Keraia
Exodus 8

Exodus 8:5

The Second Plague: Frogs · Exodus 8:1–15
Read Exodus 8

Translations

Modern
And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers and canals and ponds, and cause the frogs to come up onto the land of Egypt.’”
Traditional
And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.
Literal
And YHWH said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the streams, and over the ponds, and bring up the frogs on the land of Egypt.’”
Latin
Dixitque Dominus ad Moysen: Dic ad Aaron: Extende manum tuam super fluvios ac super rivos et paludes, et educ ranas super terram Ægypti.

Original

Hebrew
English
And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers and canals and ponds, and cause the frogs to come up onto the land of Egypt.’”

Notes

Exodus 8:1–15

The second plague was the plague of frogs (8:2). The Egyptians gave special honor to amphibians such as frogs. These animals can live both in water and on land. Because of this, Egyptians connected them with life and survival. Egyptians were very concerned about life after death.

Through this plague, God showed that frogs do not control life. They do not have special power over survival.

Some people suggest that this plague happened naturally after the Nile River became unfit for life. However, the size and intensity of the plague were far greater than what would normally happen in nature.

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

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus Nile: The major river of Egypt, mentioned in various contexts

Glossary

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

Topics

Frogs: Plague of Plague: The Plague of Frogs