Exodus 9:19 kjv

Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.

Exodus 9:19 nkjv

Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field, for the hail shall come down on every man and every animal which is found in the field and is not brought home; and they shall die." ' "

Exodus 9:19 niv

Give an order now to bring your livestock and everything you have in the field to a place of shelter, because the hail will fall on every person and animal that has not been brought in and is still out in the field, and they will die.'?"

Exodus 9:19 esv

Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them."'"

Exodus 9:19 nlt

Quick! Order your livestock and servants to come in from the fields to find shelter. Any person or animal left outside will die when the hail falls.'"

Exodus 9 verses

Exodus 9 19 Meaning

Exodus 9:19 records God's direct command through Moses to Pharaoh and his people, specifically warning them to bring all livestock and property from the open fields into shelters. This instruction reveals God's nature as both a just judge and a compassionate protector, offering a means of safety to those who heed His warning before the destructive seventh plague of hail devastates all that remains exposed. The verse highlights individual responsibility and the clear consequence of disobedience.

Exodus 9 19 Context

Exodus chapter 9 continues the narrative of the plagues upon Egypt, specifically focusing on the sixth (boils) and seventh (hail) plagues. Pharaoh's heart remains hardened despite escalating judgments, affecting more people and resources. This particular verse, Exodus 9:19, comes immediately before the plague of devastating hail and fire is unleashed. It serves as a stark warning given directly by God through Moses to Pharaoh, yet it is broad enough to be a warning to all Egyptians. Earlier plagues primarily affected specific groups or types of things, but the hail plague targets everything left unprotected in the field, including both people and animals. This warning stands out as a unique display of God's mercy within judgment, offering a tangible means of escape for those who would believe and act on His word, thus distinguishing between those who "feared the word of the LORD" (Ex 9:20) and those who did not. Historically, the plagues served not only as a means to liberate Israel but also as a profound demonstration of YHWH's absolute sovereignty over all creation and a direct challenge to the impotence of the Egyptian deities who were supposed to control these natural forces and protect their land.

Exodus 9 19 Word analysis

• Now therefore send, fetch: (וְעַתָּה שְׁלַח הָבֵא - wĕʿattāh šĕlaḥ hāvēʾ).
  • וְעַתָּה (wĕʿattāh - and now/therefore now): This conjoining phrase signals an immediate and important instruction stemming from what has just been declared. It intensifies the urgency of the divine command, indicating a critical juncture. It connects God's declared intent to show His power (Ex 9:16) with a specific, actionable directive.
  • שְׁלַח (šĕlaḥ - send!): An imperative verb, a strong command directly to Pharaoh, instructing him to dispatch servants or heralds. It underscores Pharaoh's executive responsibility and authority, even though he is commanded by YHWH.
  • הָבֵא (hāvēʾ - bring/fetch!): Another imperative, emphasizing the necessity of actively gathering and bringing items into safety. It implies intentional and swift action.
  • Significance: This command demonstrates God's communication with a recalcitrant ruler, offering a final opportunity for mitigating consequences, highlighting the principle that warnings precede judgment.
• your livestock and all that you have in the field: (אֶת־מִקְנְךָ וְאֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר לְךָ בַּשָּׂדֶה - ʾet-miqnĕḵā wĕʾēt kol-ʾăšer lĕḵā baśśāḏeh).
  • מִקְנְךָ (miqnĕḵā - your livestock): Refers specifically to domestic animals, a crucial component of wealth and economy in ancient Egypt. Its inclusion shows God's direct assault on sources of livelihood and Pharaoh's control over his people's resources.
  • כָּל־אֲשֶׁר לְךָ בַּשָּׂדֶה (kol-ʾăšer lĕḵā baśśāḏeh - all that is yours in the field): This phrase expands the scope beyond livestock to encompass anything valuable and exposed outdoors, such as crops, tools, and potentially servants working in the fields.
  • בַּשָּׂדֶה (baśśāḏeh - in the field): Denotes an open, unsheltered, and vulnerable place. It implicitly contrasts with the intended place of safety, the "house."
  • Significance: God explicitly details what is at risk, revealing His precise knowledge of Egypt's assets and vulnerabilities. This targeting of outdoor possessions challenged Egyptian beliefs in gods who governed agriculture and natural elements, demonstrating YHWH's supreme power over all aspects of their lives and environment.
• into a house: (הַבַּיְתָה - habbāytāh).
  • הַבַּיְתָה (habbāytāh - into the house/home): The definite article and directional suffix emphasize a specific, protected indoor dwelling. This is presented as the only place of refuge.
  • Significance: "House" here symbolizes refuge, protection, and a place of safety under God's explicit instruction. It implies that obedience to God's word is the means of security amidst calamity.
• for every man and every beast that is found in the field and is not brought home will die: (כִּי עַל כָּל־הָאָדָם וְהַבְּהֵמָה אֲשֶׁר יִמָּצֵא בַשָּׂדֶה וְלֹא יֵאָסֵף הַבַּיְתָה וָמֵתוּ - kî ʿal kol-hāʾāḏām wĕhabbehēmāh ʾăšer yimmāṣēʾ baśśāḏeh wĕlōʾ yēʾāsēf habbāytāh wāmētū).
  • כִּי (kî - for/because): Introduces the reason or justification for the imperative command. It clearly states the cause-and-effect relationship: lack of obedience leads to death.
  • עַל כָּל־הָאָדָם וְהַבְּהֵמָה (ʿal kol-hāʾāḏām wĕhabbehēmāh - upon every man and every beast): "Every man" includes all people, Egyptian or otherwise, working in the fields. This signifies the universal destructive power of the impending plague.
  • אֲשֶׁר יִמָּצֵא בַשָּׂדֶה (ʾašer yimmāṣēʾ baśśāḏeh - that is found in the field): Highlights their vulnerability due to being outside the commanded safety.
  • וְלֹא יֵאָסֵף הַבַּיְתָה (wĕlōʾ yēʾāsēf habbāytāh - and is not gathered into a house): The passive voice "is not gathered" still implies human responsibility for the act of gathering. Failure to bring them in is an act of omission that carries dire consequences.
  • וָמֵתוּ (wāmētū - and they will die): A stark and unambiguous declaration of the ultimate consequence. This foretold certainty emphasizes God's absolute control over life and death.
  • Significance: This comprehensive declaration leaves no ambiguity about the danger or the path to safety. It serves as a test of faith and obedience, revealing the character of those who would listen to God's word (Ex 9:20) versus those who would scoff (Ex 9:21). It further polemicizes against Egyptian religious beliefs; no god or ritual could prevent this fate unless they obeyed YHWH.
• when the hail comes down on them: (וְיָרַד עֲלֵהֶם הַבָּר - wĕyāraḏ ʿălēhem habbār).
  • הַבָּר (habbār - the hail): The definite article indicates a specific, known phenomenon that will be extraordinarily destructive, not a regular weather event. This is not natural hail but divinely directed.
  • Significance: The very elements, usually seen as part of natural cycles, are under God's command. This explicitly demonstrates God's dominion over nature, challenging the power of Egyptian deities like Shu (air) or Seth (storms). It highlights God's power as both creator and controller of all forces, distinguishing Himself as the one true God.

Exodus 9 19 Bonus section

• The offering of this specific warning, with a clear path to safety, marked a departure from the indiscriminateness of some earlier plagues. It heightened the ethical dimension of the plague narrative, shifting the emphasis from "God is stronger than your gods" to "God offers grace even in judgment, will you accept it?"
• This verse provides an early biblical example of God establishing a criterion for preservation based on individual belief and obedience to His word. Those who "feared the word of the LORD" (Ex 9:20) were spared, creating a moral and spiritual division within the Egyptian society itself, distinct from the prior geographical division for Israel (Goshen).
• The severity of the upcoming hail is highlighted by the explicit mention that even "every man" working in the field will die. This indicates a leap in the intensity of judgment from mere affliction or animal death to direct human fatality on a wider scale, demonstrating the escalating wrath of God.
• The choice presented to the Egyptians (believe and shelter, or disbelieve and die) underscores God's attribute of fairness even towards His adversaries. He warns before executing the most devastating judgments, giving ample opportunity for a change of heart or at least an acknowledgment of His power.

Exodus 9 19 Commentary

Exodus 9:19 is a profound declaration of God's character and authority, issued during the escalating conflict with Pharaoh. It reveals divine justice paired with unexpected mercy. While Pharaoh continues to harden his heart against the Lord, God extends a gracious warning to the wider Egyptian populace and Pharaoh's servants. This command is a clear ultimatum: protect your assets and lives by obeying My word, or face inevitable destruction. The specificity of the warning, detailing "livestock" and "all that you have in the field," underscores that YHWH is not acting randomly but with precise intent and control over creation. The distinction between those who heed (Ex 9:20) and those who disregard (Ex 9:21) demonstrates that God's judgments are just, separating the believing from the unbelieving based on their response to His revealed will. The command to bring items "into a house" emphasizes the concept of divine protection through obedience, foreshadowing how spiritual refuge is found in heeding God's commands. Ultimately, this verse serves as a powerful demonstration of YHWH's sovereignty over natural phenomena, Egyptian wealth, and human life, confirming that He alone determines life and death, defying any rival gods.