Exodus 9:8 kjv

And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

Exodus 9:8 nkjv

So the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh.

Exodus 9:8 niv

Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh.

Exodus 9:8 esv

And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw them in the air in the sight of Pharaoh.

Exodus 9:8 nlt

Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from a brick kiln, and have Moses toss it into the air while Pharaoh watches.

Exodus 9 verses

Exodus 9 8 Meaning

Exodus 9:8 describes the divine command to Moses and Aaron initiating the sixth plague upon Egypt: boils. The Lord instructs them to take handfuls of soot from a kiln, which Moses is then to throw toward the sky in Pharaoh's presence. This action directly triggers the plague of festering boils on the Egyptians and their animals, showcasing God's absolute power over life, health, and creation as a judgment against Pharaoh and the Egyptian deities.

Exodus 9 8 Context

This verse occurs during the cycle of the ten plagues sent by the Lord upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites. By this point, five plagues have already struck: blood, frogs, gnats, flies, and livestock pestilence. Each plague progressively demonstrates Yahweh's power over different aspects of Egyptian life and, significantly, targets specific Egyptian deities. The sixth plague of boils marks a significant escalation; unlike previous plagues which often required Aaron to stretch out his staff or water to be smitten, this one begins with Moses and Aaron collecting soot and Moses throwing it, resulting in direct, bodily affliction on both Egyptians and their remaining animals. It is also the first plague the Egyptian magicians are completely unable to stand against or duplicate, signifying their final defeat and the utter impotence of their gods and magic.

Exodus 9 8 Word analysis

• Then the Lord said: "Vayyōmer YHWH" (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה). The active voice and divine name (YHWH) underscore God's direct initiative and authority.
• to Moses and Aaron: "el-Mōšeh wəʾel-ʾAharon" (אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל־אַהֲרֹן). Indicates both leaders receive the instruction, highlighting their joint role in carrying out God's will.
• Take for yourselves: "qəḥū lāḵem" (קְחוּ לָכֶם). Plural imperative, "take you (plural)," indicating both Moses and Aaron are to collect the soot, though Moses performs the casting. "For yourselves" suggests a personal involvement in the act of collection.
• handfuls of soot: "məlōʾ ḥāfnēyḵem pîaḥ" (מְלֹא חָפְנֵיכֶם פִּיחַ). "Handfuls of your palms" is a specific measure. "Pîaḥ" (soot, fine dust) implies a dirty, unholy, and destructive element, symbolizing decay or residue.
• from the kiln: "kiḇšān" (כִּבְשָׁן). A kiln or furnace used for baking bricks. This term carries profound symbolism, directly linking the source of judgment to the instrument of Israel's bitter enslavement and forced labor under Egyptian oppression. The soot from the very structures of Israelite suffering becomes the tool of Egyptian suffering.
• and let Moses throw it: "ūzərāqô Mōšeh" (וּזְרָקוֹ מֹשֶׁה). A singular imperative directed at Moses specifically, making him the executor of the visible symbolic act. The act of "throwing" implies a broad, sweeping action.
• toward the sky: "haššāmaymāh" (הַשָּׁמַיְמָה). Directed upward, challenging the various Egyptian sky deities (e.g., Nut, the sky goddess) and sun gods (e.g., Re, connected to life and healing) believed to reside in the heavens, showing Yahweh's supreme power over them.
• in the sight of Pharaoh: "ləʿêynê Parʿōh" (לְעֵינֵי פַרְעֹה). Emphasizes the public, intentional, and confrontational nature of the act. Pharaoh, considered a divine being himself, is made to witness Yahweh's direct assault on his power, his gods, and his people.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from the kiln": This instruction underscores a deeply symbolic act. The "soot from the kiln" represents the dust, grime, and oppressive labor that the Israelites endured under Egyptian bondage. Yahweh commands them to use a physical byproduct of their suffering as the very means of Egypt's judgment, enacting poetic justice. The action is personal; Moses and Aaron collect it directly.
• "and let Moses throw it toward the sky": Moses's action of throwing the soot upward, toward the heavens, signifies Yahweh's absolute authority over the entire Egyptian pantheon, especially the numerous sky and sun deities. This dramatic, public gesture acts as a prophetic deed, visually proclaiming divine judgment descending from above. It also implies that the very air they breathe would be infected.
• "in the sight of Pharaoh": The requirement for Pharaoh to witness this event ensures maximum impact and humiliation. Pharaoh, who saw himself as a living god, is forced to watch a public challenge to his alleged divinity and the power of his national gods, with a common, dirty substance used to bring about grievous suffering. This public display leaves no doubt as to the source and nature of the judgment.

Exodus 9 8 Bonus section

• This plague is notable as the point where the Egyptian magicians are completely incapacitated (Exod 9:11). They could not even "stand before Moses" due to the boils, let alone replicate the plague. This definitively discredits their power, their magic, and the gods they represent, demonstrating Yahweh's unique, unmatched omnipotence.
• The transition from a verbal warning to an immediate, dramatic symbolic action (throwing the soot) indicates a new phase in God's judgment, emphasizing His unchallengeable authority and the inevitability of the plagues.
• The affliction of "boils" or "festering sores" attacks the very integrity of the human body, targeting the Egyptians at a deeply personal level. This is distinct from earlier plagues which were more external, further escalating the severity and intimacy of God's judgment.

Exodus 9 8 Commentary

Exodus 9:8 initiates the sixth plague, shifting God's judgment from environmental and animal impacts to a direct assault on the bodies of Egyptians and their livestock. This is a significant escalation, revealing God's total sovereignty over health and disease, a power claimed by no Egyptian deity. The use of "soot from the kiln" is profoundly symbolic; it transforms an instrument and symbol of Israelite suffering (forced labor in brick-making) into the very source of Egyptian punishment. This acts as divine irony, turning their oppression back on the oppressors. Throwing the soot "toward the sky" directly challenges Egyptian sky and sun gods, such as Nut, Shu, or Re, signifying Yahweh's ultimate dominion over the heavens and all creation. The action performed "in the sight of Pharaoh" publically humiliates the pharaoh and his magicians. Unlike previous plagues, this plague is not preceded by a warning, suggesting that God's patience has worn thin, or that He intends a more immediate demonstration of power.