Exodus 9: Livestock, Boils, and Hail
Three devastating plagues fall, even the magicians cannot stand, and God declares his power and name through the storm over Egypt.
Exodus 9 (WEB)
1 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, that they may serve me.
2 For if you refuse to let them go, and hold them still,
3 behold, the hand of Yahweh is on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks with a very grievous pestilence.
4 Yahweh will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt; and nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.”’”
5 Yahweh appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow Yahweh shall do this thing in the land.”
6 Yahweh did that thing on the next day; and all the livestock of Egypt died, but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died.
7 Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not so much as one of the livestock of the Israelites dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was stubborn, and he didn’t let the people go.
8 Yahweh said to Moses and to Aaron, “Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.
9 It shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking out with boils on man and on animal, throughout all the land of Egypt.”
10 They took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward the sky; and it became a boil breaking out with boils on man and on animal.
11 The magicians couldn’t stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were on the magicians, and on all the Egyptians.
12 Yahweh hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he didn’t listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken to Moses.
13 Yahweh said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, that they may serve me.
14 For this time I will send all my plagues against your heart, against your officials, and against your people; that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth.
15 For now I would have stretched out my hand, and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth;
16 but indeed for this cause I have made you stand: to show you my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth;
17 as you still exalt yourself against my people, that you won’t let them go.
18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as has not been in Egypt since the day it was founded even until now.
19 Now therefore command that all of your livestock and all that you have in the field be brought into shelter. Every man and animal that is found in the field, and isn’t brought home, the hail shall come down on them, and they shall die.”’”
20 Those who feared Yahweh’s word among the servants of Pharaoh made their servants and their livestock flee into the houses.
21 Whoever didn’t respect Yahweh’s word left his servants and his livestock in the field.
22 Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man, and on animal, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.”
23 Moses stretched out his rod toward the heavens, and Yahweh sent thunder, hail, and lightning flashed down to the earth. Yahweh rained hail on the land of Egypt.
24 So there was very severe hail, and lightning mixed with the hail, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
25 The hail struck throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and animal; and the hail struck every herb of the field, and broke every tree of the field.
26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.
27 Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. Yahweh is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
28 Pray to Yahweh; for there has been enough of mighty thunderings and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.”
29 Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands to Yahweh. The thunders shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that you may know that the earth is Yahweh’s.
30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you don’t yet fear Yahweh God.”
31 The flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was in bloom.
32 But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they had not grown up.
33 Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands to Yahweh; and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth.
34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
35 The heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go, just as Yahweh had spoken through Moses.
Exodus 9 (KJV)
1 Then the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
2 For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,
3 Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.
4 And the Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children’s of Israel.
5 And the Lord appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the Lord shall do this thing in the land.
6 And the Lord did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.
7 And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
8 And the Lord said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.
9 And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.
10 And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.
11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.
12 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had spoken unto Moses.
13 And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.
15 For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.
16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
17 As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?
18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
19 Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
20 He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
21 And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field.
22 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.
23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.
26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.
27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
28 Intreat the Lord (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the Lord; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord’s.
30 But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the Lord God.
31 And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
32 But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.
33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the Lord: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.
34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the Lord had spoken by Moses.
Exodus 9 (ASV)
1 Then Jehovah said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
2 For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,
3 behold, the hand of Jehovah is upon thy cattle which are in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the herds, and upon the flocks: there shall be a very grievous murrain.
4 And Jehovah shall make a distinction between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt; and there shall nothing die of all that belongeth to the children of Israel.
5 And Jehovah appointed a set time, saying, To-morrow Jehovah shall do this thing in the land.
6 And Jehovah did that thing on the morrow; and all the cattle of Egypt died; but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.
7 And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not so much as one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was stubborn, and he did not let the people go.
8 And Jehovah said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.
9 And it shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.
10 And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man and upon beast.
11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.
12 And Jehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them, as Jehovah had spoken unto Moses.
13 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
14 For I will this time send all my plagues upon thy heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.
15 For now I had put forth my hand, and smitten thee and thy people with pestilence, and thou hadst been cut off from the earth:
16 but in very deed for this cause have I made thee to stand, to show thee my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
17 As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?
18 Behold, to-morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the day it was founded even until now.
19 Now therefore send, hasten in thy cattle and all that thou hast in the field; for every man and beast that shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
20 He that feared the word of Jehovah among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
21 and he that regarded not the word of Jehovah left his servants and his cattle in the field.
22 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch forth thy hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.
23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and Jehovah sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down unto the earth; and Jehovah rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.
26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.
27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: Jehovah is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
28 Entreat Jehovah; for there hath been enough of these mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto Jehovah; the thunders shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know that the earth is Jehovah’s.
30 But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear Jehovah God.
31 And the flax and the barley were smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was in bloom.
32 But the wheat and the spelt were not smitten: for they were not grown up.
33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto Jehovah: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.
34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the children of Israel go, as Jehovah had spoken by Moses.
Summary
The fifth plague strikes Egypt's livestock with a grievous pestilence, while the Lord makes a distinction so that none of Israel's animals die; yet Pharaoh's heart stays stubborn. For the sixth plague, Moses sprinkles furnace ashes toward the sky, and boils break out on man and beast throughout Egypt, so that even the magicians cannot stand before Moses. God himself hardens Pharaoh's heart. Before the seventh plague, God declares his fuller purpose: he could have wiped Pharaoh out, but he has raised him up to display his power and to make his name known throughout all the earth. He warns that a devastating hail is coming and mercifully urges everyone to bring servants and livestock under shelter; those who fear the Lord's word obey, while others ignore it. The hail and lightning then fall with unprecedented fury, striking down people, animals, plants, and trees throughout Egypt, but no hail falls in Goshen. Pharaoh confesses, “I have sinned,” admits Yahweh is righteous, and begs Moses to pray. The storm ceases at Moses' prayer, yet Moses says he knows Pharaoh and his servants still do not fear God, and indeed when the rain stops, Pharaoh sins yet more and hardens his heart again.
Main Characters
- Moses and Aaron — God's spokesmen who announce the plagues, warn Egypt to seek shelter, and intercede when Pharaoh confesses his sin under the hail.
- Pharaoh — The king who admits “I have sinned” and that the Lord is righteous, yet sins still more and hardens his heart once the storm ends.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who distinguishes his people, raises Pharaoh up to display his power, and declares his name throughout all the earth.
- The God-fearing servants of Pharaoh — Those among the Egyptians who heed the Lord's warning and bring their servants and livestock to safety before the hail.
Key Verse
Exodus 9:16 (WEB)
but indeed for this cause I have made you stand: to show you my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth;
Lessons Learned
- God reigns over nature and unleashes it to display his power and glory.
- Even God's enemies serve his purpose of making his name known to all the earth.
- Confession without true fear of God is shallow and does not last.
- God in mercy gives warning, and those who heed his word are spared.
- God displays his power for the sake of his name. “For this cause I have made you stand: to show you my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth” (Exodus 9:16, WEB). Even resistance serves God's glory.
- God warns in mercy before he judges. He urges Pharaoh to bring livestock to shelter from the hail (Exodus 9:19, WEB). Judgment is announced so people may take refuge.
- Reverence for God's word leads to safety. “Those who feared Yahweh’s word… made their servants and their livestock flee into the houses” (Exodus 9:20, WEB). Taking God seriously preserves life.
- Confession can be counterfeit. Pharaoh says, “I have sinned this time” (Exodus 9:27, WEB), yet hardens his heart when relief comes. Words of repentance mean nothing without a changed heart.
- How does God continue to distinguish Israel from Egypt through these plagues?
- What does God reveal in verses 14-16 about why he has raised Pharaoh up?
- How do the responses to the hail warning expose two kinds of hearts among the Egyptians?
- Why is Pharaoh's confession in verse 27 not genuine repentance?
- When God warns you through his word, do you take it to heart and act, or do you wait and harden?
- Through the pestilence and the hail, none of Israel's livestock die and no hail falls in Goshen (9:4-6, 26). God keeps making a visible distinction, assuring his people of his care and confronting Egypt with his sovereign protection of Israel.
- God says he could have destroyed Pharaoh but raised him up “to show you my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth” (9:16). Pharaoh's very resistance becomes a stage for God's glory to be made known worldwide.
- Some servants fear Yahweh's word and bring their people and animals inside; others ignore it and lose them (9:20-21). The warning sorts hearts: the same word that saves the responsive condemns the careless.
- Pharaoh says “I have sinned” only while the hail rages, then sins more once it stops (9:27, 34). Moses sees through it, noting he still does not fear God. Real repentance endures past the crisis; Pharaoh's does not.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to reflect on how they respond to God's warnings in Scripture. As leader, contrast the God-fearing servants with the careless, and encourage prompt, humble obedience.