Exodus 9:6 kjv

And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.

Exodus 9:6 nkjv

So the LORD did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died.

Exodus 9:6 niv

And the next day the LORD did it: All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died.

Exodus 9:6 esv

And the next day the LORD did this thing. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died.

Exodus 9:6 nlt

And the LORD did just as he had said. The next morning all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but the Israelites didn't lose a single animal.

Exodus 9 verses

Exodus 9 6 Meaning

Exodus 9:6 declares the immediate and precise fulfillment of God's spoken word through Moses. On the day promised, a severe pestilence struck and killed all the livestock belonging to the Egyptians that were in the field. Crucially, the verse emphasizes a miraculous distinction: none of the livestock belonging to the Israelites died. This demonstrated God's absolute power over creation and His sovereign ability to protect His people amidst judgment.

Exodus 9 6 Context

Exodus 9:6 is positioned after the first four plagues, specifically the warning for the fifth plague. Moses had previously announced to Pharaoh that God would strike the livestock of Egypt as a severe plague unless Pharaoh let the Israelites go (Ex 9:1-5). The passage preceding it, Ex 9:3-5, highlights God's specific warning to Pharaoh, His stated timing ("tomorrow"), and the promised distinction between Egyptian and Israelite livestock. The immediate historical and cultural context for the original audience reveals that livestock were vital for Egyptian society, economy, and religion. Many Egyptian deities were associated with or represented by animals (e.g., Apis bull, Hathor, Mut), making this plague a direct assault on Pharaoh's wealth, the sustenance of his people, and the impotence of his gods. This fifth plague sets the stage for further hardening of Pharaoh's heart and continued demonstrations of God's escalating judgment and power.

Exodus 9 6 Word analysis

• So (וַיַּעַשׂ - wayya‘as): An immediate consequence marker, indicating that what follows is a direct fulfillment of what was just stated (God's warning through Moses). It emphasizes the certainty and effectiveness of God's word.
• the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, revealing Him as the self-existent, sovereign, and faithful God of Israel. It emphasizes that this is a divine act, not a natural disaster.
• did (עָשָׂה - ‘asah): To do, to make, to perform. Signifies divine action and execution, affirming God's active role in bringing about the plague.
• this thing (הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה - haddāḇār hazzeh): Refers directly to the specific plague on livestock previously announced by God in Ex 9:3-5. This reinforces the precise nature of the judgment according to God's decree.
• on the next day (מִמָּחֳרָת - mimmāḥŏrāṯ): This precise temporal marker underlines God's meticulous timing. It eliminates any possibility of coincidence, reinforcing that the plague was a supernaturally orchestrated event, exactly as God had promised.
• and all the livestock (וַיָּמָת כֹּל מִקְנֵה - wayyāmōṯ kol miqneh): "And died all the livestock." The term "all" (כֹּל - kol) denotes totality, a comprehensive and devastating blow. "Livestock" (מִקְנֵה - miqneh) refers to their wealth of domesticated animals: horses, donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep (Ex 9:3). This detail emphasizes the severe economic and societal impact.
• of Egypt (מִצְרַיִם - Miṣrayim): Specifies the target of the judgment – the land and people who defied God.
• died (מֵת - met): Denotes a complete and irreversible cessation of life. The severity is absolute; this was not merely sickness, but death.
• but of the livestock of the children of Israel (וּמִמִּקְנֵה בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - ūmimmīqnēh bənê Yiśrāʾēl): This clause provides a powerful contrast, emphasizing God's selective judgment and protective care for His chosen people.
• died not one (לֹא מֵת אֶחָד - lōʾ mēṯ ’eḥāḏ): A stark affirmation of absolute divine protection. Not a single animal of the Israelites perished, showcasing a clear, undeniable line drawn by God between His people and their oppressors.

Word-Group Analysis:

• "So the LORD did this thing": Highlights the direct agency and unfailing faithfulness of Yahweh in performing His word. It signifies that divine decree always translates into tangible reality.
• "on the next day": Emphasizes the supernatural precision and punctuality of God's action, validating the divine source of the prophecy and the event itself. This removes any claim of chance or natural occurrence.
• "and all the livestock...died": Points to the comprehensive and devastating nature of God's judgment on Egypt, targeting their vital resources and demonstrating the impotence of their gods who supposedly protected such assets.
• "but of the livestock of the children of Israel died not one": The clearest expression of divine distinction and sovereign protection for Israel. This act serves as a polemic against the Egyptian pantheon, proving that Yahweh alone is supreme, capable of controlling life and death with precision, even within the same geographic vicinity.

Exodus 9 6 Bonus section

The fifth plague served as a significant blow to the religious fabric of Egypt, directly challenging their worship of animal deities like the bull-god Apis (fertility, strength) or the cow-goddess Hathor (maternity, protection), or Mut (fertility), often associated with livestock. The death of "all" (implying all that were in the open field, as clarified by other commentaries that some would have been in barns/sheltered, though this verse powerfully uses "all") of Egypt's animals rendered these deities utterly impotent, contrasting sharply with the demonstrated power of Yahweh. This plague further contributed to Pharaoh's hardening, setting the stage for even more severe judgments. It foreshadows the ultimate distinction God makes in redemption and judgment, visible later in the Passover, and ultimately in Christ's work distinguishing His own.

Exodus 9 6 Commentary

Exodus 9:6 encapsulates the core themes of the Exodus narrative: God's power, His faithfulness to His word, and His sovereign distinction between His people and those who oppose Him. The immediate fulfillment "on the next day" highlights divine control over time and circumstances, leaving no room for coincidence. The plague's scope – "all the livestock of Egypt died" – underscores the thoroughness of God's judgment and its direct economic and religious impact on a civilization deeply integrated with animal worship. Conversely, "not one" animal of the Israelites perished, providing irrefutable evidence of God's protection and separation, affirming His covenant with Israel and showcasing His unique power above all gods. This verse is not just a historical account; it is a profound declaration of God's unchanging nature and His commitment to His promises and purposes, both in judgment and in salvation.