Exodus 7: The First Plague Falls
God hardens Pharaoh's heart as foretold; Aaron's rod swallows the magicians', and the Nile turns to blood as judgment begins.
Exodus 7 (WEB)
1 Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I have made you as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.
2 You shall speak all that I command you; and Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.
3 I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
4 But Pharaoh will not listen to you, and I will lay my hand on Egypt, and bring out my armies, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
5 The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I stretch out my hand on Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”
6 Moses and Aaron did so. As Yahweh commanded them, so they did.
7 Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.
8 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
9 “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Perform a miracle!’ then you shall tell Aaron, ‘Take your rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it become a serpent.’”
10 Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, as Yahweh had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers. They also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same thing with their enchantments.
12 For they each cast down their rods, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
13 Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken.
14 Yahweh said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn. He refuses to let the people go.
15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning. Behold, he goes out to the water; and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand.
16 You shall tell him, ‘Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness:” and behold, until now you haven’t listened.
17 Thus says Yahweh, “In this you shall know that I am Yahweh. Behold, I will strike with the rod that is in my hand on the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
18 The fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall become foul; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink water from the river.”’”
19 Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your rod, and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’”
20 Moses and Aaron did so, as Yahweh commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
21 The fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians couldn’t drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt.
22 The magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken.
23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he didn’t even take this to heart.
24 All the Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink; for they couldn’t drink of the water of the river.
25 Seven days were fulfilled, after Yahweh had struck the river.
Exodus 7 (KJV)
1 And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.
3 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.
6 And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them, so did they.
7 And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.
8 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the Lord had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
13 And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.
14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river’s brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.
16 And thou shalt say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.
17 Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
18 And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.
19 And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.
20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
21 And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the Lord had said.
23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.
24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
25 And seven days were fulfilled, after that the Lord had smitten the river.
Exodus 7 (ASV)
1 And Jehovah said unto Moses, See, I have made thee as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee; and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.
3 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
4 But Pharaoh will not hearken unto you, and I will lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah, when I stretch forth my hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.
6 And Moses and Aaron did so; as Jehovah commanded them, so did they.
7 And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.
8 And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a wonder for you; then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it become a serpent.
10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so, as Jehovah had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers: and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their enchantments.
12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
13 And Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as Jehovah had spoken.
14 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn, he refuseth to let the people go.
15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river’s brink to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thy hand.
16 And thou shalt say unto him, Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou hast not hearkened.
17 Thus saith Jehovah, In this thou shalt know that I am Jehovah: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in my hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
18 And the fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall become foul; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink water from the river.
19 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.
20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as Jehovah commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
21 And the fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians could not drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt.
22 And the magicians of Egypt did in like manner with their enchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as Jehovah had spoken.
23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he lay even this to heart.
24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
25 And seven days were fulfilled, after that Jehovah had smitten the river.
Summary
God tells Moses he has made him as God to Pharaoh, with Aaron as his prophet, and warns that he will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply his signs and wonders so that the Egyptians will know that he is Yahweh. Moses is now eighty and Aaron eighty-three. When they appear before Pharaoh, Aaron casts down his rod and it becomes a serpent; Pharaoh's magicians do the same by their enchantments, but Aaron's rod swallows up theirs. Still Pharaoh's heart is hardened, just as the Lord had said. So God sends the first plague: Moses is to meet Pharaoh at the river and strike the water with his rod, turning the Nile and all the waters of Egypt to blood. The fish die, the river stinks, and the Egyptians cannot drink from it, digging around the river for water. The magicians imitate even this by their secret arts, and Pharaoh's heart remains hard; he does not take it to heart but goes into his house. Seven days pass after the Lord struck the river. The plague strikes at the Nile, lifeblood and idol of Egypt, declaring that Yahweh alone is God over all Egypt's gods.
Main Characters
- Moses and Aaron — God's appointed pair, Moses as God to Pharaoh and Aaron as his prophet, who confront the king and unleash the first sign and plague.
- Pharaoh — The hard-hearted king who watches the wonders, leans on his magicians, and refuses to take God's judgment to heart.
- The Egyptian magicians — The wise men and sorcerers who imitate the signs by their enchantments, deepening Pharaoh's stubbornness rather than dispelling it.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who hardens Pharaoh's heart, multiplies his wonders, and strikes the Nile so that Egypt may know that he is the LORD.
Key Verse
Exodus 7:5 (WEB)
The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I stretch out my hand on Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”
Lessons Learned
- God's judgments aim to make himself known: that all may know he is the LORD.
- Counterfeit power can mimic God's works for a time but cannot overcome them.
- A hardened heart refuses to learn even from undeniable signs.
- God is sovereign even over the heart of the most powerful king.
- God acts so that he may be known. “The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh” (Exodus 7:5, WEB). The plagues are revelation as much as judgment.
- God's power surpasses every imitation. The magicians match the serpent, but “Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods” (Exodus 7:12, WEB). Counterfeits cannot triumph over the true power of God.
- God strikes at false gods. By turning the Nile to blood (Exodus 7:20), God assaults the very source of Egypt's life and worship, showing the idols powerless.
- A hard heart ignores plain evidence. Pharaoh “didn’t even take this to heart” (Exodus 7:23, WEB). Stubbornness can dismiss what it cannot deny.
- What is the stated purpose of the plagues according to verses 5 and 17?
- What does it mean that Aaron's rod swallowed up the magicians' rods?
- Why do you think the magicians' ability to imitate the plague matters to the story?
- How does Pharaoh respond to the first plague, and what does it reveal about his heart?
- Where are you tempted to explain away or ignore clear evidence of God at work in your life?
- God repeatedly says the goal is that “the Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh” (7:5, 17). The plagues are not arbitrary cruelty but a sustained revelation of God's unique power and lordship over Egypt's gods and king.
- Though the magicians produce serpents too, Aaron's rod devours theirs (7:12), demonstrating that God's power not only matches but consumes the opposition. It foreshadows the total defeat of Egypt's gods to come.
- The magicians' imitation shows that mere signs can be counterfeited and explains, in part, Pharaoh's continued resistance. It also sharpens the contrast: imitation has limits the magicians will soon reach, while God's power has none.
- Pharaoh leans on his magicians' tricks, turns away, and “didn’t even take this to heart” (7:23). His refusal to be moved by judgment on his nation's lifeblood reveals a heart determined to resist God.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to consider where they rationalize away God's promptings or providences. As leader, encourage soft, responsive hearts that take God's work to heart rather than dismissing it.