Keraia
Exodus 8

Exodus 8:9

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

Translations

Modern
Moses said to Pharaoh, “You may have the honor over me. When shall I pray for you and your officials and your people that the frogs (except for those in the Nile) may be taken away from you and your houses?”
Traditional
And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?
Literal
And Moses said to Pharaoh, “Glorify yourself over me—for when shall I pray for you and for your servants, and for your people, to cut off the frogs from you and from your houses? Only in the River they shall remain.”
Latin
Dixitque Moyses ad Pharaonem: Constitue mihi quando deprecer pro te, et pro servis tuis, et pro populo tuo, ut abigantur ranæ a te, et a domo tua, et a servis tuis, et a populo tuo: et tantum in flumine remaneant.

Original

Hebrew
English
Moses said to Pharaoh, “You may have the honor over me. When shall I pray for you and your officials and your people that the frogs (except for those in the Nile) may be taken away from you and your houses?”

Notes

Exodus 8:9

In this instance, the evidence of God’s power was not in the event per se but in the timing. God could keep the frogs alive or he could end their lives. Pharaoh needed only to say when.

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

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

Places

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 Miracle Nile River Numbers and Numerology Plague Plagues upon Egypt

Topics

Frogs: Plague of Miracles: Design of Plague: The Plague of Frogs Wisdom: Spiritual, from God