Exodus 9:29 kjv
And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD's.
Exodus 9:29 nkjv
So Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the LORD's.
Exodus 9:29 niv
Moses replied, "When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD's.
Exodus 9:29 esv
Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD's.
Exodus 9:29 nlt
"All right," Moses replied. "As soon as I leave the city, I will lift my hands and pray to the LORD. Then the thunder and hail will stop, and you will know that the earth belongs to the LORD.
Exodus 9 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 24:1 | The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. | God's absolute ownership of the earth. |
| Deut 10:14 | Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it. | Reiterates God's comprehensive ownership of heaven and earth. |
| 1 Chr 29:11 | Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head | Acknowledges God's supreme reign and ownership over all. |
| Psa 8:1 | O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, You who set Your glory above the heavens! | God's majestic name and glory extend over all creation. |
| Psa 96:5 | For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens. | Contrasts Yahweh's creative power with the impotence of idols. |
| Ex 7:5 | And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them. | A primary goal of the plagues: Egypt knowing God's identity. |
| Ex 8:22 | And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. | Further declaration for Pharaoh to know God's unique presence. |
| Ex 9:16 | But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. | God's purpose for Pharaoh: demonstrate power and declare His name. |
| Ex 14:4 | Then I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD." | God's aim in the final plague and deliverance for Egypt to know Him. |
| Isa 45:7 | I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things. | God's control extends over all phenomena, even negative ones. |
| Job 37:6-13 | For He says to the snow, "Fall on the earth"; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength... He charges it to do whatever He commands them. | God sovereignly commands weather and natural elements. |
| Psa 29:3-9 | The voice of the LORD is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The LORD is over many waters... The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire... | Poetic description of God's powerful voice controlling storms. |
| Jer 10:13 | When He utters His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens: He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth... and brings the wind out of His treasuries. | God's complete control over meteorological phenomena. |
| Mk 4:39-41 | Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm... And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who then..?" | Jesus' demonstration of divine authority over nature. |
| Jam 5:16b-18 | The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much... He prayed earnestly that it would not rain... Again he prayed, and the heaven gave rain... | Demonstrates the power of prayer in influencing weather. |
| Ex 9:34 | And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart... | Pharaoh's continued rebellion despite experiencing God's power. |
| Rom 9:17 | For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth." | Paul directly references God's purpose for Pharaoh. |
| 1 Ki 8:38 | Whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel... then hear in heaven Your dwelling place... | Model of prayer to God in heaven for relief from plagues/judgments. |
| Job 26:14 | Indeed these are the fringes of His ways; And how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand? | Highlights the immense, incomprehensible power of God's thunder. |
| Zech 14:9 | And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be "The LORD is one," And His name one. | Future prophecy of God's undisputed reign over the entire earth. |
Exodus 9 verses
Exodus 9 29 Meaning
Exodus 9:29 conveys Moses' response to Pharaoh's plea during the seventh plague (hail). Moses states that upon his departure from the city, he will stretch out his hands to the LORD, causing the destructive hail and thunder to cease. The ultimate purpose of this cessation is so that Pharaoh, and indeed all, may definitively "know that the earth is the LORD's," emphasizing God's absolute sovereignty and control over creation.
Exodus 9 29 Context
Exodus 9:29 is situated during the seventh of the ten plagues brought upon Egypt. This specific plague, a severe storm of thunder, lightning, and hailstones (mixed with fire), was unprecedented in Egypt's history. It devastated crops, livestock, and people who were outside. Unlike previous plagues, Pharaoh, overwhelmed by the severity, seemingly confesses his sin and admits that "the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked" (Ex 9:27). He pleads with Moses to intercede for him, promising to let the Israelites go. Moses' response in verse 29 is his agreement to pray for the plague's cessation, explicitly linking the supernatural stoppage to the proof of God's ultimate authority over all creation, in stark contrast to the perceived power of Egyptian gods over elements like the sky or agriculture. The historical context shows a constant struggle for dominion: Pharaoh's absolute rule vs. Yahweh's divine sovereignty, with the plagues serving as escalating demonstrations of Yahweh's singular power.
Exodus 9 29 Word analysis
- Moses said to him: Indicating direct address to Pharaoh, reaffirming the personal nature of the divine confrontation.
- As soon as I have gone out of the city: 'ēṣē' mēha'îr (אֵצֵא מֵהָעִיר). Moses' departure from the city, likely Tanis/Zoan (Pharaoh's capital), signifies a physical separation from the epicenter of Egyptian idolatry and royal power. This might be to pray in an uncontaminated place or to visibly demonstrate to Pharaoh that his authority extends even beyond the walls of his city, affecting natural phenomena across the land, proving God's omnipresence. It underscores the contrast between Moses, servant of the Most High, and Pharaoh, who attempts to control him.
- I will stretch out my hands: 'efrôs kappay (אֶפְרֹשׂ כַּפַּי). This Hebrew idiom describes a posture of fervent prayer, supplication, or intercession. It visually expresses humble entreaty and dependence upon God, seeking divine intervention. This act underscores that the power resides not in Moses, but in the God he appeals to. It also served as a visible sign to Pharaoh, who would associate such actions with invoking deity.
- to the LORD: laYHWH (לַיהוָה). Explicitly naming YHWH, the covenant God of Israel, further clarifies that the cessation of the plague is not arbitrary, nor is it the work of Egyptian gods, but a direct result of the specific intercession to the one true God.
- the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail: A direct statement of divine control over nature, specifically the elements causing destruction. This addresses Pharaoh's immediate suffering.
- so that you may know: lemaʿan tēdâʿ (לְמַעַן תֵּדַע). This is a crucial purpose clause, frequently recurring throughout the plague narratives. It indicates that the entire series of events is pedagogical, designed to reveal God's true nature, power, and authority to Pharaoh, Egypt, and Israel. It's not just about deliverance, but divine self-revelation.
- that the earth is the LORD's: kî laYHWH hā'āreṣ (כִּי לַיהוָה הָאָרֶץ). This phrase is a theological climax of the verse. It declares God's absolute ownership, dominion, and sovereignty over the entire planet and everything in it. This directly challenges Pharaoh's perceived divine status and claims to absolute authority over Egypt and its people, as well as refuting any Egyptian deity's claim over specific domains like the sky or fertility. This foundational truth underlies all creation and redemption.
Exodus 9 29 Bonus Section
The theological statement "that the earth is the LORD's" holds deep significance as a polemic against Egyptian polytheism. Egyptians believed in various gods responsible for different aspects of creation, such as Shu (god of the air), Nut (sky goddess), Seth (god of storms and disorder), and Re (sun god, supreme deity). By controlling and ceasing the elements of thunder, lightning, and hail at will, Yahweh demonstrates His singular dominion over all these supposed domains. He proves Himself to be superior to any of the specific deities Pharaoh might appeal to or associate with these phenomena. This declaration is a direct challenge to the very foundation of Egyptian cosmology and Pharaoh's divine pretensions, affirming that the true God reigns unchallenged over all creation.
Exodus 9 29 Commentary
Exodus 9:29 is a pivotal statement encapsulating several core theological truths of the Exodus narrative. While Pharaoh makes a momentary confession of sin, Moses, under divine guidance, acts to demonstrate God's unwavering power, even as he recognizes Pharaoh's superficial repentance (Ex 9:30). Moses' departure from the city to pray highlights a necessary separation from a defiled and rebellious environment for a sacred appeal to the Almighty. The gesture of stretching out hands is a profound symbol of intercession, not of magical power, but of humble petition to Yahweh. The precise cessation of the terrifying storm, immediately upon Moses' prayer, powerfully confirms that this is a direct, deliberate act of God, underscoring His active engagement in human affairs. The profound statement, "that the earth is the LORD's," serves as a stark rebuke to all forms of idolatry and human arrogance. It is a fundamental assertion of monotheism and divine sovereignty. Pharaoh had attributed his power and Egypt's prosperity to various deities, and he considered himself a god; this declaration decisively crushes those false claims by revealing Yahweh as the sole and supreme sovereign over all creation, demonstrating that even the natural elements (sky, earth, weather) are subject to His command alone, and not to human kings or false gods. This truth was meant to humble Pharaoh, declare God's name throughout the world, and confirm for Israel the boundless power of their covenant God.