Exodus 9:3 kjv

Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

Exodus 9:3 nkjv

behold, the hand of the LORD will be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep?a very severe pestilence.

Exodus 9:3 niv

the hand of the LORD will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field?on your horses, donkeys and camels and on your cattle, sheep and goats.

Exodus 9:3 esv

behold, the hand of the LORD will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks.

Exodus 9:3 nlt

the hand of the LORD will strike all your livestock ? your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats ? with a deadly plague.

Exodus 9 verses

Exodus 9 3 Meaning

Exodus 9:3 declares that a direct and powerful judgment from God will fall specifically upon the livestock belonging to the Egyptians. This is no natural phenomenon, but a deliberate act by the "hand of the Lord" targeting the animals in their fields – horses, donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep – causing a deadly and highly destructive plague or pestilence. This pronouncement highlights God's sovereignty over creation and His escalating judgment against Pharaoh and Egypt.

Exodus 9 3 Context

Exodus chapter 9 is part of the escalating series of plagues unleashed by God upon Egypt, demonstrating His power and compelling Pharaoh to release the Israelites. This particular plague, the fifth, targets Egypt's vast livestock, which was crucial for their economy, transport, and, significantly, intertwined with their religious beliefs. Following the plagues of blood, frogs, gnats, and flies, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened. This fifth plague escalates the judgment from merely unpleasant annoyances (flies, gnats) to direct, devastating economic and theological blows (animal deaths), contrasting starkly with God's protective distinction for Israel's livestock (Ex 9:4). Pharaoh and his magicians could not replicate or ward off this judgment, further discrediting Egyptian gods and magic. The plagues also serve as a polemic against specific Egyptian deities, such as Hathor (goddess of motherhood and sky, often depicted as a cow), Apis (the bull god), Khnum (god of the Nile and creation, depicted with a ram's head), and even Ra (the sun god, often associated with powerful animals like the bull and lion), by demonstrating God's supreme authority over life, death, and all creation.

Exodus 9 3 Word analysis

• behold (Hebrew: hineh, הִנֵּה):

  • Word-level: An imperative particle, serving to call attention, draw emphasis, or announce something important and imminent. It signifies a divine declaration that demands immediate consideration.
  • Significance: It emphasizes the certainty and directness of the divine action. It's not a prediction, but a pronouncement of something about to happen, almost as if God is pointing.

• the hand of the Lord (Hebrew: yad Yahweh, יַד יְהוָה):

  • Word-level: "Hand" (yad) is a common biblical anthropomorphism representing power, authority, agency, or capability. "The Lord" (Yahweh) is God's covenant name, signifying His self-existence, eternal nature, and unique sovereignty.
  • Significance: This phrase denotes God's direct, personal, and irresistible intervention. It is not an impersonal force but the active, mighty will of the One True God, explicitly distinguishing this event from a natural occurrence. It represents God's might and decisive action, whether in judgment or deliverance.

• is upon (Hebrew: hāyâ ʿal, הָיְתָה בְּ):

  • Word-level: Literally "it is upon" or "it will be upon." The Hebrew preposition ʿal indicates immediate contact or impact, often signifying an imposition, burden, or, in this case, affliction.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the direct target and immediate nature of the plague. God's hand is directly applied to bring about the destruction. It's a possessive and destructive 'on'.

• your livestock (Hebrew: miqnekha, מִקְנְךָ):

  • Word-level: Refers generally to animals owned, possessions that are living, often cattle or smaller animals like sheep and goats.
  • Significance: Specifies the target. Livestock was the wealth and livelihood of Egyptians, central to their economy and agricultural society. This plague strikes at their essential resources and means of sustenance. It's a significant economic blow.

• which are in the field (Hebrew: ’ašer baśśādeh, אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׂדֶה):

  • Word-level: "Field" (sadeh) refers to open country, pastures, or agricultural land.
  • Significance: Limits the scope of the plague to animals outside or at pasture, possibly excluding those inside dwellings or pens, though the severity implies widespread impact. It highlights God's precision even in judgment. This detail may imply that the animals inside, perhaps those connected with temples or valuable studs, were also vulnerable, showing God's judgment knew no bounds within Egypt.

• upon the horses, upon the donkeys, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep (Hebrew: baśśûsîm baḥămōrîm bagəmallîm babbāqār ûbaṣṣō’n):

  • Word-level: This is an exhaustive list of major domesticated animals crucial to Egyptian life.
  • Significance: This comprehensive listing underscores the wide-ranging nature of the judgment. It leaves no category of common Egyptian livestock untouched, emphasizing the totality and devastating impact of the plague. It directly challenges the various animal deities worshipped in Egypt, demonstrating God's absolute dominion over what the Egyptians revered and depended upon.

• a very severe pestilence (Hebrew: dever kaved meʾōd, דֶּבֶר כָּבֵד מְאֹד):

  • Word-level: "Pestilence" (dever) indicates a plague, often with high mortality, implying a divine visitation or scourge. "Severe" (kaved) literally means heavy or weighty, intensifying the quality of the pestilence. "Very" (meʾōd) amplifies the degree.
  • Significance: Describes the nature and intensity of the affliction. It indicates a swift, highly lethal, and widespread epidemic, far beyond any ordinary disease outbreak. The language stresses the overwhelming destructive power of this divine act, leading to immense loss.

Exodus 9 3 Bonus section

The destruction of livestock was particularly strategic:

• Economic Collapse: Animals were central to agriculture, transportation, military strength (horses), and daily life. Their widespread death represented a severe blow to Egypt's prosperity and stability, impacting their food supply, ability to farm, and capacity for warfare.
• Religious Humiliation: By targeting animals, God directly assaulted the foundations of Egyptian polytheism. The gods who were believed to embody or protect these animals, or who were worshipped through them, were shown to be powerless. This would have caused immense psychological and spiritual distress to the Egyptians, undermining their entire belief system. The very objects of their worship were revealed to be vulnerable to the True God's command.
• Proof of Yahweh's Uniqueness: This plague, unlike others, resulted in immediate and widespread death of a specific living target. The Hebrew word dever (pestilence) often denotes a divinely inflicted scourge. Its application here, along with the distinct protection of Israel's livestock in Goshen (Ex 9:4), underscores Yahweh's exclusive power and His specific care for His covenant people.

Exodus 9 3 Commentary

Exodus 9:3 presents a profound declaration of God's sovereignty and judgment. The phrase "the hand of the Lord" is central, signifying God's personal, deliberate, and irresistible action. Unlike earlier plagues which could be attributed to natural occurrences (though intensified divinely), this "pestilence" targeting livestock is unmistakably supernatural in its severity and selectivity, making a clear statement about God's power over life and death. The specific listing of animals — horses, donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep — serves several purposes: it demonstrates the comprehensiveness of the judgment, showing that no vital animal resource of Egypt is exempt; it highlights God's direct assault on the economic foundations of Egypt; and significantly, it serves as a powerful polemic against Egypt's polytheistic system. Egyptians worshipped various deities associated with animals, like Apis the bull god, Hathor as a cow, and others with heads of donkeys, rams, or birds. By striking down these animals, the Lord humiliates their corresponding deities, revealing their impotence and demonstrating that He alone is the living God, superior to all created things and false gods. This plague deepens the resolve of both sides: Pharaoh hardens his heart further, and God's plan for deliverance advances through the clear display of His might, leading to the ultimate liberation of Israel.