Exodus 9:9 kjv

And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.

Exodus 9:9 nkjv

And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt."

Exodus 9:9 niv

It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on people and animals throughout the land."

Exodus 9:9 esv

It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt."

Exodus 9:9 nlt

The ashes will spread like fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, causing festering boils to break out on people and animals throughout the land."

Exodus 9 verses

Exodus 9 9 Meaning

Exodus 9:9 describes the effect of the sixth plague on Egypt, where the fine dust from a furnace became painful boils and sores on every person and animal throughout the land. This plague manifested as a severe physical affliction, widespread and inescapable, demonstrating God's direct judgment upon Egypt and its inhabitants, affecting their health and the welfare of their livestock. It highlights the direct physical impact of Yahweh's power, distinguishing between Egyptians and the Israelites, who remained unaffected.

Exodus 9 9 Context

Exodus 9:9 occurs within the narrative of the Ten Plagues upon Egypt, specifically detailing the sixth plague. Following the plagues affecting water, land (frogs, lice, flies), and livestock (pestilence), this plague directly assails the bodies of both Egyptians and their remaining animals. Its immediate precursor was a severe pestilence on livestock (Exo 9:3-7), which further depleted Egypt's economic and ritual assets. Unlike the preceding plagues that could be perceived as natural disasters amplified, the boils directly afflicted Pharaoh's magicians, making it impossible for them to stand before Moses and Aaron (Exo 9:11). This plague escalated the personal suffering and demonstrated God's absolute control over health and disease, bypassing any efforts of Egyptian gods or human magic, while preserving the Israelites from its effects.

Historically, ancient Egypt possessed a sophisticated medical system and deities associated with healing, such as Sekhmet and Imhotep. This plague was a direct challenge and polemic against their efficacy, demonstrating that Yahweh alone controlled life and health, even inflicting the very conditions their gods were supposed to prevent or cure. It was a potent message to Pharaoh and the Egyptians that their gods were powerless against the God of Israel.

Exodus 9 9 Word analysis

• It shall become: Hebrew: וְהָיָה (ve-hayah). This connotes certainty and an immediate, divinely ordained transformation. It emphasizes the direct, miraculous nature of the event rather than a gradual process.
• fine dust: Hebrew: אָבָק דַּק (avaq daq).
  • אָבָק (avaq): "Dust," "powder." It refers to common, easily spread particulate matter. Its selection signifies widespread dissemination.
  • דַּק (daq): "Fine," "thin," "small." This adjective highlights the minuscule and pervasive nature of the dust, implying it would penetrate everything, much like a potent irritant or pollutant. This contrasts sharply with the substantiality of other elements used in plagues (water, frogs, lice). The dust symbolizes pervasive judgment affecting all spaces and creatures.
• over all the land of Egypt: Hebrew: בְּכָל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם (be-chol-eretz Mitzrayim). This phrase emphasizes the plague's universal and inescapable reach within Egyptian territory. No place or person was immune, underscoring the comprehensiveness of God's judgment. The repetition of this phrase in the verse further solidifies the totality of the affliction.
• and shall cause boils breaking out with sores: Hebrew: וְהָיָה לְשְׁחִין פֹּרֵחַ אֲבַעְבֻּעֹת (ve-hayah le-sh'chin poreach avabu'ot).
  • שְׁחִין (sh'chin): "Boil," "ulcer," "inflammatory swelling." This is a significant word in biblical descriptions of skin diseases and divine judgment. It denotes a painful, eruptive skin condition often associated with serious affliction. (See Deut 28, Job 2).
  • פֹּרֵחַ (poreach): "Breaking out," "blossoming," "erupting." This verb graphically describes the sudden and rapid appearance of the boils, emphasizing their widespread and active manifestation. It's not just a boil, but a proliferating eruption.
  • אֲבַעְבֻּעֹת (avabu'ot): "Blisters," "pustules," "eruptions." This intensifies the description of the `sh'chin`, specifying the form of the skin affliction. It refers to painful, pus-filled blisters, indicative of a severe, festering disease.
• on man and beast: Hebrew: בָּאָדָם וּבַבְּהֵמָה (ba-adam u-va-b'hemah). This phrase underlines the broad scope of the affliction, affecting all living creatures that were spared from the previous livestock pestilence. This includes humanity and animals, which were integral to Egyptian life, economy, and religion. It further indicates the exhaustive nature of the plague.
• throughout all the land of Egypt: This reiteration serves to emphatically reinforce the idea of universal reach, ensuring no doubt about the comprehensiveness of God's judgment over the entire nation. It marks the complete fulfillment of the divine declaration.

Exodus 9 9 Bonus section

The method for this plague is distinct from previous ones; instead of Moses extending his staff, Moses and Aaron are instructed to take ashes from a furnace and Moses is to scatter them towards the heavens (Exo 9:8, 10). This specific act, though simple, signifies that the power resides solely with God, who transforms mundane ash into an agent of a painful, bodily plague, immediately upon its scattering. This plague shows a progression in severity: from external nuisances and economic harm to direct, internal, physical suffering, escalating the pressure on Pharaoh and Egypt, leaving them without any earthly or divine remedy apart from Yahweh.

Exodus 9 9 Commentary

Exodus 9:9 vividly describes the devastating sixth plague, demonstrating God's sovereign control over disease and judgment. The choice of "fine dust" to cause "boils breaking out with sores" is highly symbolic and practical. The dust, taken from a furnace – a source of intense heat and residue – becomes an instrument of burning, painful affliction. Its fineness ensures its spread and penetration, mirroring the pervasive reach of God's judgment. This plague, unlike previous ones that primarily impacted resources or external well-being, directly inflicts suffering on the bodies of Egyptians and their remaining animals, a particularly intimate and unavoidable form of torment. It serves as a direct polemic against Egyptian deities associated with health and healing, like Sekhmet, as Yahweh directly inflicts the incurable suffering. The plague also highlights the distinct favor shown to the Israelites, who remain untouched, underscoring the covenant relationship between God and His people amidst universal judgment. The severe and visible nature of the boils made it impossible for the Egyptian magicians to stand before Moses, marking a significant defeat for their spiritual power and confirming God's supremacy.