Exodus 8:8 kjv

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.

Exodus 8:8 nkjv

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, "Entreat the LORD that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD."

Exodus 8:8 niv

Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD."

Exodus 8:8 esv

Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, "Plead with the LORD to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD."

Exodus 8:8 nlt

Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, "Plead with the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the LORD."

Exodus 8 verses

Exodus 8 8 Meaning

Exodus 8:8 records Pharaoh's first direct request for relief from a plague, specifically the frogs. Under extreme duress, he acknowledges the power of Israel's God, YHWH, by asking Moses and Aaron to intercede for him. In exchange for the removal of the frogs, Pharaoh offers a conditional promise to allow the Israelites to depart and sacrifice to their God, marking a crucial, yet temporary, concession in his conflict with the Most High.

Exodus 8 8 Context

Exodus 8:8 takes place amidst the escalating series of divine judgments upon Egypt, known as the ten plagues. Specifically, it occurs during the second plague: frogs. The Nile, source of Egyptian life and associated with their gods (like Hapi, god of the Nile flood, and Heket, frog goddess), had already been turned to blood (Exod 7:14-25). Following this, frogs covered the entire land, entering homes, beds, and ovens (Exod 8:1-7). Unlike the first plague, which caused widespread disgust, the frog plague was more invasive, reaching into every corner of Egyptian life.

The significance of this verse is heightened by what immediately precedes it: the Egyptian magicians could replicate the frogs, seemingly affirming their power (Exod 8:7). However, they were utterly unable to remove them, demonstrating a crucial limitation. This powerlessness forces Pharaoh's hand. Prior to this, Pharaoh had been defiant and dismissive (Exod 5:2). Here, for the first time, he initiates contact with Moses and Aaron, requesting their God's intervention, a clear sign that the divine pressure is beginning to break his resolve. This historical and literary context highlights the theological truth of YHWH's absolute supremacy over both nature and the gods of Egypt, and Pharaoh's dawning, though reluctant, recognition of this power.

Exodus 8 8 Word analysis

• Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said:

  • וַיִּקְרָא (vayyiqrā): "and he called." The consecutive 'waw' with the imperfect (often translated "and he called") implies an immediate action and marks a shift. Pharaoh, who previously commanded and dismissed Moses, now takes the initiative to summon them. This marks a turning point; the plague has broken through his royal arrogance, forcing him to seek their presence.
  • פַרְעֹה (Parʿōh): Pharaoh. This is not a personal name but a title for the Egyptian monarch, symbolizing absolute power and divine kingship in ancient Egypt. Here, this powerful figure is reduced to pleading, a dramatic display of YHWH's superior authority over even the most powerful human ruler.
  • The act of calling for Moses and Aaron implies that Pharaoh, for the first time, recognizes them as agents of a greater power, acknowledging that his own magicians are impotent against this specific judgment.

• 'Entreat the Lord:

  • הַעְתִּירוּ (haʿătîrū): "Entreat, supplicate, intercede." This is an imperative from the root עתר ('atar), meaning to pray fervently or abundantly, to make supplication. It conveys an urgent, desperate plea. Pharaoh is not merely requesting; he is begging for powerful, effective prayer. This acknowledges Moses and Aaron's special relationship with YHWH.
  • יְהוָה (YHWH): The LORD, the Tetragrammaton, the personal covenant name of Israel's God. Pharaoh uses this specific name, indicating he understands who Moses and Aaron serve, and attributes the plague to their God. This is a subtle but profound acknowledgment of YHWH's unique power.

• that He may remove the frogs from me and from my people:

  • וְיָסֵר (ve-yāsēr): "and He may remove/turn aside." A causative form (Hiphil imperfect) of סור (sur), meaning to turn aside, remove. Pharaoh asks that God cause the frogs to depart, explicitly acknowledging YHWH's direct control over the natural world and, by extension, over the plague.
  • הַצְפַרְדְּעִים (hatsfardeʿîm): "the frogs." In Egyptian religion, the frog-headed goddess Heket was associated with fertility, rebirth, and water. A plague of frogs, dying and decaying, would not only be a physical nuisance but also a direct theological affront to Heket and the Egyptian pantheon, turning symbols of life into symbols of death and decay. Pharaoh's request for their removal underscores the plague's debilitating effect.
  • מִמֶּנִּי וּמֵעַמִּי (mimmennî ū-mēʿammî): "from me and from my people." Pharaoh is personally afflicted and concerned for his kingdom's well-being. This demonstrates the plague's effectiveness in hitting both his personal comfort and his national power.

• and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord':

  • וְאֶשַׁלְּחָה (ve'ešallechâ): "and I will send away/let go." A Piel imperfect, emphasizing permission and definite action of release. This is Pharaoh's conditional promise, directly linking the cessation of the plague to the freedom of the Israelites.
  • אֶת-הָעָם (ʾet-hāʿām): "the people," referring specifically to the Israelites.
  • וְיִזְבְּחוּ (ve-yizbechū): "that they may sacrifice." The ultimate goal for the Israelites, from God's perspective, was to worship Him through sacrifice. This aligns with Moses' original demand (Exod 5:1). Pharaoh agrees to this, revealing the extent of his desperation. His use of "sacrifice to the Lord" again demonstrates his acknowledgment of the specific God of Israel.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron: A significant shift in power dynamics, indicating Pharaoh's initial defeat in the battle of wills and the acknowledgement of YHWH's superiority. He is forced to seek out those he previously dismissed.
  • Entreat the Lord: Highlights the core theme of intercessory prayer and God's response to it, a model Moses consistently demonstrates. It shows Pharaoh acknowledging Moses's special connection to his God.
  • remove the frogs... I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord: This entire statement reveals Pharaoh's manipulative bargaining strategy. His promise is conditional, directly linking the relief from suffering to his concession, yet it implies a future intention to renege, which indeed he does (Exod 8:15). This pattern is central to God's purpose in hardening Pharaoh's heart—to display His glory fully.

Exodus 8 8 Bonus section

The ancient Near Eastern concept of a king's responsibility included maintaining cosmic order and the well-being of the land. When the frogs brought chaos and decay, not only was Heket diminished, but Pharaoh's divine authority was severely undermined in the eyes of his people. The request for Moses's intercession was a public humiliation for Pharaoh, forcing him to acknowledge a power beyond his own, one he had previously denied knowing. This specific plague, involving creatures emerging from the life-giving Nile and then dying, turning a source of life into a source of stench and decay, powerfully illustrated YHWH's complete reversal of Egyptian prosperity and spiritual claims.

Exodus 8 8 Commentary

Exodus 8:8 marks a pivotal moment in the plagues narrative: Pharaoh's first direct appeal to Moses and Aaron, requesting their divine intercession. This is not a confession of sin or genuine repentance, but a desperate pragmatic response to intense suffering. The power dynamics have visibly shifted; Pharaoh, the all-powerful human king, is reduced to begging the representatives of YHWH for relief. His plea for "the LORD" to remove the frogs underscores that he now clearly distinguishes YHWH from his own powerless deities and magicians. The fact that the magicians could bring frogs but not remove them clearly set YHWH apart.

Pharaoh's promise to "let the people go" is purely conditional and self-serving, revealing a superficial yielding under duress rather than true submission. This is his first significant concession, yet it is also a deceptive offer. He frames the release as a means "that they may sacrifice," ostensibly to alleviate the plague, rather than an acknowledgment of God's right to His people. This established a recurring pattern of Pharaoh's hardened heart, where temporary relief leads to reneging on promises, ultimately demonstrating his complete rebellion against God's will and setting the stage for more severe judgments that reveal YHWH's glory. The request for intercession foreshadows the necessity of a mediator between God and humanity, culminating in the ultimate Intercessor, Jesus Christ.