He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to overlook that "flies" here likely refers to a mix of many different kinds of insects, not just one type. The text emphasizes God's command bringing forth a chaotic swarm, showing His power over every creature, even the smallest and most bothersome. This wasn't just an annoyance; it was a powerful declaration from God that He controlled all of creation.
He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm recounts God's faithfulness to Israel through their history, starting with the plagues upon Egypt. The verses immediately preceding this one describe God's power in sending various devastating plagues upon Egypt, including darkness, frogs, and hail, all as a response to Pharaoh's stubborn refusal to let His people go. Following this, the psalm will detail the final plague and the miraculous exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, emphasizing God's protective care over His people throughout their journey.
Did you know that God's spoken word in Scripture isn't just descriptive, but inherently powerful? Even in ancient times, His commands brought about immediate, tangible results.
The verse opens with "He spoke." This isn't just a narrative detail; it highlights the absolute authority of God's word. When God speaks, creation—or in this case, a nation under judgment—responds. The plagues on Egypt weren't random events or natural disasters. They were direct, spoken commands from the Most High.
The Power of Divine Speech
The Bible uses specific words for these plagues. Understanding what they might refer to reveals more about God's precise and humbling judgment.
While the English translations use "flies" and "gnats" (or "lice" in some older versions), the original Hebrew words likely describe specific, intense infestations. Scholars debate the exact species, but the impact was undeniable.
Ask a follow-up
A Closer Look at the Hebrew:
Divine Humiliation:
These plagues weren't just physically unpleasant; they were deeply humiliating for the Egyptians, who prided themselves on cleanliness and order. God used these seemingly small, repulsive creatures to demonstrate His power over their entire land and to break their stubborn resistance.
God's strength isn't always demonstrated in thunderous displays. Sometimes, He uses the lowly and the repulsive to achieve His purposes and to humble the proud.
One of the most astounding aspects of these plagues is that God chose insects—creatures often considered disgusting or insignificant—as the instruments of His judgment. This wasn't an accident; it was a deliberate choice to showcase His power in a way that would be both effective and deeply humbling to the Egyptians.
Strength in Weakness:
A Lesson for Us:
This reminds us that God's power isn't limited to what we deem grand or impressive. He can use any means—even the seemingly weak or contemptible—to accomplish His will. It's a powerful reminder that true strength is found not in our own capabilities, but in humble reliance on God.
Understand the original words
amar · Hebrew Verb
In the context of God's interaction with humanity, to speak denotes the exercise of divine authority, power, and sovereign will. When God speaks, reality conforms to His word, demonstrating that His creative and judicial decrees are immediately effective.
arov · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting a plague or infestation, particularly referring to the divine judgment upon Egypt. It signifies the power of God over the natural order to bring about chaos and affliction upon those who oppose Him.
kinnim · Hebrew Noun
A tiny, stinging insect, often identified as gnats or lice. Biblically, these represent a minor creature used by God to humble and plague the pride of man, demonstrating His dominion over the smallest aspects of creation.
This psalm recounts God's mighty acts during the Exodus. The plagues, like the swarms of flies and gnats, weren't random acts of nature but direct, spoken commands from God, demonstrating His sovereign power over Egypt and His commitment to liberating His people.
c. 1440 BC
Israelites Enslaved in Egypt
Following a period of prosperity, the Israelites' growing numbers led to fear and oppression by the Egyptians, resulting in brutal enslavement.
c. 1440 BC
The Ten Plagues Begin
God sends a series of devastating plagues upon Egypt to coerce Pharaoh into releasing the Israelites from bondage.
c. 1440 BC
Plague of Lice
The third plague, described as lice or gnats, afflicted both people and livestock, a plague the Egyptian magicians could not replicate, signifying God's power.
c. 1440 BC— this verse
Plague of Flies
The fourth plague brought swarms of flies, or a mixture of insects, upon the Egyptians but spared the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived.
c. 1440 BC
Israelites Exodus from Egypt
Following the tenth plague, the Israelites were finally released and left Egypt, carrying wealth taken from the Egyptians.
This passage describes the plague of gnats (or lice, depending on translation), which is one of the specific plagues mentioned alongside the flies in Psalm 105:31, highlighting God's direct and targeted judgment.
Exodus 8:20This verse details the plague of flies, showing it as a direct command from God, mirroring the 'He spoke' of Psalm 105:31 and demonstrating the power of His word to bring about plagues.
Psalm 78:45This parallel account of the plagues explicitly mentions the 'swarms of flies' and 'gnats' (or lice) sent upon Egypt, reinforcing the narrative and emphasizing God's sovereign power over creation.
This passage reflects on the plagues in Egypt, highlighting how even common creatures like flies and gnats were used by God as instruments of judgment, illustrating His power to use humble means for His purposes.
This prayer recalls God's provision and guidance in the wilderness, mentioning His 'good Spirit' to instruct and His 'manna' for food, which indirectly contrasts with the plagues sent upon Egypt, showing God's dual action of judgment and sustenance.
pulpitPsalms 105:31: "He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts."
Verse 31. - He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies. The 'arob is now generally thought to be either the dog fly (κυνόμυια, LXX.) or some sort of beetle (see the comment on Exodus 8:21). And lice in all their coasts; rather, gnats (see on Exodus 8:17).
gillPsalms 105:31: "He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts."
He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies,.... Or a "mixture" (z) of various insects, and, as some interpret it, of wild beasts; and so Kimchi says evil beasts are meant, which were raised up to go into all their borders; the Arabic version renders it "dogflies", after the Septuagint; See Gill on Psalm 78:45 , this was the fourth plague, Exodus 8:24 . And lice in all their coasts; this is the thi…
It's easy to overlook that "flies" here likely refers to a mix of many different kinds of insects, not just one type. The text emphasizes God's command bringing forth a chaotic swarm, showing His power over every creature, even the smallest and most bothersome. This wasn't just an annoyance; it was a powerful declaration from God that He controlled all of creation.
This psalm recounts God's faithfulness to Israel through their history, starting with the plagues upon Egypt. The verses immediately preceding this one describe God's power in sending various devastating plagues upon Egypt, including darkness, frogs, and hail, all as a response to Pharaoh's stubborn refusal to let His people go. Following this, the psalm will detail the final plague and the miraculous exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, emphasizing God's protective care over His people throughout their journey.
This psalm recounts God's faithfulness to Israel through their history, starting with the plagues upon Egypt. The verses immediately preceding this one describe God's power in sending various devastating plagues upon Egypt, including darkness, frogs, and hail, all as a response to Pharaoh's stubborn refusal to let His people go. Following this, the psalm will detail the final plague and the miraculous exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, emphasizing God's protective care over His people throughout their journey.
"He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country." — It's easy to overlook that "flies" here likely refers to a mix of many different kinds of insects, not just one type. The text emphasizes God's command bringing forth a chaotic swarm, showing His pow…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026