning

Exodus 8:7 reveals the response of Pharaoh's magicians to the plague of frogs. After Aaron, at God's command, brought forth frogs, the Egyptian magicians, using their secret arts, also successfully conjured frogs upon the land of Egypt. This verse highlights their ability to imitate some of God's actions through occult practices or deceptive means, further escalating the severity of the plague for the Egyptians. It demonstrates a clash of powers: the genuine divine power of Yahweh versus the imitative and limited power of the occult, setting the stage for the definitive failure of the magicians in later plagues, where they are unable to replicate God's actions or alleviate the suffering.

Exodus 8 7 Context

Exodus 8:7 occurs during the second of the ten plagues against Egypt, the plague of frogs. Following the first plague (water turning to blood), Pharaoh remained defiant. God then instructed Moses to command Aaron to stretch out his hand over the waters of Egypt, causing an immense number of frogs to cover the land. This verse describes the Egyptian magicians' subsequent act of attempting to replicate Moses's action. The historical context involves ancient Egypt, a land deeply entrenched in polytheism and magical practices, with a priestly class skilled in various forms of divination, sorcery, and interpretations of signs. Each plague was often a direct assault not only on Pharaoh's will but also on the perceived power of Egyptian deities, challenging their domain and demonstrating Yahweh's absolute supremacy. The frog plague, for instance, challenged Heket, the Egyptian goddess of fertility and childbirth, who was often depicted with the head of a frog. By allowing their magicians to initially replicate some plagues, God highlighted the superficiality of their power, only to then show its profound limits and utter subservience to His true omnipotence.

Exodus 8 7 Word analysis

• And the magicians (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כֵן הַחַרְטֻמִּים - vayya'asoo khein hakhartummîm):

  • וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כֵן (vayya'asoo khein): "and they did so," or "and they did likewise." The verb asah (עשׂה) means to make, do, accomplish. khein (כֵן) indicates "thus, so, likewise." It highlights the attempt to perfectly imitate the preceding divine action.
  • הַחַרְטֻמִּים (hakhartummîm): "the magicians." This term specifically refers to an elite class of Egyptian wise men, astrologers, diviners, and interpreters of omens and dreams. They were part of Pharaoh's inner circle, wielding significant spiritual and political influence. Their power was believed to be derived from Egyptian deities or through specialized secret knowledge and rites. This direct engagement highlights the clash between Yahweh and the established occult hierarchy of Egypt.

• with their enchantments (בְּלָטֵיהֶם - b'latëihem):

  • בְּלָטֵיהֶם (b'latëihem): "with their secret arts," "with their sorceries," or "with their illusions/magic." The root l-ṭ (ל-ט) relates to secretly, subtly, or to something veiled or concealed, suggesting hidden, obscure arts, perhaps involving sleight of hand, demonic power, or exploiting natural phenomena through secret knowledge. This contrasts with the open and public manifestation of God's power through Moses and Aaron.

• and brought up frogs (וַיַּעֲלוּ אֶת־הַצְפַרְדְּעִים - vayya'aloo et-hatztz'fard'iym):

  • וַיַּעֲלוּ (vayya'aloo): "and they caused to come up" or "they brought up." The Hiphil form of the verb alah (עלָה - to go up) signifies causation, indicating they actively made frogs appear. This directly parallels Aaron's action, showing their initial success in imitation.
  • אֶת־הַצְפַרְדְּעִים (et-hatztz'fard'iym): "the frogs." Frogs, while naturally occurring, appeared in overwhelming numbers in the first divine intervention, far beyond any normal ecological phenomenon. The magicians replicating this intensified the already present distress.

• upon the land of Egypt (עַל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם - al-eretz Mitzrayim):

  • עַל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם (al-eretz Mitzrayim): "upon the land of Egypt." This confirms the physical manifestation and pervasive nature of the augmented plague, affecting the entire populace.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And the magicians did so... and brought up frogs": This phrase emphasizes the apparent success of the magicians. It immediately presents a counter-demonstration to Moses's miracle. The significance lies in showing that their powers, possibly enabled by demonic forces, could imitate divine action on a superficial level. This serves to escalate the conflict, harden Pharaoh's heart further, and provide a clear opportunity for God to then reveal the true limitations of human or demonic power.

• "with their enchantments": This highlights the source and nature of their ability. Unlike divine omnipotence which commands creation effortlessly, the magicians operate through "secret arts," suggesting either trickery, a manipulative use of hidden knowledge, or supernatural (demonic) aid. This directly challenges Yahweh's power, positing a rival source of supernatural intervention. It also serves as a polemic against Egyptian occultism, showing its apparent efficacy but ultimately its inability to truly match God.

Exodus 8 7 Bonus section

The act of the Egyptian magicians replicating the plague of frogs underscores a key biblical theme: the existence of spiritual forces that can empower humans to perform acts appearing miraculous, but which are not from God. These forces, often demonic, are ultimately subordinate to God's sovereign will and power. The polemic against Egyptian magic is twofold: first, that it possesses some real, albeit limited, supernatural efficacy; second, that it is utterly helpless to contend with Yahweh's supreme authority, especially in bringing relief from the plagues. Their ability to add to the problem, but not to remove it (as only Moses could, at God's command), subtly indicates the destructive and escalating nature of occult power versus the redemptive power of God. This narrative provides an ancient paradigm for discerning true divine action from counterfeit spiritual manifestations, a challenge that persists throughout biblical history.

Exodus 8 7 Commentary

Exodus 8:7 is pivotal in the unfolding drama of the plagues, demonstrating an early phase of Pharaoh's hardened resistance where his occult specialists could seemingly counter or imitate God's power. It confirms that the magicians, employing their lahaṭim (secret arts), succeeded in adding to the already widespread frog infestation. This replication serves several purposes: it reinforces Pharaoh's conviction in the strength of his own spiritual resources, preventing immediate capitulation; it highlights the deceptive nature of the demonic/human power they wield, which can mimic genuine divine manifestations; and it intensifies the plague upon the Egyptians, ironically making their situation worse, even for Pharaoh, who hoped they would alleviate it. However, this imitative success sets up their later, conclusive failures, particularly when they admit defeat at the gnat plague (Exo 8:18), acknowledging "This is the finger of God," marking the clear boundary between human/demonic capability and Yahweh's supreme, unmatched power. The verse serves as a reminder that not all miraculous-appearing signs are from God, necessitating spiritual discernment.