Exodus 9:23-24
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The verse highlights a powerful, unusual combination of destructive forces: thunder, hail, and "fire running along the ground." This "fire" wasn't just lightning; it's described as a consuming, moving force, emphasizing the unnatural and targeted nature of God's judgment.
Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Pharaoh's stubborn refusal to let the Israelites go has brought Egypt through three devastating plagues, yet his heart remains hardened. Now, as Moses, at God's command, stretches his staff towards the heavens, God unleashes a terrifying storm of thunder, hail, and fire upon the land, a judgment more severe than anything seen before. This supernatural tempest, unlike anything experienced in Egypt, is designed to break Pharaoh's resistance and demonstrate the incomparable power of the LORD, while miraculously sparing the land of Goshen where the Israelites reside.
Have you ever felt completely powerless against the forces of nature? This plague shows that the ultimate power over even the wildest storms belongs to God.
The Elements Obey
Exodus 9:23 describes a terrifying storm where thunder, hail, and a strange, ground-level fire descend upon Egypt. Notice how the text emphasizes that this wasn't a random natural event. Moses stretches out his staff, and the LORD sends these forces. This highlights a crucial theological truth: creation itself is subject to its Creator.
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How do people respond when God's power is undeniable? This passage reveals a critical choice: fear and obey, or ignore and perish.
Two Paths in the Storm
Amidst the chaos of the seventh plague, Exodus 9:20-21 highlights a profound human response. While God's judgment was unleashed, not everyone was swept away by it.
Understand the original words
matteh · Hebrew Noun
A rod or walking stick carried by a leader or shepherd, symbolizing delegated authority and power from God. It serves as an instrument through which God's miraculous works are performed.
ra'am · Hebrew Noun
A manifestation of the voice or presence of God, often associated with His power, judgment, and majesty. It frequently signals divine intervention in human affairs.
esh · Hebrew Noun
A symbol of divine presence, purity, judgment, or the glory of God. In judgment contexts, it represents the consuming nature of God's holiness against sin.
This devastating plague highlights God's power over nature and His specific targeting of Egypt, while preserving His people in Goshen. It's a vivid demonstration of divine judgment against stubborn opposition.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites, after centuries of enslavement in Egypt, are led out by Moses following God's judgment upon the Egyptians through ten devastating plagues.
c. 1446 BC
Journey to Sinai
Following the Exodus, the Israelites journey towards Mount Sinai, where they will receive the Law and the instructions for building the Tabernacle.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Ten Plagues
A series of ten divine judgments sent upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. This plague of hail is the seventh in the series.
c. 1446 BC
Destruction of Firstborn
The tenth and final plague, the death of the firstborn in Egypt, finally breaks Pharaoh's will and leads to the Israelites' departure.
This psalm recounts God's judgment on Egypt, specifically mentioning God destroying their vines with hail and their sycamore-trees with frost, drawing a direct parallel to the destructive hail and accompanying fire in Exodus.
Psalm 105:32Another recounting of the plagues, this verse directly links the hail and fire with God's judgment, stating God 'turned their rain into hail, and fiery lightning into their land,' echoing the specific elements described in Exodus 9:23.
Ezekiel 13:11This passage describes God’s judgment through a destructive hail, saying 'Say unto them which daub with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.' This echoes the overwhelming and destructive nature of the hail in Exodus.
Revelation 16:21This verse describes a future judgment where 'great hail from heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent,' falls upon men, showing that the destructive power of hail as a divine instrument of judgment is a recurring theme throughout Scripture.
calvinExodus 9:13-26: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me."
Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field: for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
Nunc igitur mitte, collige pecus tuum, et quicquid tibi…
gillExodus 9:23: "And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt."
And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven,.... The same which Aaron had made use of before, but was now in the hand of Moses, and whose rod it properly was: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground, hot thunderbolts, which struck their flocks, Psalm 78:48 and hail which…
The verse highlights a powerful, unusual combination of destructive forces: thunder, hail, and "fire running along the ground." This "fire" wasn't just lightning; it's described as a consuming, moving force, emphasizing the unnatural and targeted nature of God's judgment.
Pharaoh's stubborn refusal to let the Israelites go has brought Egypt through three devastating plagues, yet his heart remains hardened. Now, as Moses, at God's command, stretches his staff towards the heavens, God unleashes a terrifying storm of thunder, hail, and fire upon the land, a judgment more severe than anything seen before. This supernatural tempest, unlike anything experienced in Egypt, is designed to break Pharaoh's resistance and demonstrate the incomparable power of the LORD, while miraculously sparing the land of Goshen where the Israelites reside.
Pharaoh's stubborn refusal to let the Israelites go has brought Egypt through three devastating plagues, yet his heart remains hardened. Now, as Moses, at God's command, stretches his staff towards the heavens, God unleashes a terrifying storm of thunder, hail, and fire upon the land, a judgment more severe than anything seen before. This supernatural tempest, unlike anything experienced in Egypt, is designed to break Pharaoh's resistance and demonstrate the incomparable power of the LORD, while miraculously sparing the land of Goshen where the Israelites reside.
"Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, v…" — The verse highlights a powerful, unusual combination of destructive forces: thunder, hail, and "fire running along the ground." This "fire" wasn't just lightning; it's described as a consuming, movin…
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Last reviewed October 2026
