Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This plague, unlike the previous two, arrives without warning, directly punishing Pharaoh's deceit. It's also significant that Aaron is instructed to strike the dust of the earth, directly attacking the very ground Egyptians worshipped.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Pharaoh has just broken his promise to let the Israelites go after the plague of frogs, so God tells Moses to have Aaron strike the dust of the land, turning it into swarms of gnats (or lice) that cover both people and animals. This third plague, unlike the first two, comes without warning, and crucially, Pharaoh's magicians are unable to replicate it, admitting, "This is the finger of God," though Pharaoh's heart remains hardened.
Imagine the very ground beneath your feet erupting into a plague. This wasn't just random happenstance; it was a deliberate act of divine power.
God commanded Aaron to strike the dust of the earth, and from it came gnats (or lice). This highlights God's absolute control over creation.
From Nothing to Nuisance
The Egyptian magicians had mimicked the first two plagues. But when it came to this one, their powers utterly failed.
The magicians' inability to replicate the plague of gnats was a crucial turning point. It exposed the limits of their power and amplified God's authority.
The Finger of God
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This wasn't just an annoying pest; it was a plague designed to deeply shame and humiliate the proud Egyptians.
The plague of gnats was chosen not only to demonstrate God's power but also to target the Egyptians' pride and their religious practices.
Shame and Disgrace
Understand the original words
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God, revealed to Moses, emphasizing His self-existence and faithfulness to His promises.
matteh · Hebrew Noun
A rod or walking stick used as a symbol of authority, leadership, and divine power, often representing God’s intervention through His human agents.
kinnim · Hebrew Noun
Small, biting insects or lice; in the context of the plagues, they represent the Creator’s control over the very elements of the earth to humble the pride of man.
This plague directly targeted the Egyptian soil, a source of their perceived power and sustenance, demonstrating that even the very ground they worshipped was subject to God's command. The magicians' inability to replicate this plague marked a critical turning point, revealing the limits of their power and the undeniable authority of the God of Israel.
c. 15th century BC
Israelites Enslaved in Egypt
The Israelites have lived in Egypt for centuries, growing in number but facing increasing oppression and forced labor under Pharaoh.
c. 15th century BC
Moses' Birth and Early Life
Moses is born, miraculously spared from Pharaoh's infanticide decree, and raised in Pharaoh's household, unaware of his Israelite heritage.
c. 15th century BC
Moses Flees to Midian
After killing an Egyptian taskmaster, Moses flees Egypt and lives as a shepherd in Midian for forty years.
c. 15th century BC
The Burning Bush and Moses' Return
God appears to Moses in a burning bush, commissioning him to return to Egypt and demand Pharaoh release the Israelites.
c. 15th century BC
First Two Plagues (Water to Blood, Frogs)
Moses and Aaron deliver God's demands to Pharaoh, and the first two plagues strike Egypt after Pharaoh refuses to let the people go.
c. 15th century BC— this verse
Third Plague: Gnats/Lice
Without warning, Aaron strikes the dust of the earth with his staff, and it brings forth swarms of gnats (or lice) upon Egyptians and their livestock.
c. 15th century BC
Magicians Fail to Replicate Plague
The Egyptian magicians attempt to replicate the plague of gnats with their magic but fail, admitting, 'This is the finger of God,' yet Pharaoh's heart remains hardened.
This psalm recounts God's judgment on Egypt, explicitly mentioning the plague of gnats (or lice), linking it to God's power over creation and His judgments.
Psalm 78:45Similar to Psalm 105, this passage also recalls the plagues of Egypt, highlighting the transformation of God's creation into instruments of judgment, specifically mentioning the gnats.
John 11:40Jesus speaks of the glory of God being revealed through signs and wonders, similar to how this plague revealed God's power to the Egyptians and demonstrated His superiority over their gods.
Luke 11:20Jesus states, 'But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.' This phrase 'finger of God' was used by the Egyptian magicians themselves to describe the power behind the plague of gnats, acknowledging a divine power at work.
Genesis 2:7This verse describes God forming man from the dust of the ground, illustrating God's creative power over the very substance from which life (or in this case, a plague) can arise, emphasizing His sovereignty over all matter.
calvinExodus 8:16-19: "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."
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.
Et fecerunt sic: et extendit Aharon manum suam cum virga sua, et percussit pulverem terrae: ut fuit in pedi…
clarkeExodus 8:16: "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."
Smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice - If the vermin commonly designated by this name be intended, it must have been a very dreadful and afflicting plague to the Egyptians, and especially to their priests, who were obliged to shave the hair off every part of their bodies, and to wear a single tunic, that no ver…
This plague, unlike the previous two, arrives without warning, directly punishing Pharaoh's deceit. It's also significant that Aaron is instructed to strike the dust of the earth, directly attacking the very ground Egyptians worshipped.
Pharaoh has just broken his promise to let the Israelites go after the plague of frogs, so God tells Moses to have Aaron strike the dust of the land, turning it into swarms of gnats (or lice) that cover both people and animals. This third plague, unlike the first two, comes without warning, and crucially, Pharaoh's magicians are unable to replicate it, admitting, "This is the finger of God," though Pharaoh's heart remains hardened.
Pharaoh has just broken his promise to let the Israelites go after the plague of frogs, so God tells Moses to have Aaron strike the dust of the land, turning it into swarms of gnats (or lice) that cover both people and animals. This third plague, unlike the first two, comes without warning, and crucially, Pharaoh's magicians are unable to replicate it, admitting, "This is the finger of God," though Pharaoh's heart remains hardened.
"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’”" — This plague, unlike the previous two, arrives without warning, directly punishing Pharaoh's deceit. It's also significant that Aaron is instructed to strike the dust of the earth, directly attackin…
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Last reviewed October 2026