Keraia
Exodus 8

Exodus 8:25

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

Translations

Modern
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within this land.”
Traditional
And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.
Literal
And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God in the land.”
Latin
Vocavitque Pharao Moysen et Aaron, et ait eis: Ite et sacrificate Deo vestro in terra hac.

Original

Hebrew
English
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within this land.”

Notes

Exodus 8:25

Pharaoh tried to make a bargain with God. He wanted to partly obey while keeping control. James describes such people as "a double-minded man" (James 1:8). This kind of person cannot receive anything from the Lord.

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 Plagues

Events

People

Aaron: Moses' brother, first high priest of Israel 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 Numbers and Numerology Plague Plagues upon Egypt

Topics

Flies: Plague of