Exodus 8: Frogs, Lice, and Flies
Three more plagues fall as God distinguishes his people, the magicians admit God's finger, and Pharaoh bargains but breaks his word.
Exodus 8 (WEB)
1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, Go in to Pharaoh, and tell him, “This is what Yahweh says, ‘Let my people go, that they may serve me.
2 If you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your borders with frogs:
3 and the river shall swarm with frogs, which shall go up and come into your house, and into your bedroom, and on your bed, and into the house of your servants, and on your people, and into your ovens, and into your kneading troughs:
4 and the frogs shall come up both on you, and on your people, and on all your servants.’”
5 Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your rod over the rivers, over the streams, and over the pools, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.’”
6 Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
7 The magicians did the same thing with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.
8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat Yahweh, that he take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to Yahweh.”
9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “I give you the honor of setting the time that I should pray for you, and for your servants, and for your people, that the frogs be destroyed from you and your houses, and remain in the river only.”
10 He said, “Tomorrow.” He said, “Be it according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like Yahweh our God.
11 The frogs shall depart from you, and from your houses, and from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.”
12 Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to Yahweh concerning the frogs which he had brought on Pharaoh.
13 Yahweh did according to the word of Moses, and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courts, and out of the fields.
14 They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank.
15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart, and didn’t listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken.
16 Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’”
17 They did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were lice on man, and on animal; all the dust of the earth became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
18 The magicians tried with their enchantments to produce lice, but they couldn’t. There were lice on man, and on animal.
19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God:” and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken.
20 Yahweh said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; behold, he comes out to the water; and tell him, ‘This is what Yahweh says, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.
21 Else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you, and on your servants, and on your people, and into your houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.
22 I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end you may know that I am Yahweh in the midst of the earth.
23 I will put a division between my people and your people: by tomorrow shall this sign be.”’”
24 Yahweh did so; and there came grievous swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses: and in all the land of Egypt the land was corrupted by reason of the swarms of flies.
25 Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God in the land!”
26 Moses said, “It isn’t appropriate to do so; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to Yahweh our God. Behold, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and won’t they stone us?
27 We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Yahweh our God, as he shall command us.”
28 Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to Yahweh your God in the wilderness, only you shall not go very far away. Pray for me.”
29 Moses said, “Behold, I go out from you, and I will pray to Yahweh that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow; only don’t let Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to Yahweh.”
30 Moses went out from Pharaoh, and prayed to Yahweh.
31 Yahweh did according to the word of Moses, and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. There remained not one.
32 Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he didn’t let the people go.
Exodus 8 (KJV)
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:
3 And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs:
4 And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.
5 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.
6 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord.
9 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?
10 And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the Lord our God.
11 And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.
12 And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the Lord because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.
13 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.
14 And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.
15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.
16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
17 And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
18 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.
19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.
20 And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
21 Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.
22 And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.
23 And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.
24 And the Lord did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.
25 And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.
26 And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?
27 We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he shall command us.
28 And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.
29 And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intreat the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.
30 And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord.
31 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.
32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.
Exodus 8 (ASV)
1 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:
3 and the river shall swarm with frogs, which shall go up and come into thy house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneading-troughs:
4 and the frogs shall come up both upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.
5 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thy hand with thy rod over the rivers, over the streams, and over the pools, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.
6 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
7 And the magicians did in like manner with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat Jehovah, that he take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice unto Jehovah.
9 And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Have thou this glory over me: against what time shall I entreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, that the frogs be destroyed from thee and thy houses, and remain in the river only?
10 And he said, Against to-morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word; that thou mayest know that there is none like unto Jehovah our God.
11 And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.
12 And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto Jehovah concerning the frogs which he had brought upon Pharaoh.
13 And Jehovah did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courts, and out of the fields.
14 And they gathered them together in heaps; and the land stank.
15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them, as Jehovah had spoken.
16 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the earth, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
17 And they did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and there were lice upon man, and upon beast; all the dust of the earth became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
18 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: and there were lice upon man, and upon beast.
19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as Jehovah had spoken.
20 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
21 Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.
22 And I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am Jehovah in the midst of the earth.
23 And I will put a division between my people and thy people: by to-morrow shall this sign be.
24 And Jehovah did so; and there came grievous swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses: and in all the land of Egypt the land was corrupted by reason of the swarms of flies.
25 And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.
26 And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to Jehovah our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?
27 We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Jehovah our God, as he shall command us.
28 And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to Jehovah your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: entreat for me.
29 And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat Jehovah that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to-morrow: only let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to Jehovah.
30 And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated Jehovah.
31 And Jehovah did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.
32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.
Summary
God sends a second plague: frogs swarm up from the river to fill the houses, beds, and ovens of Egypt. The magicians copy it, but Pharaoh, distressed, asks Moses to entreat the Lord, promising to let the people go. Moses lets Pharaoh set the time, and at his word the frogs die in heaps so the land stinks; yet when Pharaoh sees relief, he hardens his heart. Then God sends the third plague through Aaron's rod: the dust of the earth becomes lice on man and beast. This time the magicians cannot reproduce it and confess, “This is the finger of God,” but Pharaoh's heart remains hard. For the fourth plague, God sends swarms of flies, but now he sets apart the land of Goshen where his people dwell, so no flies are there, that Pharaoh may know the Lord is in the midst of the earth and makes a division between his people and Egypt's. Pharaoh begins to bargain, offering to let them sacrifice within the land, then a little farther, asking Moses to pray for him. Moses warns him not to deal deceitfully, the flies are removed at his prayer, and Pharaoh again hardens his heart and refuses to let the people go.
Main Characters
- Moses and Aaron — God's messengers who announce and bring the plagues, intercede when Pharaoh pleads, and warn him against dealing deceitfully.
- Pharaoh — The king who bargains under pressure, promises release, and then hardens his heart each time relief comes, breaking his word.
- The Egyptian magicians — Pharaoh's experts who can copy the frogs but fail at the lice, confessing, “This is the finger of God.”
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who escalates his judgments, shields his people in Goshen, and makes a clear division between Israel and Egypt.
Key Verse
Exodus 8:19 (WEB)
Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God:” and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken.
Lessons Learned
- God's power soon outstrips every human imitation; the magicians reach their limit.
- The Lord distinguishes between his people and the world, even amid judgment.
- Pressure may produce promises, but only a changed heart produces obedience.
- Half-hearted compromise with God is still a refusal to obey him fully.
- God's power exceeds all counterfeits. At the lice the magicians fail and admit, “This is the finger of God” (Exodus 8:19, WEB). What imitators cannot do reveals the true God at work.
- God sets his people apart. “I will put a division between my people and your people” (Exodus 8:23, WEB). The Lord protects his own even in the midst of judgment.
- Relief without repentance leaves the heart hard. When Pharaoh “saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart” (Exodus 8:15, WEB). Crisis-driven promises rarely change the heart.
- God refuses partial obedience. Pharaoh offers to let Israel sacrifice “in the land” or “not very far away” (Exodus 8:25, 28, WEB). Compromise that keeps control is no obedience at all.
- What changes when the magicians can no longer reproduce a plague (verse 18)?
- Why is it significant that God spares the land of Goshen from the flies?
- How does Pharaoh's behavior reveal the difference between a promise made under pressure and true repentance?
- What are the compromises Pharaoh offers, and why does Moses reject them?
- Where are you tempted to offer God a partial obedience that keeps things on your own terms?
- Until now the magicians have matched the signs, but the lice defeat them, and they confess, “This is the finger of God” (8:19). The failure of the experts highlights that this is no contest of magic but the unrivaled power of God.
- By keeping Goshen free of flies (8:22-23), God shows he distinguishes between his people and Egypt and that he is Lord “in the midst of the earth.” It assures Israel of his protective care and confronts Pharaoh with undeniable evidence.
- Each time judgment lifts, Pharaoh's promises evaporate and “he hardened his heart” (8:15, 32). His pattern exposes bargaining for relief, not genuine surrender—a warning that crisis prayers without heart change accomplish nothing lasting.
- Pharaoh offers sacrifice within Egypt, then not far away, then prayer for himself (8:25-28), all while keeping control. Moses refuses because partial concessions still defy God's clear command to let the people go fully to worship him.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to examine where they negotiate with God rather than obey. As leader, gently expose the subtlety of compromise and encourage whole-hearted, on-God's-terms obedience.