Keraia
Exodus 8

Exodus 8:20

The Fourth Plague: Flies · Exodus 8:20–32
Read Exodus 8

Translations

Modern
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, and when Pharaoh goes out to the water, stand before him and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.
Traditional
And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Literal
And YHWH said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before the face of Pharaoh—behold, he is going out to the water—and say to him, thus says YHWH: ‘Send out My people, that they may serve Me.
Latin
Dixit quoque Dominus ad Moysen: Consurge diluculo, et sta coram Pharaone: egredietur enim ad aquas: et dices ad eum: Hæc dicit Dominus: Dimitte populum meum ut sacrificet mihi.

Original

Hebrew
English
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, and when Pharaoh goes out to the water, stand before him and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

Notes

Exodus 8:20–32

The fourth plague was the plague of flies. The Egyptians worshiped insects such as flies that seemed to be able to turn death into life, as their young seemed to emerge from decaying matter. If the Egyptians thought that insects had the secret of life, God would let them have all the insects they wanted. Some say that this infestation was the natural result of all the dead frogs, but there were no flies in Goshen (8:22), the northeastern delta area where the Hebrews lived. God’s miraculous power was clearly seen in his ability to infest one area while sparing another at will.

Theme notes and profiles

Egypt Moses Pharaoh The Lord of Nations The Plagues

Events

People

Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt Pharaoh: Egyptian Pharaoh during the Exodus

Glossary

Aaron Book of Exodus Deuteronomy, Book of Frog Gnat Hardness of Heart History of Israel Jannes and Jambres Magic Nile River Numbers and Numerology Plague Plagues upon Egypt

Topics

Plague: The Plague of Flies Rising: Moses