Breakdown of Exodus 7:19-20

"And the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood, and there shall…" — The text emphasizes the thoroughness of God's judgment, not just turning the river into blood, but every water source – streams, canals, ponds, and even water stored in household vessels of wood an…

Exodus 7:19-20 Meaning Explained

All verses

Exodus 7:19-20

And the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood, and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’” Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The text emphasizes the thoroughness of God's judgment, not just turning the river into blood, but every water source – streams, canals, ponds, and even water stored in household vessels of wood and stone. This shows that there was no escape from the plague, no hiding place from God's power, impacting every aspect of Egyptian life.

What Exodus 7:19-20 means

Pharaoh has repeatedly refused to let the Israelites go, so God is escalating the confrontation. This verse details the instructions for the first plague, where the very lifeblood of Egypt – its water system – will be corrupted into blood. The command emphasizes the totality of the judgment, extending to every river, pond, and even water stored in vessels throughout the land, leaving no source untouched.

Judgment Overwhelms Every Source

Why does God's judgment in the first plague seem to affect every single drop of water in Egypt? What does this thoroughness reveal about His power and purpose?

The first plague, turning the waters to blood, wasn't just about the famous Nile River. It was a comprehensive judgment that permeated all of Egypt's water system.

Total Immersion

God commanded Moses to tell Aaron to stretch his hand over "their streams, their rivers, their ponds, and all their pools of water." This wasn't limited to the main river. It included:

Natural branches and canals: The lifeblood of Egyptian agriculture and transport.
Ponds and pools: These likely refer to natural lakes and marshes, but also man-made reservoirs and cisterns where water was stored for daily use.
Even domestic containers: The plague extended to water in "vessels of wood and in vessels of stone" – the very containers people used in their homes.

Divine Sovereignty

This exhaustive reach demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty over creation. Nothing was outside His control. Every aspect of Egypt's reliance on water, from grand irrigation systems to the water in a household jug, was brought under His judgment. This wasn't a localized inconvenience; it was a systemic, undeniable declaration of God's power.

A Sign Against Egyptian Gods

Egypt was known for its sophisticated water management and revered the Nile. How did God's judgment on the water directly challenge Egypt's very identity and its gods?

The plague of blood was a direct assault on the religious and cultural heart of Egypt. The Nile was not just a river; it was considered divine by the Egyptians.

Challenging Divine Status

Understand the original words

Original language

Pharaohפַּרְעֹה

Par`oh · Hebrew Proper Noun

The supreme ruler of Egypt, who in this context represents worldly pride, opposition to God, and the enslavement of God's people.

servantsעֶבֶד

ebed · Hebrew Noun

Those who carry out the will or work of a master; in a spiritual sense, it refers to those who are under the authority of a kingdom or sovereign.

Historical context

Written: Around the 13th century BC, during the Israelite sojourn in Egypt.
Author: Traditionally Moses, though some scholars suggest other sources compiled the Pentateuch.
Location: Egypt, likely Lower Egypt where the Nile branches were prominent.
Genre: Narrative; features divine command and detailed miraculous event.

Historical background

This plague was a direct assault on Egypt's primary life source, the Nile, and its entire water system, demonstrating God's power over the very elements Egyptians relied on and worshipped.

c. 1446 BC
Israelites Enslaved in Egypt
For generations, the Israelites had lived and multiplied in Egypt, eventually becoming a vast population subject to harsh enslavement under Egyptian rule.
c. 1446 BC
Moses Confronts Pharaoh
God commands Moses to return to Egypt and demand Pharaoh's permission for the Israelites to leave, beginning a series of confrontations.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
First Plague: Waters Turn to Blood
God instructs Moses to tell Aaron to strike the Nile River with his staff, turning all of Egypt's water into blood and killing its fish.
c. 1446 BC
Pharaoh's Heart Hardened
Despite the devastating plague, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, refusing to let the Israelites go, even as his own magicians can briefly imitate the miracle.

Key themes

01Divine power displayed
02Judgment on Egypt's gods
03God's comprehensive control
04The pervasive nature of plague

Cross-references

Psalm 78:44

This Psalm recounts God's faithfulness and Israel's unfaithfulness, specifically mentioning how God turned their rivers into blood, directly paralleling the plague in Egypt.

Psalm 105:29

This passage also celebrates God's mighty acts for Israel, stating that He 'turned their waters into blood,' echoing the plague and highlighting it as a divine demonstration of power.

Revelation 16:4

This apocalyptic vision describes a future judgment where a third of the waters are turned to blood, showing that this act in Exodus served as a powerful precedent for God's judgment on nations and systems.

Jeremiah 51:25

Here, Babylon is prophesied to be destroyed, with its waters dried up and its rivers turned into blood, showing how this initial plague became a symbolic pattern for God's judgment on oppressive nations.

Scholarly commentary

Exodus 7:19: "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."

And the Lord spake unto Moses,.... Pharaoh still being obstinate, and refusing to let the people go: say unto Aaron, take thy rod, and…
gill

Exodus 7:14-25: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go."

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.

Vade ad Pharaonem mane: ecce, egreditur ad aquas, et stes in occursum ejus super ripam fluminis: et virgam quae versa fuit in serpentem tolles in manum tuam.

And thou shal…

calvin

Frequently asked questions

What does Exodus 7:19-20 mean?

Explain the meaning of Exodus 7:19-20

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What Exodus 7:19-20 means

Original language

Pharaohפַּרְעֹה

Par`oh · Hebrew Proper Noun

The supreme ruler of Egypt, who in this context represents worldly pride, opposition to God, and the enslavement of God's people.

servantsעֶבֶד

ebed · Hebrew Noun

Those who carry out the will or work of a master; in a spiritual sense, it refers to those who are under the authority of a kingdom or sovereign.

Historical context

Written: Around the 13th century BC, during the Israelite sojourn in Egypt.
Author: Traditionally Moses, though some scholars suggest other sources compiled the Pentateuch.
Location: Egypt, likely Lower Egypt where the Nile branches were prominent.
Genre: Narrative; features divine command and detailed miraculous event.

Historical background

This plague was a direct assault on Egypt's primary life source, the Nile, and its entire water system, demonstrating God's power over the very elements Egyptians relied on and worshipped.

c. 1446 BC

Israelites Enslaved in Egypt

For generations, the Israelites had lived and multiplied in Egypt, eventually becoming a vast population subject to harsh enslavement under Egyptian rule.

c. 1446 BC

Moses Confronts Pharaoh

God commands Moses to return to Egypt and demand Pharaoh's permission for the Israelites to leave, beginning a series of confrontations.

c. 1446 BC— this verse

First Plague: Waters Turn to Blood

God instructs Moses to tell Aaron to strike the Nile River with his staff, turning all of Egypt's water into blood and killing its fish.

c. 1446 BC

Pharaoh's Heart Hardened

Despite the devastating plague, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, refusing to let the Israelites go, even as his own magicians can briefly imitate the miracle.

Scholarly commentary

Exodus 7:19: "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."

And the Lord spake unto Moses,.... Pharaoh still being obstinate, and refusing to let the people go: say unto Aaron, take thy rod, and…
gill

Exodus 7:14-25: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go."

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.

Vade ad Pharaonem mane: ecce, egreditur ad aquas, et stes in occursum ejus super ripam fluminis: et virgam quae versa fuit in serpentem tolles in manum tuam.

And thou shal…

calvin

Frequently asked questions

What does Exodus 7:19-20 mean?

Explain the meaning of Exodus 7:19-20

What is the context of Exodus 7:19-20?

Ask Sola about this verse

Ask Sola things like:

“What does "Pharaoh" mean in the original Hebrew?”
“Why did Traditionally Moses, though some scholars suggest other sources compiled the Pentateuch. write Exodus 7:19-20?”
“How does divine power displayed show up in Exodus 7:19-20?”

Ask in the Sola app Get the app

Live chat about Exodus 7:19-20 is available in the Sola app.