Exodus 8 9

Exodus 8:9 kjv

And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I entreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?

Exodus 8:9 nkjv

And Moses said to Pharaoh, "Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only."

Exodus 8:9 niv

Moses said to Pharaoh, "I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile."

Exodus 8:9 esv

Moses said to Pharaoh, "Be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile."

Exodus 8:9 nlt

"You set the time!" Moses replied. "Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. They will remain only in the Nile River."

Exodus 8 9 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Gen 1:3And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.God's spoken word creates instant reality.
Num 14:13-19And Moses said to the LORD... Pardon the iniquity of this people...Moses as a faithful intercessor.
1 Sam 7:5Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you."Leaders as intercessors for their people.
Ps 33:9For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.God's word's immediate efficacy.
Ps 46:10"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations..."God's absolute sovereignty to be recognized.
Ps 104:24-30O LORD, how manifold are your works! ... When you send forth your Spirit..God's power and precision in creation.
Prov 16:18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.Pharaoh's pride leads to his downfall.
Isa 46:10Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done..God's sovereign knowledge and control of time.
Isa 55:11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty...God's word always accomplishes its purpose.
Jer 7:16"Do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede for them, for I will not hear you."God instructs against intercession when judgement is fixed.
Dan 2:21He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings...God's control over all temporal affairs.
Mt 8:8-10The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed."Authority through spoken word and precise timing.
Mk 4:39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.Christ's power over natural elements with a command.
Rom 8:34Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.Christ as the ultimate intercessor.
Rom 9:17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you..."God's purpose for Pharaoh's obstinacy.
Col 1:16-17For by him all things were created... and in him all things hold together.Christ as creator and sustainer of creation.
Heb 7:25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.Christ's perpetual intercession.
Exo 7:5The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt...A purpose of the plagues: God's revelation.
Exo 9:16But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.God's power demonstrated through Pharaoh.
Exo 12:12"For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn... and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD."Judgment upon the gods of Egypt.
Exo 8:22But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people live, so that no flies will be there...Distinction between Israel and Egypt.

Exodus 8 verses

Exodus 8 9 Meaning

Exodus 8:9 presents a pivotal moment during the plague of frogs, where Moses, empowered by Yahweh, challenges Pharaoh. Rather than pleading for immediate relief, Moses invites Pharaoh to name the precise time when he desires the frogs to be removed. This audacious offer serves not to grant Pharaoh honor or control, but to highlight Yahweh's absolute sovereignty, demonstrating that He is capable of acting with pinpoint precision, even down to an hour designated by Pharaoh. It is a direct test of Yahweh's power over Egyptian deities and a stark contrast to Pharaoh's own limited authority, ensuring that the deliverance would clearly be attributed to the God of Israel and not to coincidence or Egyptian magic.

Exodus 8 9 Context

Exodus chapter 8 immediately follows the plague of frogs, which had covered Egypt, even penetrating Pharaoh's palace and his people's homes, including their beds and ovens. This was the second of the ten plagues Yahweh brought upon Egypt, intensifying His judgment and further revealing His power. Previously, in Exodus 8:8, Pharaoh had summoned Moses and Aaron and promised to let Israel go if the frogs were removed, showcasing his distress and a momentary crack in his hardened resolve. Moses' statement in verse 9 is a direct response to this plea, coming right before he entreats Yahweh, demonstrating Yahweh's willingness to perform His miracle at Pharaoh's own specified time, making it unequivocally clear that the relief was divine, not accidental or a magical feat. The larger context of the plagues is Yahweh's definitive liberation of His people and the defeat of the pantheon of Egyptian gods, demonstrating His unique sovereignty over all creation.

Exodus 8 9 Word analysis

  • Moses said to Pharaoh: This highlights the direct confrontation between Yahweh's chosen mediator and the reigning earthly king who opposes Him. It's a face-to-face challenge from one given authority by the Creator against one claiming deific authority for himself.
  • "Glorify over me!" (KJV: הִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי, hitpa'er 'alay). The Hebrew verb פָּאַר (pa'ar), in the Hithpael stem (intensive/reflexive), can mean to glorify oneself, boast, or be glorified. The translation varies significantly ("Be pleased to command me," "Tell me when you want me to pray"). Moses is not inviting Pharaoh to literally "glorify" him (Moses). Instead, it's a strategic challenge. Moses sarcastically or ironically gives Pharaoh the "honor" or "boasting rights" to name the time for God's action. This phrase confronts Pharaoh's perceived divine control over time and natural phenomena, positioning Yahweh as the one who operates precisely at the appointed moment, thereby dismantling Pharaoh's claim to deific power. It is a polemic against Pharaoh's perceived godhood and Egypt's gods associated with time and order.
  • "When shall I intercede for you," (אֵימָתַי אֶעְתִּיר לָךְ, eimatai e'attir lach): The verb עָתַר (atar) means to entreat, supplicate, or pray effectively, emphasizing the power of Moses' intercession on behalf of even an oppressor. This shows Moses, as Yahweh's prophet, mediating between Yahweh and Pharaoh, even for the benefit of Pharaoh's well-being, yet doing so to serve Yahweh's ultimate purpose of demonstrating power.
  • "for your servants, and for your people,": Moses specifies the broad scope of his intercession, encompassing everyone affected by the plague in Egypt. This magnifies the grace offered and the extensive impact of Yahweh's direct action.
  • "that the frogs may be removed from you and from your houses and remain only in the Nile?": This precise condition underscores Yahweh's specific control over His creation. The removal is not to be partial or natural attrition but a complete and deliberate act. Their specified return "only in the Nile" is a crucial detail.
    • "and remain only in the Nile": This phrase has significant polemical weight. The Nile was worshipped as a god (Hapi), and frogs were associated with Heqet, a goddess of fertility and resurrection, often depicted with a frog head. By forcing the frogs to retreat precisely to the Nile, Moses demonstrates Yahweh's sovereignty over the very elements and creatures sacred to the Egyptians. It proves Yahweh's command extends even to the "source" of their life and the realm of their deities, establishing His exclusive dominion over life and death.

Exodus 8 9 Bonus section

The deliberate choice of timing by Moses, initiated by divine instruction, forced Pharaoh to acknowledge the supernatural character of the plagues and their removal. If the frogs had simply diminished naturally, Pharaoh could have rationalized it away. By setting a specific, chosen hour, Yahweh stripped away any ambiguity, cornering Pharaoh into a recognition of the miraculous. This precise timing further humiliated Pharaoh because it showcased Yahweh's ability to exert authority over even the very rhythms and occurrences of creation, elements Pharaoh believed his own gods governed. The hithpael stem in הִתְפָּאֵר (hitpa'er) here indicates an action that reflects upon the subject. It is Moses allowing Pharaoh to choose his own moment of "glory," but the irony lies in the outcome: this "glory" would actually underscore Yahweh's precise power, turning Pharaoh's moment of supposed control into a demonstration of his profound impotence.

Exodus 8 9 Commentary

Exodus 8:9 showcases Yahweh's meticulous sovereignty and exposes Pharaoh's illusion of control. Moses's daring invitation to Pharaoh to name the hour of deliverance is a profound act of divine challenge, ensuring that no human agency or random chance could be credited for the impending miracle. This precise, divinely orchestrated removal of the frogs, unlike the vague promises of Egyptian magicians, would powerfully affirm Yahweh's exclusive omnipotence. Moses acts not merely as a messenger but as a vehicle for Yahweh's power, his intercession being directly effectual through God's will. The verse lays bare the central theme of the Exodus narrative: the ultimate authority rests not with earthly rulers or their supposed gods, but with the God of Israel, who acts in the affairs of humanity with precision and purpose to reveal His glory. This encounter exemplifies that God's power is absolute and that even the timing of His acts of mercy or judgment is fully within His control.