Exodus 8:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country with frogs.

NIV: If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs on your whole country.

NASB: But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I am going to strike your entire territory with frogs.

CSB: But if you refuse to let them go, then I will plague all your territory with frogs.

NLT: If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land.

KJV: And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:

NKJV: But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs.

Egypt's king, Pharaoh, is being given a chance to spare his country from further harm. He has refused to release Israel from slavery (Exodus 1:11–14; 5:1–4; 7:14). God has recently devastated the Egyptian kingdom by turning all its surface waters into blood (Exodus 7:20–23). The Nile's ruin may be the immediate cause of what happens next (Exodus 8:6), but God makes it clear that He alone is in control. The event is predicted, and only the Lord can make it stop (Exodus 8:8, 13). Frogs were associated with the Egyptian idol Heqet. Demonstrating power over these creatures was a rebuke to that aspect of Egypt's religion.

The scope of this plague is vast: "all" of Egypt. Some plagues explicitly exempt Israel (Exodus 8:22). Yet the Egyptian people suffer for the arrogance of their ruler (Proverbs 29:2, 4). This plague is not merely on Pharaoh's home or family. The nation will be hopelessly overrun with frogs (Exodus 8:3).

Exodus 8:1–15 describes the second plague: frogs. The rotting Nile (Exodus 7:20–23) spits out a wave of frogs into Egyptian streets and homes. Pharaoh's conjurers can also summon frogs—but they can't remove them. So, Pharoh turns to Moses. They schedule a specific moment to lift the plague. This explicit timing made it clear that Israel's God, not the Egyptian frog goddess Heqet, was in control. As soon as the pressure of the plague is off, Pharoah changes his mind about releasing the Israelites.

After Pharaoh ignores the first plague (Exodus 7:20–23), God sends a swarm of frogs. Pharaoh's magicians can summon frogs, but they can't get rid of them. So, he appeals to Moses. Though the plague is lifted, Pharaoh re-jects the command to release Israelite slaves. This leads to a plague of gnats and then one of flies, with similar results. The arrival of these creatures might have been caused by the corruption of the Nile River, but only God's supernatural work could make them disappear. Future plagues will be increasingly severe (Exodus 9:6, 10, 22; 10:4, 22; 12:29–32).

Moses and Aaron offered a sign to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:10–13), but he still refused to release the Hebrew slaves (Ex-odus 1:11–14). This triggered the first of the ten plagues of Egypt: turning water into blood (Exodus 7:20–21). This chapter includes the next three disasters: frogs, gnats, and flies. Pharaoh stubbornly refuses to concede each time. Upcoming plagues will escalate (Exodus 9:6, 10, 22, 10:4, 22), leading to the death of Egypt's firstborn (Exodus 12:29–32) and Israel's release (Exodus 12:41).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 7/1/2025 6:51:54 AM