Exodus 7:20-21
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This wasn't just a random transformation; it happened right in front of Pharaoh and his whole entourage. The sheer public display underscores that this wasn't a secret trick but a bold declaration of God's power directly challenging the Egyptian reverence for their life-giving river.
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. And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This is the first of the ten plagues God sends on Egypt to force Pharaoh to let His people go. Following God's command, Aaron strikes the Nile with his staff, a dramatic act performed publicly before Pharaoh and his court. The immediate consequence is the transformation of the entire river into blood, a shocking spectacle that begins to dismantle Egypt's reliance on its sacred waters.
Why would God choose a river to strike? The Nile wasn't just any river; it was the lifeblood and even a god to the Egyptians.
Egypt's Lifeline
The Nile River was everything to Egypt. It provided water for drinking, irrigation for crops, and was a major highway for trade. It was so vital that the Egyptians actually worshipped it as a god named Hapi.
Divine Retribution
God knew this, and He used it as a powerful symbol. The Egyptians had defiled the very source of their life and worship. Now, God would defile it in return, turning their 'god' into a symbol of death and corruption. This plague was a direct hit against their idolatry, showing them that the God of the Hebrews was the true Creator and Lord over all.
A Visible Judgment
The text emphasizes that this happened 'in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants.' This wasn't a hidden event. It was a public spectacle designed to demonstrate God's power and to confront Pharaoh directly with the truth.
Imagine standing before a powerful king, about to do something that will horrify his entire nation. What does it take to obey God in such moments?
God's Command, Not Theirs
The verse opens with a simple, yet profound, statement: 'Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded.' Their action wasn't spontaneous; it was a direct response to God's instruction. This highlights the importance of obedience flowing from God's Word.
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Courage Under Pressure
They performed this miraculous act directly in front of Pharaoh and his officials. This wasn't a passive event; it was a bold, public demonstration of God's power. It took immense courage to stand against the might of Egypt and its king, armed only with God's command and a staff.
The Staff as a Symbol
The staff in Moses' and Aaron's hands wasn't inherently powerful. It was the symbol of God's authority and presence with them. When Aaron lifted it, it was God's power that was unleashed, demonstrating that true authority comes from Him, not from earthly rulers.
Water is essential for life. When that life-giving source turns deadly, it’s a terrifying sign. This plague speaks volumes about sin's destructive power.
The Corruption of Life
'All the water in the Nile turned into blood.' This wasn't just a color change; the water became putrid, undrinkable, and deadly to fish. The very source of life in Egypt was corrupted, becoming a source of death and disgust. This mirrors how sin corrupts our lives, turning what should be good and life-giving into something destructive.
A Mirror to Sin
Commentaries suggest this plague was a form of divine retribution. The Egyptians had shed the blood of Hebrew children in this very river, and they worshipped it as a god. Now, God gave them blood to drink, a chilling reflection of their own actions and idolatry.
The Pervasiveness of Judgment
The plague wasn't confined to the river. It spread to streams, ponds, and pools, and even into vessels of wood and stone (Exodus 7:19). This shows the comprehensive nature of God's judgment when sin goes unrepented. It impacts every aspect of life, leaving no safe place.
Understand the original words
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.
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.
ye'or · Hebrew Noun
The principal river of Egypt, symbolizing both the lifeblood of the nation's agriculture and its false religious dependence on the Nile god, Hapi. In this context, its turning to blood represents judgment upon Egypt's source of sustenance and its pantheon.
dam · Hebrew Noun
A substance symbolizing life, as well as judgment and death when shed outside of the covenantal sacrificial system. Here, the transformation of the river into blood signifies the withdrawal of God's blessing and the manifestation of His divine judgment upon the Egyptians.
This plague was profoundly significant not only as a divine judgment but also as a direct assault on Egypt's most revered natural element, the Nile River, which they worshipped. It also served to demonstrate God's power over the very source of Egyptian life and prosperity, highlighting the futility of their idolatry.
c. 15th-13th century BC
Israelite Enslavement in Egypt
The Israelites, after a period of prosperity, were enslaved and forced into hard labor by the Egyptians, setting the stage for their eventual deliverance.
Unknown (during Moses' youth)
Moses' Flight to Midian
After striking an Egyptian overseer, Moses fled Egypt and lived as a shepherd in Midian for many years, far from the events unfolding with his people.
c. 15th-13th century BC
The Burning Bush and Divine Commission
God appeared to Moses at the burning bush, commissioning him to return to Egypt and demand Pharaoh's release of the Israelites.
c. 15th-13th century BC
Confrontation with Pharaoh
Moses and Aaron repeatedly confronted Pharaoh, demanding the release of the Israelites and warning of divine judgment.
c. 15th-13th century BC— this verse
The First Plague: Water Turned to Blood
As commanded by God, Aaron struck the Nile River with his staff, turning its waters to blood and killing the fish within, impacting Egypt's vital water source.
Following the first plague
Pharaoh's Hardened Heart
Despite the devastating plague, Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, and he refused to let the Israelites go, leading to further divine judgments.
Following the first plague
Subsequent Plagues of Egypt
A series of nine more plagues followed, each more severe than the last, demonstrating God's power over Egyptian gods and the forces of nature, culminating in the Exodus.
This passage describes a later judgment where waters are turned to blood, directly referencing the Egyptian plague as a precedent for God's judgment upon those who shed the blood of the saints.
Psalm 78:44This Psalm recounts God's judgment on Egypt, specifically mentioning how He turned their rivers into blood, echoing the event in Exodus and highlighting God's power over creation.
Jeremiah 51:36Similar to Exodus, this verse depicts judgment on Babylon where God will 'dry up her sea and make her fountain dry,' showing a parallel theme of God manipulating water sources as a form of judgment.
John 2:1-11This passage shows Jesus' first miracle, turning water into wine, which is a transformation of a common liquid, much like God transformed the Nile's water, but here signifying blessing and abundant provision rather than judgment.
bensonExodus 7:20: "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."
Exodus 7:20 . The waters in the river were turned into blood — This was a plague justly inflicted on the Egyptians; for the river of Egypt was their idol; they and their land had so much benefit by that creature, that they served and worsh…
calvinExodus 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…
This wasn't just a random transformation; it happened right in front of Pharaoh and his whole entourage. The sheer public display underscores that this wasn't a secret trick but a bold declaration of God's power directly challenging the Egyptian reverence for their life-giving river.
This is the first of the ten plagues God sends on Egypt to force Pharaoh to let His people go. Following God's command, Aaron strikes the Nile with his staff, a dramatic act performed publicly before Pharaoh and his court. The immediate consequence is the transformation of the entire river into blood, a shocking spectacle that begins to dismantle Egypt's reliance on its sacred waters.
This is the first of the ten plagues God sends on Egypt to force Pharaoh to let His people go. Following God's command, Aaron strikes the Nile with his staff, a dramatic act performed publicly before Pharaoh and his court. The immediate consequence is the transformation of the entire river into blood, a shocking spectacle that begins to dismantle Egypt's reliance on its sacred waters.
"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. And the fish in the Nile died, an…" — This wasn't just a random transformation; it happened right in front of Pharaoh and his whole entourage. The sheer public display underscores that this wasn't a secret trick but a bold declaration of…
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Last reviewed October 2026
