Psalm 105 31

Psalm 105:31 kjv

He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.

Psalm 105:31 nkjv

He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, And lice in all their territory.

Psalm 105:31 niv

He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country.

Psalm 105:31 esv

He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country.

Psalm 105:31 nlt

When the LORD spoke, flies descended on the Egyptians,
and gnats swarmed across Egypt.

Psalm 105 verses

Psalm 105 31 Meaning

Psalm 105:31 details two of the miraculous plagues God sent upon Egypt, specifically the fourth plague of swarms of flies and the third plague of gnats (or lice). This verse emphasizes God's sovereign command and perfect execution, where His word alone was sufficient to unleash devastating insect infestations across the entire land of Egypt, demonstrating His power over creation and judgment against those who resist Him.

Psalm 105 31 Context

Psalm 105 is a hymn of thanksgiving and a historical recount of God's covenant faithfulness to Israel, beginning with Abraham and culminating in the Exodus. The psalm highlights God's wondrous works and mighty acts, intended to cause His people to remember and declare His deeds. Verses 26-38 specifically narrate the plagues sent upon Egypt as part of God's deliverance of His chosen people. Psalm 105:31 directly follows the recounting of darkness (v. 28) and before other destructive plagues, illustrating the progression and variety of divine judgments, all originating from God's spoken word. Historically, these events took place as recorded in Exodus 8, challenging the pantheon of Egyptian gods who were believed to control aspects of nature, demonstrating Yahweh's ultimate sovereignty. The plagues were polemics, refuting Egyptian deities like Ra (sun), Thoth (magic), and Khepri (scarab beetle, associated with creation and the rising sun, related to insects and flies), by rendering them impotent or directly attacking their domain.

Psalm 105 31 Word analysis

• He spoke: (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyō’mer) This Hebrew verb signifies God's divine utterance and authoritative command. It underscores that these plagues were not random occurrences or natural phenomena but direct, deliberate acts initiated by God's powerful word. It echoes the creation narrative (Gen 1) where God spoke and things came into being, asserting His control over all creation.
• and there came: (וַיָּבֹא - vayyāvō’) Lit. "and it came," indicating an immediate and direct consequence of God's speaking. The swiftness implies omnipotence; there was no delay or resistance to His command.
• swarms of flies: (עָרוֹב - ʿārōv) The precise identity is debated, but commonly understood as large, oppressive swarms of various noxious insects, not limited to houseflies, possibly including biting flies or beetles. In the Septuagint, it is translated as "dog-fly" (κυνόμυια - kynomyia), indicating a particularly vicious and pervasive pest. This plague (the fourth) targeted livestock, homes, and land, except Goshen. It demonstrates God's mastery over all creatures.
• and gnats: (כִּנִּים - kiīnīm) Also subject to interpretation, referring to small, biting insects such as lice, midges, or mosquitoes (the third plague). Unlike the "flies," these arose from the dust, making them pervasive, inescapable, and uniquely challenging for the Egyptian magicians to replicate, leading them to confess "This is the finger of God" (Exod 8:19). This plague highlighted God's power even over the minutest aspects of creation, impacting daily life with constant irritation and discomfort.
• throughout their territory: (בְּכָל גְּבוּלָם - bəḵol gəvūlām) Lit. "in all their border." This phrase emphasizes the comprehensiveness and pervasive nature of the plague. It was not localized but affected the entirety of Egypt's land, reinforcing the universal scope of God's judgment and leaving no corner untouched. It also contrasts with the subsequent separation of Israel in Goshen during the plague of flies (Exod 8:22), showcasing God's protective discernment.

Words-group analysis:

• He spoke, and there came: This powerful pairing highlights God's absolute sovereignty. His word is not just utterance but action, immediately causing what it declares to be. This divine causative power is a recurrent theme throughout Scripture.
• swarms of flies and gnats: These two distinct but related insect plagues demonstrate God's precise control over different types of small creatures for His purposes. The plagues progressed in severity and type, each targeting a specific vulnerability or a god of Egypt.
• throughout their territory: This phrase underscores the extent of the judgment. No Egyptian was safe, emphasizing the totality of God's reach and the inescapable nature of His judgment when unleashed. It reinforces that Pharaoh and his kingdom were fully subjected to divine will.

Psalm 105 31 Bonus section

The two specific plagues mentioned in Psalm 105:31, the gnats/lice (kiīnīm) and the swarms of flies (ʿārōv), are distinct not only in their insect type but also in their strategic sequence within the ten plagues. The gnats (third plague) were particularly humiliating because they were the first plague the Egyptian magicians could not replicate (Exod 8:18), leading them to admit "This is the finger of God" (Exod 8:19). This signaled a fundamental shift; from this point, God's power was definitively demonstrated as superior to all Egyptian magic. The swarm of flies (fourth plague) introduced the concept of distinction, as God specifically spared the land of Goshen, where the Israelites dwelt (Exod 8:22-23), indicating His protective love for His covenant people. Thus, Psalm 105:31, in its brief mention, implicitly recalls a turning point in the display of God's power and His selective judgment, setting the stage for more intense and discerning divine acts to follow.

Psalm 105 31 Commentary

Psalm 105:31 concisely captures God's immediate and pervasive judgment through insect plagues, illustrating His absolute control over creation. It reinforces that Yahweh is not just a god among gods but the sole, omnipotent God who commands all of nature. The ease with which "He spoke, and there came" highlights the divine authority: no effort or negotiation was needed, merely His word. The specific insects—swarms of flies (ʿārōv) and gnats (kiīnīm)—were not random; they were pervasive irritants that challenged Egyptian life and religion, directly affecting daily living, crop growth, and animals, revealing the impotence of Egyptian deities responsible for nature or protection from such pests. The detail "throughout their territory" underscores the inescapability of God's judgment, confirming that Pharaoh's defiance directly invited suffering across his entire kingdom, while simultaneously serving to reveal God's power to all nations. The plague also showcased God's distinction between His people and their oppressors, protecting Israel while afflicting Egypt.

• Practical usage example: This verse can encourage believers to trust God's sovereignty even in seemingly chaotic situations, knowing He controls all things, even the smallest creatures, and uses them for His purposes, whether judgment or provision.
• Practical usage example: It serves as a reminder that God’s word is effective and powerful, bringing about exactly what it declares, whether in judgment or blessing, teaching us to value and heed His every instruction.