But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss is that the Hebrew word for "sever" here suggests a miraculous, even glorious, distinction. God isn't just setting Goshen apart; He's making it a marvel to behold, a clear demonstration of His power and protection amidst the surrounding devastation. This supernatural exemption for His people is meant to be an undeniable sign, proclaiming His sovereignty over all the earth, even within Egypt itself.
But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following the plague of frogs, God informs Moses that a devastating swarm of flies will strike Egypt, but He will miraculously protect the land of Goshen where His people live. This act serves as a clear sign to Pharaoh and the Egyptians that the LORD, not their gods, is sovereign over all creation, even distinguishing between His chosen people and their oppressors. This distinction is a prelude to Pharaoh’s eventual reluctant release of the Israelites.
The plague of flies is about to hit Egypt, but there's one place that will be completely untouched. What does this specific exemption reveal about God's power?
God announces a special intervention for the land of Goshen, where His people live. The Hebrew word used here, 'hiphleythi,' suggests a miraculous or marvelous separation. It wasn't just that the flies happened to miss Goshen; God actively intervened to set it apart. This wasn't a passive letting things happen, but an active 'doing wonders.' This supernatural distinction highlights God's complete control over His creation, even over creatures like flies that seem to spread indiscriminately. He can, and does, put His power on display by selectively withholding His judgment or His plagues.
Why does God emphasize that Pharaoh should 'know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth'? What's the big deal about knowing God's presence in Goshen?
The ultimate purpose of this selective plague is revelation. God isn't just demonstrating power; He's making a theological statement. By distinguishing Goshen, God forces Pharaoh and all of Egypt to confront the reality that the God of Israel is not a local deity, but the sovereign Lord over the entire earth. He's not just powerful in heaven or in a faraway land; His reign extends 'in the midst of the earth,' meaning everywhere, and specifically, right there in Egypt. This intervention serves as a powerful, undeniable sign that the Egyptian gods are false and that Yahweh alone is the true, all-powerful Creator and Ruler.
Understand the original words
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pālāh · Hebrew Verb
To distinguish, mark out, or treat as holy and separate from the common or profane. It denotes God’s sovereign action in setting aside His people for His special protection or purpose.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the God of Israel, revealed to Moses, signifying His eternal, self-existent, and covenant-keeping nature. It is the name by which God identifies Himself as the supreme authority and Redeemer.
This verse highlights the miraculous protection of God's people amidst devastating judgment, emphasizing His power to distinguish between those who serve Him and those who do not, even within the same geographical region.
c. 1800 BC
Israelites Settle in Egypt
Abraham's descendants, led by Joseph, settle in the fertile land of Goshen in Egypt during a time of famine.
c. 1500 BC
Israelites Enslaved in Egypt
After generations, the growing Israelite population is enslaved by a new dynasty of Egyptian rulers, a period of intense oppression.
c. 1446 BC
The Ten Plagues Begin
God sends a series of ten devastating plagues upon Egypt to force Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage.
During the Fifth Plague— this verse
Exodus 8:22 - Flies Exempt Goshen
During the plague of swarms of flies, God miraculously spares the land of Goshen, where the Israelites live, demonstrating His power and sovereignty over all the earth.
Shortly after
The Exodus Begins
Following the tenth plague, Pharaoh finally relents, and the Israelites depart from Egypt after 430 years of sojourn.
This passage directly echoes Exodus 8:22, stating that the plague of hail would also only affect the Egyptians, not the Israelites in Goshen, highlighting God's protective power and His intention to demonstrate His sovereignty.
Psalm 74:12This psalm recalls God's power over creation and His acts of salvation, referencing 'God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.' This aligns with the Exodus verse, emphasizing God's active rule and intervention in the world, even in a specific location like Egypt.
Isaiah 41:14This verse speaks of God as the redeemer of Israel, calling them 'worm Jacob,' and emphasizing His strength to help them. It reflects the theme of God distinguishing and protecting His people, even when they seem weak, mirroring His protection of Goshen.
John 1:14The verse 'the Word became flesh and dwelt among us' points to God's presence within His people. This resonates with the Exodus passage where God declares His presence 'in the midst of the earth' and specifically within Goshen, showing His desire to dwell with and protect His people.
Ezekiel 39:28This prophecy states that the Lord brought Israel back to their own land and 'no longer hid his face from them.' This connects to Exodus 8:22 by highlighting God's visible presence and protection over His people, no longer concealing His favor from them.
clarkeExodus 8:22: "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."
I will sever in that day - הפליתי hiphleythi, has been translated by some good critics, I will miraculously separate; so the Vulgate: Faciam mirabilem, "I will do a marvellous thing." And the Septuagint, παραδοξασω, I will render illustrious the land of Goshen in that day; and this he did, by…
bensonExodus 8:22: "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."
Exodus 8:22 . I will sever in that day — The Hebrew properly means, I will marvellously sever. The LXX. render it παραδοξασω , I will make a glorious distinction. Although the Israelites were probably not afflicted with any of the plagues which went before this, yet as Goshen, where they lived,…
What's easy to miss is that the Hebrew word for "sever" here suggests a miraculous, even glorious, distinction. God isn't just setting Goshen apart; He's making it a marvel to behold, a clear demonstration of His power and protection amidst the surrounding devastation. This supernatural exemption for His people is meant to be an undeniable sign, proclaiming His sovereignty over all the earth, even within Egypt itself.
Following the plague of frogs, God informs Moses that a devastating swarm of flies will strike Egypt, but He will miraculously protect the land of Goshen where His people live. This act serves as a clear sign to Pharaoh and the Egyptians that the LORD, not their gods, is sovereign over all creation, even distinguishing between His chosen people and their oppressors. This distinction is a prelude to Pharaoh’s eventual reluctant release of the Israelites.
Following the plague of frogs, God informs Moses that a devastating swarm of flies will strike Egypt, but He will miraculously protect the land of Goshen where His people live. This act serves as a clear sign to Pharaoh and the Egyptians that the LORD, not their gods, is sovereign over all creation, even distinguishing between His chosen people and their oppressors. This distinction is a prelude to Pharaoh’s eventual reluctant release of the Israelites.
"But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth." — What's easy to miss is that the Hebrew word for "sever" here suggests a miraculous, even glorious, distinction. God isn't just setting Goshen apart; He's making it a marvel to behold, a clear demonst…
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Last reviewed October 2026