Exodus 9:3
behold, the hand of the LORD will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This plague is particularly chilling because it’s specifically targeted at the Egyptians' livestock, not Israel's, highlighting God's direct intervention and His power to protect His people even amidst destruction. Notice how the verse lists multiple types of animals—horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks—emphasizing that all of Egypt's wealth in livestock would be affected, not just a few. This wasn't a random sickness; it was a deliberate, devastating blow to the Egyptians' livelihood and their idolatrous worship of animals.
Pharaoh has just refused God's command to let His people go for the fifth time, so God announces the next plague: a deadly pestilence striking down all the livestock of Egypt. This plague is a direct act of God's "hand," intended to show His power and judgment, and importantly, it will completely spare the Israelites' animals, highlighting His protection of them. Pharaoh's heart remains hardened even after this, refusing to release the people despite the devastation.
Pharaoh had seen God's power before, but this plague is different. How does God show His hand, and why is it so important for Pharaoh to recognize it?
In Exodus 9:3, the phrase 'the hand of the LORD' isn't just a poetic way to describe a plague. It's a direct declaration that this is no natural disaster, no random misfortune. God is actively intervening.
A Direct Intervention
Unlike the previous plagues, which were sometimes initiated by Moses or Aaron's staff, this plague comes directly from God's hand. This emphasizes His sovereign power and His direct involvement in human affairs. It's a visible sign that God is not distant but intimately involved in the unfolding events.
The Purpose of Distinction
What's striking is where God's hand falls. It strikes the livestock 'in the field' – the horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks of Egypt. But importantly, as seen in the context of the whole passage (Exodus 9:4, 6), none of the Israelite livestock perish. This deliberate distinction highlights that God's judgment is not indiscriminate. It serves to separate His people from their oppressors, demonstrating His protective care for Israel while His judgment falls upon Egypt.
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Pharaoh thinks he can withstand God. But this plague isn't just about dead animals; it's about hitting Egypt where it hurts most.
The verse calls this plague 'very grievous.' This wasn't a minor inconvenience; it was a devastating blow to the Egyptian economy and way of life.
Economic Devastation
Livestock were central to ancient Egyptian society. They provided food, labor for farming (oxen), transportation (horses, donkeys, camels), and materials for clothing and trade (flocks). The death of these animals represented a massive loss of wealth and productivity. It wasn't just about the animals themselves, but the profound economic impact their destruction would have.
A Targeted Blow
This plague directly targeted the Egyptians' resources and livelihoods. By striking their cattle, God was attacking the very foundation of their prosperity and power. It was a strategic strike designed to inflict significant suffering and compel Pharaoh to release God's people. The word 'murrain' (or 'pestilence') indicates a widespread, fatal disease, emphasizing the severity and inescapability of the judgment.
Understand the original words
yad · Hebrew Noun
A powerful, divine action or manifestation of God’s sovereign control over nature and history. It is often used to execute judgment, display authority, or fulfill God's purposes in the world.
deber · Hebrew Noun
A divine judgment or stroke of affliction sent by God, often to bring about correction, repentance, or the manifestation of His power against oppression and sin.
The severity of this plague, striking at the Egyptians' wealth and particularly their valuable horses, was meant to highlight God's power over their gods and Pharaoh's hardened heart, showing that even the destruction of prized possessions wouldn't break his will.
c. 1550 BC - 1070 BC
New Kingdom Egypt Flourishes
During this era, Egypt experienced significant power and prosperity, including the introduction and common use of horses, particularly for warfare and possibly later for agriculture.
c. 1400 BC
Horses Become Common in Egypt
Horses, which were largely unknown before the Hyksos period, became increasingly common in Egypt during this time, especially for military use.
Exact date unknown, likely during the 13th Century BC— this verse
Moses Confronts Pharaoh
Moses, acting as God's messenger, repeatedly confronts Pharaoh, demanding the release of the Israelite people. Pharaoh consistently refuses, leading to a series of plagues sent upon Egypt.
During the Plagues of Egypt
The Fifth Plague: Murrain on Livestock
God sends a severe pestilence upon the livestock of Egypt, affecting horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, and sheep, while sparing the livestock of the Israelites.
Following the Fifth Plague
Pharaoh's Stubbornness Continues
Despite the devastating plague on his nation's wealth, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, and he still refuses to let the Israelites go.
This passage describes how wickedness causes the land to mourn and the fields to wither, mirroring the widespread destruction of livestock and crops as a divine judgment, showing how God's hand can bring devastation when people persist in sin.
Psalm 36:6This verse speaks of God's righteousness and justice, stating that He preserves both mankind and animals, which highlights the intentionality of God's judgment in Exodus when He specifically targets the livestock as a consequence of Pharaoh's actions.
Revelation 6:8The description of 'pale horse' and its rider, Death, with Hades following, commanding to kill by sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts, echoes the plague of murrain as a divinely sent pestilence that brings widespread death.
Ezekiel 14:21Here, Ezekiel lists the four severe judgments God sends upon Jerusalem: sword, famine, dangerous wild animals, and pestilence, including the death of livestock, demonstrating that the plague on Egypt's cattle was one of God's established methods of bringing judgment.
calvinExodus 9:1-7: "Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me."
And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
Et misit Pharao: et ecce, ex pecore Israel ne unum quidem animal mortuum erat. Et aggravatum fuit cor Pharaonis, ut non dimitteret populum.
Then the Lord said. No co…
clarkeExodus 9:3: "Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain."
The hand of the Lord - The power of God manifested in judgment. Upon the horses - סוסים susim. This is the first place the horse is mentioned; a creature for which Egypt and Arabia were always famous. סס sus is supposed to have the same meaning with שש sas, which signifies to be active…
This plague is particularly chilling because it’s specifically targeted at the Egyptians' livestock, not Israel's, highlighting God's direct intervention and His power to protect His people even amidst destruction. Notice how the verse lists multiple types of animals—horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks—emphasizing that all of Egypt's wealth in livestock would be affected, not just a few. This wasn't a random sickness; it was a deliberate, devastating blow to the Egyptians' livelihood and their idolatrous worship of animals.
Pharaoh has just refused God's command to let His people go for the fifth time, so God announces the next plague: a deadly pestilence striking down all the livestock of Egypt. This plague is a direct act of God's "hand," intended to show His power and judgment, and importantly, it will completely spare the Israelites' animals, highlighting His protection of them. Pharaoh's heart remains hardened even after this, refusing to release the people despite the devastation.
Pharaoh has just refused God's command to let His people go for the fifth time, so God announces the next plague: a deadly pestilence striking down all the livestock of Egypt. This plague is a direct act of God's "hand," intended to show His power and judgment, and importantly, it will completely spare the Israelites' animals, highlighting His protection of them. Pharaoh's heart remains hardened even after this, refusing to release the people despite the devastation.
"behold, the hand of the LORD will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks." — This plague is particularly chilling because it’s specifically targeted at the Egyptians' livestock, not Israel's, highlighting God's direct intervention and His power to protect His people even amid…
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