So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just random soot; it’s ashes from the very furnaces where the Israelites were cruelly enslaved. Moses literally throws the remnants of their suffering into the air, transforming the symbol of their oppression into a plague that directly punishes their tormentors.
So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following the plague of hail, Moses and Aaron approach Pharaoh, taking soot from a brick kiln—a place symbolizing Israel's suffering—and throwing it into the air. This divine action causes painful boils to erupt on both Egyptians and their livestock, incapacitating even the magicians and demonstrating that this plague is beyond any human power. Pharaoh's heart, however, remains hardened, allowing God's power to be fully revealed.
Why did God choose ashes from a 'furnace' or 'kiln' for this plague? It turns out, the punishment reflects the sin in a powerful way.
This plague strikes with a particular kind of poetic justice. The "ashes of the furnace" (or "soot from the kiln" as some translations say) directly call back to the suffering of the Israelites. They were brutally enslaved, forced to make bricks in those very kilns.
Could this plague just be a natural Egyptian ailment? The text makes it clear this was a supernatural act, designed to show God's absolute power.
While Egypt was prone to certain diseases, this plague was unmistakably miraculous. God's intervention transformed ordinary ashes into a devastating affliction, demonstrating His authority over the natural world and even over sickness itself.
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This plague directly connects the punishment to the sin. The very ashes from the brick kilns used to oppress the Israelites become the source of the Egyptians' suffering, a powerful reminder that God sees injustice and will judge it.
c. 1446 BC
Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh
Moses and Aaron repeatedly approach Pharaoh, demanding the release of the Israelites from slavery. They perform signs and wonders to demonstrate God's power, but Pharaoh's heart remains hardened.
c. 1446 BC
Plague of Frogs
God sends a plague of frogs upon Egypt, covering the land and entering homes. Pharaoh agrees to let the Israelites go if the frogs are removed, but hardens his heart again once the plague is lifted.
c. 1446 BC
Plague of Gnats
The dust of the earth is turned into gnats, infesting people and animals. The Egyptian magicians are unable to replicate this plague and confess it is the "finger of God."
c. 1446 BC
Plague of Flies
Swarms of flies are sent to plague the Egyptians, but are held back from the land of Goshen where the Israelites live. This demonstrates God's protective power over His people.
c. 1446 BC
Plague of Livestock Disease
A deadly pestilence strikes all the livestock of the Egyptians, killing horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, and sheep. The livestock of the Israelites remain unharmed.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Plague of Boils and Sores
Moses takes ashes from a brick kiln and throws them into the air in Pharaoh's presence. The ashes turn into boils and sores that break out on the Egyptians and their animals, a direct judgment linked to their oppressive labor.
c. 1446 BC
Plague of Hail
God sends a devastating hailstorm, accompanied by fire, destroying crops and people caught in the open. Goshen is once again spared.
This passage directly echoes the plague of boils, describing it as 'the plague of Egypt,' highlighting its distinctive and terrifying nature that would afflict those who disobeyed God.
Revelation 16:2This verse draws a parallel between the plagues on Egypt and future divine judgments, noting that the first 'angel' poured out his bowl, resulting in 'sores' on those who bore the mark of the beast, mirroring the affliction sent upon Egypt.
Amos 4:10This prophetic passage recounts God's judgment on Israel, comparing His actions to the plagues He sent on Egypt, specifically mentioning 'the plague after the manner of Egypt,' which included disease upon their beasts, showing a pattern of divine retribution.
Job 2:7This verse describes Job afflicted with 'painful sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head,' illustrating the severe and widespread nature of skin afflictions that can be sent as a form of judgment or testing.
gillExodus 9:10: "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."
And they took ashes of the furnace,.... Which was near at hand, perhaps in Pharaoh's kitchen: and stood before Pharaoh; not in his palace, or in any covered room, but in some place open to the heaven, a courtyard or garden adjoining to the palace: and Moses sprinkled it up towards heaven; cast it up in the…
calvinExodus 9:8-12: "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."
- And the Lord said unto Moses. God does not now postpone the time of the punishment, but redoubles the plagues in a continuous series; nor does he threaten Pharaoh, but, leaving him, executes the judgment which He decreed; both because it was now more than sufficiently manifested that admonitions were of no avail with…
This isn't just random soot; it’s ashes from the very furnaces where the Israelites were cruelly enslaved. Moses literally throws the remnants of their suffering into the air, transforming the symbol of their oppression into a plague that directly punishes their tormentors.
Following the plague of hail, Moses and Aaron approach Pharaoh, taking soot from a brick kiln—a place symbolizing Israel's suffering—and throwing it into the air. This divine action causes painful boils to erupt on both Egyptians and their livestock, incapacitating even the magicians and demonstrating that this plague is beyond any human power. Pharaoh's heart, however, remains hardened, allowing God's power to be fully revealed.
Following the plague of hail, Moses and Aaron approach Pharaoh, taking soot from a brick kiln—a place symbolizing Israel's suffering—and throwing it into the air. This divine action causes painful boils to erupt on both Egyptians and their livestock, incapacitating even the magicians and demonstrating that this plague is beyond any human power. Pharaoh's heart, however, remains hardened, allowing God's power to be fully revealed.
"So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast." — This isn't just random soot; it’s ashes from the very furnaces where the Israelites were cruelly enslaved. Moses literally throws the remnants of their suffering into the air, transforming the symbol…
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Last reviewed October 2026