He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just describe a grim plague; it highlights God's power to manipulate even the most basic elements of life. By turning water into blood and killing its fish, God not only punished Egypt but also demonstrated His absolute sovereignty over the very sustenance of their land and people. This detail shows a divine power that can disrupt and destroy life at its source.
He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a psalm recounting God's mighty acts for Israel, focusing on their deliverance from Egypt. It enumerates several of the plagues God sent upon Egypt, including turning their waters to blood and killing their fish, as described in the book of Exodus. The psalm highlights these events as demonstrations of God's power and faithfulness to His people, even amidst the suffering of their oppressors.
Imagine the unthinkable: the very water you depend on for life becomes a source of death. The Psalmist doesn't just tell a story; he declares God's absolute authority.
This verse points to one of the most dramatic plagues sent upon Egypt. It wasn't just a natural disaster; it was a divine intervention designed to showcase God's power.
Nature Under God's Command
Why would God unleash such a devastating plague? The Psalms remind us that His actions, even judgment, always serve a greater purpose.
The plagues sent upon Egypt were not arbitrary acts of destruction. They were pointed judgments with specific purposes, all part of God's larger plan.
The Goals of God's Judgment
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Psalm 105 recounts God's faithfulness to Israel, using the plagues of Egypt as a prime example of His power and deliverance. The mention of water turning to blood directly recalls the first devastating plague, highlighting God's judgment on Egypt and His protective power over His people.
c. 1550 BC - 1070 BC
New Kingdom of Egypt
This era saw Egypt as a major imperial power, often ruling over the land of Canaan where the Israelites would later settle. This context of Egyptian dominance and interaction is crucial for understanding the Exodus narrative.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Possible Exodus from Egypt
According to biblical chronology, the Israelites' departure from Egypt under Moses, an event marked by plagues and divine intervention.
Exodus 7:14-24
First Plague: Water Turned to Blood
God instructs Moses to confront Pharaoh, leading to the first plague where the Nile River and all standing water in Egypt turn to blood, killing fish and making the water undrinkable.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Following their exodus and wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites begin their military campaign to take possession of the Promised Land.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy of Israel
The period of Saul, David, and Solomon, where Israel was a unified kingdom, marked by both significant spiritual and political advancements, and later internal division.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The destruction of Solomon's Temple and the deportation of many Judeans to Babylon, a traumatic event that led to a deep reflection on God's faithfulness and Israel's history.
This passage directly parallels Psalm 105:29 by describing the first plague where Moses and Aaron turned the waters of Egypt into blood, causing the fish to die.
Revelation 16:4This New Testament passage describes one of the bowls of God's wrath being poured out on the 'sea' which turned to 'blood as of a dead man,' echoing the destructive nature of God's judgment on water as seen in Psalm 105:29.
Psalm 78:44This psalm recounts God's dealings with Israel and also mentions the plague of turning waters to blood and causing fish to die, reinforcing the theme of God's powerful judgment against His enemies.
Amos 8:9This prophetic passage speaks of God causing the sun to set at noon and darkening the earth, a divine judgment that, like the turning of waters to blood, brings widespread devastation and death.
pulpitPsalms 105:29: "He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish."
Verse 29. - He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish (comb. Exodus 7:20, 21).
ellicottPsalms 105:29: "He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish."
(29) For the various terms used in describing the plagues, see Notes to the historical account in Exodus.
The verse doesn't just describe a grim plague; it highlights God's power to manipulate even the most basic elements of life. By turning water into blood and killing its fish, God not only punished Egypt but also demonstrated His absolute sovereignty over the very sustenance of their land and people. This detail shows a divine power that can disrupt and destroy life at its source.
This passage is part of a psalm recounting God's mighty acts for Israel, focusing on their deliverance from Egypt. It enumerates several of the plagues God sent upon Egypt, including turning their waters to blood and killing their fish, as described in the book of Exodus. The psalm highlights these events as demonstrations of God's power and faithfulness to His people, even amidst the suffering of their oppressors.
This passage is part of a psalm recounting God's mighty acts for Israel, focusing on their deliverance from Egypt. It enumerates several of the plagues God sent upon Egypt, including turning their waters to blood and killing their fish, as described in the book of Exodus. The psalm highlights these events as demonstrations of God's power and faithfulness to His people, even amidst the suffering of their oppressors.
"He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die." — The verse doesn't just describe a grim plague; it highlights God's power to manipulate even the most basic elements of life. By turning water into blood and killing its fish, God not only punished Eg…
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Last reviewed October 2026