Exodus 9:22 kjv

And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.

Exodus 9:22 nkjv

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt?on man, on beast, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt."

Exodus 9:22 niv

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that hail will fall all over Egypt?on people and animals and on everything growing in the fields of Egypt."

Exodus 9:22 esv

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and beast and every plant of the field, in the land of Egypt."

Exodus 9:22 nlt

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Lift your hand toward the sky so hail may fall on the people, the livestock, and all the plants throughout the land of Egypt."

Exodus 9 verses

Exodus 9 22 Meaning

Exodus 9:22 introduces the command for the seventh plague upon Egypt: a severe hailstorm. The Lord instructs Moses to extend his hand toward the sky, unleashing destructive hail across the entirety of Egypt. This plague would strike down both people and livestock, and devastate every plant in the fields. The verse signifies the precise and far-reaching power of God's judgment over all creation.

Exodus 9 22 Context

Exodus chapter 9 details the sixth and seventh plagues. Following the painful plague of boils, the seventh plague of hail directly targets Pharaoh's hardened heart, a recurring theme in the narrative. This series of divine judgments aims to demonstrate the incomparable power and sovereignty of Yahweh over all the false gods of Egypt and over the natural world. Specifically, the hail plague served as a polemic against Egyptian deities associated with the sky and harvest, such as Nut (sky goddess), Shu (air god), and Osiris (fertility/agriculture god). The severity of this plague is highlighted in its prior announcement and unparalleled destructiveness. It functions to differentiate between Israel and Egypt, further solidifying the identity of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Exodus 9 22 Word analysis

• And the LORD said unto Moses:

  • LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, revealing His personal and powerful involvement. This name emphasizes His unique existence and authority over all creation, directly contrasting Him with the impotent gods of Egypt. The plague is not a random natural event but a direct command from the sovereign Creator.
  • said (אָמַר - ʾāmar): Denotes a clear and authoritative decree. God's spoken word holds ultimate power and will inevitably bring about what He commands, signifying His absolute control over the cosmic order.

• Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven,

  • Stretch forth (נְטֵה - nᵉṭēh): An imperative verb, signaling Moses' direct and immediate obedience to God's command. It implies an action of extending, signifying divine delegation and Moses as an instrument through which God acts.
  • thine hand (יָדְךָ - yādᵉkhā): Moses' hand is the symbolic instrument of God's power. It signifies the channel through which divine power is mediated into the earthly realm, much like the staff used in earlier plagues. This links back to God's "strong hand" leading Israel out of Egypt.
  • toward heaven (אֶל-הַשָּׁמַיִם - ʾel hashshāmayim): The source of the hail is clearly identified as the sky, or "heaven." This directly challenges Egyptian sky deities (e.g., Nut, goddess of the sky, or Shu, god of air), showing their inability to prevent Yahweh's action or to provide protection. It signifies that the God of Israel reigns supreme over the very elements the Egyptians worshiped or depended upon.

• that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt,

  • hail (בָּרָד - bārāḏ): A destructive weather phenomenon. In the ancient world, hail was often unpredictable and could devastate crops and livestock. Here, it is orchestrated and directed by God, making it an agent of specific judgment, not random occurrence. It highlights God's command over weather.
  • all the land of Egypt (כָּל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם - kol-ʾereṣ Miṣrayim): Emphasizes the comprehensive and inescapable nature of the judgment. No part of Egypt, apart from Goshen (Ex 9:26), would be spared, showcasing the totality of God's wrath and His ability to inflict universal suffering within the specified boundaries.

• upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.

  • upon man (עַל־הָאָדָם - ʿal-hāʾāḏām), upon beast (וְעַל־הַבְּהֵמָה - vᵉʿal-habbᵉhēmāh), and upon every herb of the field (וְעַל־כָּל־עֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה - vᵉʿal-kol-ʿēśev hassāḏeh): This enumeration specifies the wide-reaching impact of the plague, targeting all aspects of life and sustenance.
    • "Man" includes all Egyptians who dared to remain outdoors during the hail, including those who had defied God's previous warnings.
    • "Beast" covers all categories of domesticated animals critical to Egyptian life and economy.
    • "Every herb of the field" means complete devastation of crops, attacking the very basis of Egyptian livelihood and agriculture, further highlighting the failure of their fertility gods (e.g., Osiris) to protect their land.
    • This complete destruction reinforces the total vulnerability of Egypt before Yahweh.

Exodus 9 22 Bonus section

The progressive intensity and specificity of the plagues, culminating in hail which destroys crops essential for future survival, underscore the growing consequences of Pharaoh's obstinacy. The precision of "all the land of Egypt" being affected by this destructive hail, yet excluding the Israelite dwelling in Goshen (mentioned later in Ex 9:26), highlights God's deliberate differentiation between His people and the Egyptians. This miraculous distinction further served as an evangelistic witness, designed to instill awe and understanding of Yahweh among all witnesses. This plague also shows a direct assault on the economic backbone of Egypt, foreshadowing future judgments where reliance on human labor or natural resources prove futile without divine favor.

Exodus 9 22 Commentary

Exodus 9:22 reveals the commencement of the hail plague, a powerful and targeted display of Yahweh's authority over creation and His absolute sovereignty over Egypt. Moses' extended hand toward heaven signifies divine delegation and Moses' role as a direct conduit of God's power. The hail itself, an uncontrollable natural phenomenon, is supernaturally directed by God to impact "all the land of Egypt" in a devastating manner, specifically striking people, animals, and vegetation. This broad scope demonstrates the comprehensiveness of divine judgment, leaving no facet of Egyptian life untouched. The command for this plague is a stark polemic against the numerous Egyptian deities associated with the sky, weather, and agricultural fertility, clearly demonstrating their impotence in the face of the One true God, Yahweh, who alone controls the elements. The severity and specific targeting of the hail contribute to the overarching theme of the Exodus narrative: God's unveiling of His glory and power to both Israel and Egypt, compelling recognition of His unique identity.