Exodus 9:4 kjv
And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel.
Exodus 9:4 nkjv
And the LORD will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel." ' "
Exodus 9:4 niv
But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.'?"
Exodus 9:4 esv
But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die."'"
Exodus 9:4 nlt
But the LORD will again make a distinction between the livestock of the Israelites and that of the Egyptians. Not a single one of Israel's animals will die!
Exodus 9 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 8:22 | "...I will make a distinction between My people and your people..." | God distinguishes between His people and Pharaoh's during the plague of flies. |
| Ex 8:23 | "...My people and your people, this distinction shall be a sign tomorrow." | God's distinct protection serves as a sign and demonstration of His power. |
| Ex 10:23 | "...but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." | The distinction of light vs. darkness for Israelites during the ninth plague. |
| Ex 11:7 | "But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog bark, whether man or beast..." | Absolute distinction in the plague of the firstborn, showing comprehensive protection. |
| Lev 10:10 | "You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean..." | The principle of God requiring distinction in sacred and common matters. |
| Mal 3:18 | "Then you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him." | Future eschatological distinction between those who serve God and those who do not. |
| Deut 32:39 | "...I bring death and I give life, I wound and I heal..." | God's absolute sovereignty over life and death. |
| 1 Sam 2:6 | "The Lord brings death and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up." | God's complete power over mortality and life. |
| Rom 9:15 | "For He says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.'" | God's sovereign right to choose whom He blesses or judges. |
| Rom 9:17 | "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you..." | Pharaoh's existence serves God's purpose in demonstrating His power. |
| Psa 105:31 | "He spoke, and flies came, and gnats in all their territory. He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land." | God's command directly impacts the natural world during the plagues. |
| Psa 105:33 | "He struck down their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their territory." | God's power extends to vegetation, setting the stage for hail and locusts. |
| Psa 105:36 | "He also struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigor." | God's final and most devastating act of judgment against Egypt. |
| Psa 91:3 | "For He will rescue you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence." | God's protection of His faithful from destructive forces like plague. |
| Psa 91:7 | "A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you." | Divine immunity for the faithful amid widespread calamity. |
| Prov 12:10 | "A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, but the compassion of the wicked is cruel." | Underlines the importance of humane treatment of animals, even though God directly acts here. |
| Gen 15:13 | "...know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will be enslaved and oppressed..." | Prophecy of Israel's bondage in Egypt, leading to divine intervention. |
| Gen 15:14 | "...and afterward they will come out with many possessions." | Promise of great wealth (including livestock) when Israel departs Egypt. |
| Psa 115:4 | "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands." | The impotence and vanity of Egyptian animal gods contrasted with YHWH's power. |
| Isa 44:9 | "All who fashion idols are nothing, and their treasured things are of no profit..." | Further biblical indictment against idolatry. |
| Jer 10:11 | "Thus you shall say to them, 'The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.'" | The transient nature and ultimate destruction of false gods. |
| Mt 6:26 | "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them..." | God's providence and care extends to all creation, including animals, for His purposes. |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." | God's ultimate purpose in all circumstances, even severe judgment, is for the good of His people. |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." | God's unfailing provision for His people. |
| Psa 23:1 | "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not lack." | God's role as protector and provider for His own. |
Exodus 9 verses
Exodus 9 4 Meaning
Exodus 9:4 declares God's deliberate and precise differentiation between the livestock belonging to the Israelites and those belonging to the Egyptians. This verse foretells the coming fifth plague, specifying that while Egyptian livestock would be afflicted by a severe pestilence leading to death, not a single animal belonging to the children of Israel would perish. It is a powerful affirmation of divine selectivity, protection, and judgment.
Exodus 9 4 Context
Exodus 9:4 is part of the account of the fifth plague brought upon Egypt: the severe plague on livestock (Ex 9:1-7). This plague specifically targets animals, a vital component of ancient economies, sustenance, and worship. Historically, the Egyptians revered many animals as sacred or as manifestations of their deities (e.g., the bull god Apis, the cow-headed goddess Hathor, ram gods, crocodile gods). By striking down their animals, Yahweh directly challenged the power and reality of these Egyptian gods, proving His absolute supremacy over them and their supposed spheres of influence.
The verse emphasizes a pattern that recurs throughout the plagues (e.g., the plagues of flies and darkness): God's deliberate differentiation between the Egyptians, whom He judges for their defiance, and the Israelites, whom He protects as His covenant people. This consistent distinction reinforces the theological message that YHWH is the one true God who acts precisely and sovereignly, able to afflict one group while safeguarding another, even when they live in close proximity. This selective judgment serves as both a sign to Pharaoh that YHWH alone is God and an assurance to Israel of their divine election and care.
Exodus 9 4 Word analysis
- And: Connects this divine declaration with the preceding instructions given to Moses to tell Pharaoh.
- the Lord: (וְיָהוָה, ve-Yahweh): Emphasizes YHWH, the personal covenant name of the God of Israel. His unique identity and sovereign action are highlighted, asserting His authority above all other gods of Egypt.
- will make a distinction: (וְהִפְלָה, vehiphlah): Derived from the root פלה (pālāh), which means to distinguish, separate, or do something extraordinary/marvelous. The Hiphil verbal stem indicates that God actively causes this distinction to happen. This is not a passive or natural event, but a direct, precise, and miraculous act of divine intervention, demonstrating God's unique ability to select whom to afflict and whom to preserve.
- between: (בֵּין, beîn): Indicates a clear separation or boundary.
- the livestock: (מִקְנֵה, miqnêh): Refers to the collective owned animals, specifically cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and horses (Ex 9:3). These were foundational to wealth and survival in ancient Near Eastern society, making their destruction a profound blow.
- of Israel: (יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisrāʾēl): Designates God's chosen covenant people, demonstrating His specific care and loyalty to them.
- and the livestock: (וּבֵין מִקְנֵה, ūvēin miqnêh): Repeats the same term for clarity and direct comparison.
- of Egypt: (מִצְרָיִם, Mitsrāyim): Refers to the oppressive nation, the target of God's judgment for their resistance to His command to release His people.
- so that: (וְלֹא, vêlô’) Lit. "and not." This introduces the precise consequence of the distinction, emphasizing its absolute nature.
- nothing: (אֵינוּ, ʾeinu): A strong negation. Absolute zero.
- of all that belongs to the children of Israel: (לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, livnê Yisrāʾēl): Re-emphasizes the full ownership and breadth of the protection extended to every Israelite and all their possessions.
- shall die: (יָמוּת, yāmūt): From the verb "to die" (מוּת, mūṯ). Specifies the consequence of the plague – death, which is wholly averted for Israel.
Words-group Analysis:
- "And the Lord will make a distinction": This opening phrase asserts YHWH's active, sovereign agency and His ability to execute precise and targeted judgments and blessings. It sets the stage for a demonstration of His power over all creation and against false deities. The repeated use of "distinction" (pālāh) throughout the plague narratives (Ex 8:22; 11:7) underscores a foundational theological concept: God sees and acts differently towards those who are His.
- "between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt": This highlights the practical, visible manifestation of God's power to separate. It's not a general disaster, but a specific judgment that distinguishes allegiance and relationship with YHWH. It also serves as a polemic against the Egyptian pantheon, directly attacking revered animals and thus demonstrating the impotence of their gods and the supremacy of the one true God who controls all life.
- "so that nothing of all that belongs to the children of Israel shall die.": This declaration underscores the absolute and miraculous nature of God's protection. The term "nothing" leaves no room for exception or partial affliction, demonstrating God's perfect knowledge of His people and His unwavering faithfulness to protect His covenant children and their possessions. This provides immense assurance to Israel in the midst of the chaos and serves as a profound sign to Pharaoh of the magnitude of YHWH's power.
Exodus 9 4 Bonus section
- Escalation of Plagues: This plague follows the blood, frogs, gnats, and flies. Unlike the earlier plagues which also affected Goshen to some extent (before the explicit distinction for the flies was promised), the livestock plague is the first one where God guarantees total immunity for Israel from the outset, marking a turning point in the intensity and specificity of God's judgment and grace.
- Revelation of YHWH's Name and Character: Through the plagues, particularly the demonstrations of precise distinction and judgment, God reveals the fullness of His covenant name YHWH—He who is and acts in history to fulfill His promises and demonstrate His unique power and moral authority. Each plague, including the pestilence on livestock, functions as a direct theological challenge to Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt, demanding the question, "Who is the Lord?" (Ex 5:2), and providing an undeniable answer.
Exodus 9 4 Commentary
Exodus 9:4 is a concise yet profound statement on God's sovereignty, distinction, and protective care. As the fifth plague of severe pestilence on livestock looms, God declares through Moses that He Himself will actively separate between the animals of Egypt and Israel. This is a targeted judgment demonstrating His power over life and death, even in a geographically localized manner. The phrase "will make a distinction" (from pālāh) highlights God's supernatural ability to execute precise, selective judgment, protecting His people even when they dwell in the midst of an afflicted land. This was a direct assault on Egyptian polytheism, as many animals were sacred or represented deities. By destroying them, YHWH showed these gods were powerless to save their devotees or even themselves, proving His singular might and identity as the one true God. For Israel, this absolute preservation ("nothing...shall die") was a visible sign of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and His tender care, strengthening their faith in preparation for deliverance.