Reference: Plague
American
See PESTILENCE.
Easton
a "stroke" of affliction, or disease. Sent as a divine chastisement (Nu 11:33; 14:37; 16:46-49; 2Sa 24:21). Painful afflictions or diseases, (Le 13:3,5,30; 1Ki 8:37), or severe calamity (Mr 5:29; Lu 7:21), or the judgment of God, so called (Ex 9:14). Plagues of Egypt were ten in number.
(1.) The river Nile was turned into blood, and the fish died, and the river stank, so that the Egyptians loathed to drink of the river (Ex 7:14-25).
(2.) The plague of frogs (Ex 8:1-15).
(3.) The plague of lice (Heb kinnim, properly gnats or mosquitoes; comp. Ps 78:45; 105:31), "out of the dust of the land" (Ex 8:16-19).
(4.) The plague of flies (Heb arob, rendered by the LXX. dog-fly), Ex 8:21-24.
(5.) The murrain (Ex 9:1-7), or epidemic pestilence which carried off vast numbers of cattle in the field. Warning was given of its coming.
(6.) The sixth plague, of "boils and blains," like the third, was sent without warning (Ex 9:8-12). It is called (De 28:27) "the botch of Egypt," A.V.; but in R.V., "the boil of Egypt." "The magicians could not stand before Moses" because of it.
(7.) The plague of hail, with fire and thunder (Ex 9:13-33). Warning was given of its coming. (Comp. Ps 18:13; 105:32-33).
(8.) The plague of locusts, which covered the whole face of the earth, so that the land was darkened with them (Ex 10:12-15). The Hebrew name of this insect, arbeh, points to the "multitudinous" character of this visitation. Warning was given before this plague came.
(9.) After a short interval the plague of darkness succeeded that of the locusts; and it came without any special warning (Ex 10:21-29). The darkness covered "all the land of Egypt" to such an extent that "they saw not one another." It did not, however, extend to the land of Goshen.
(10.) The last and most fearful of these plagues was the death of the first-born of man and of beast (Ex 11:4-5; 12:29-30). The exact time of the visitation was announced, "about midnight", which would add to the horror of the infliction. Its extent also is specified, from the first-born of the king to the first-born of the humblest slave, and all the first-born of beasts. But from this plague the Hebrews were completely exempted. The Lord "put a difference" between them and the Egyptians. (See Passover.)
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Jehovah said to Moses: Pharaoh is being stubborn. He will not let my people go. In the morning meet Pharaoh when he is on his way to the Nile. Wait for him on the bank of the river. Take the staff that turned into a snake. read more. Say to Pharaoh: 'Jehovah the God of the Hebrews sent me to tell you, Let my people go to worship me in the wilderness. So far you have not listened.' Jehovah says: 'This is the way you will recognize that I am Jehovah: I will strike the Nile with this staff in my hand. The water will turn into blood. The fish in the Nile will die. The river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink any water from the Nile.' Jehovah then spoke to Moses: Tell Aaron, Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt; its rivers, canals, ponds, and all its reservoirs. They will turn into blood. There will be blood everywhere in Egypt, even in the buckets of wood and stone pitchers. Moses and Aaron did as Jehovah commanded. Aaron raised his staff and struck the Nile in front of Pharaoh and his officials. All the water in the river turned into blood. The fish in the Nile died. The river smelled bad. The Egyptians could not drink any water from the river. There was blood everywhere in Egypt. But the Egyptian magicians did the same thing using their magic spells. So Pharaoh continued to be stubborn. He would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as Jehovah predicted. Pharaoh turned and went back to his palace. This did not change his mind and heart. All the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink because they could not drink any of the water from the river. Seven days passed after Jehovah struck the Nile.
Then Jehovah said to Moses: Approach Pharaoh and say to him, 'Jehovah says: Let My people go, that they may serve me. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will afflict your whole territory with frogs. read more. The Nile will swarm with frogs. They will come up and go into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed. They will go into the houses of your servants and on your people, and into your ovens and into your kneading bowls. The frogs will come up on you and your people and all your servants.' Jehovah also said to Moses: Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the streams and over the pools. Make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.' So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt. The frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. But the magicians used their secret powers to do the same thing. The king sent for Moses and Aaron and told them: If you ask Jehovah to take these frogs away from me and my people, I will let your people go and offer sacrifices to him. Moses answered: You choose the time when I am to pray for the frogs to stop bothering you, your officials, and your people, and for them to leave your houses and be found only in the river. The king replied: Do it tomorrow! As you wish: Moses agreed. Then everyone will discover that there is no god like Jehovah! The frogs will no longer be found anywhere, except in the Nile. Moses and Aaron left the palace. Moses begged Jehovah to do something about the frogs he had sent as punishment for the king. Jehovah did as Moses asked. The frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields died. The Egyptians piled them up in large mounds, until the land began to stink with them. The king saw that the frogs were dead. He became stubborn again and, just as Jehovah had said, the king would not listen to Moses and Aaron. Jehovah said to Moses: Tell Aaron, Strike the ground with your stick. The dust will change into gnats in all of Egypt.' So Aaron struck the ground with his stick. The dust in Egypt was turned into gnats. They swarmed over the people and the animals. The magicians tried to use their magic to make gnats appear, but they failed. There were gnats everywhere! The magicians said to the king: It is the finger of God! (God has done this!) But the king was stubborn. Just as Jehovah predicted, the king would not listen to Moses and Aaron.
I warn you that if you refuse, I will punish you by sending flies on you, your officials, and your people. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies. The ground will be covered with them. At that same time I will cut off the land of Goshen where my people live. No swarms of flies shall be there. / Then you will know that I am Jehovah in the midst of the earth. read more. I will put a dividing line between my people and your people. This sign will happen tomorrow.' Jehovah did what he said. Dense swarms of flies came into Pharaoh's palace and into the houses of his officials. All over Egypt the flies ruined everything.
Then Jehovah said to Moses: Go to Pharaoh, and tell him, this is what Jehovah the God of the Hebrews says: Let my people go to serve me. If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them in slavery, read more. Jehovah will bring a terrible plague on your livestock, including your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats. Jehovah will distinguish between Israel's livestock and the livestock of the Egyptians. The animals belonging to the Israelites will not die.' Jehovah set a definite time: I, Jehovah, choose tomorrow as the time when I will do this. The next day Jehovah did as he had said. The Egyptian's animals all died. Not one of the animals of the Israelites died. The king asked what had happened. He was told that none of the animals of the Israelites had died. He was stubborn and would not let the people go. Then Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron: Take a few handfuls of ashes from a furnace. Moses is to throw them into the air in front of the king. They will spread out like fine dust over all the land of Egypt. They will produce boils that become open sores on the people and the animals. They got some ashes and stood before the king. Moses threw them into the air. They produced boils that became open sores on the people and the animals. The magicians were not able to appear before Moses, because they were covered with boils, like all the other Egyptians. Jehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh and he did not listen to Moses and Aaron. Everything happened just as Jehovah had told Moses. Jehovah told Moses to get up early the next morning and say to the king: God of the Hebrews commands you to let his people go, so they can serve him! If you do not, he will send his worst plagues to strike you, your officials, and everyone else in your country. Then you will find out that no one can oppose Jehovah.
If you do not, he will send his worst plagues to strike you, your officials, and everyone else in your country. Then you will find out that no one can oppose Jehovah. He could already have sent a terrible disease and wiped you from the face of the earth. read more. I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you my power and in order to proclaim my name through all the earth. Still you exalt yourself against my people by not letting them go. At this time tomorrow, I will send a very heavy hail, such as has not been seen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. Bring your livestock and whatever you have in the field to safety. Every man and beast that is found in the field and is not brought home will die from the hail. The ones among the servants of Pharaoh who respected the word of Jehovah made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses. He who paid no regard to the word of Jehovah left his servants and his livestock in the field. Jehovah said to Moses: Stretch out your hand toward the sky. Hail will fall on all the land of Egypt, on man and on beast and on every plant of the field, throughout the land of Egypt. Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky. Then Jehovah sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. Jehovah rained hail on the land of Egypt. It hailed, and lightning flashed while it hailed. This was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. All over Egypt the hail knocked down everything that was out in the open. It struck down people, animals, and every plant in the fields and destroyed every tree in the fields. The region of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was the only place where there was no hail. The king sent for Moses and Aaron and said: This time I have sinned. Jehovah is in the right. My people and I are in the wrong. Pray to Jehovah! We have had enough of this thunder and hail! I promise to let you go. You do not have to stay here any longer. Moses said to him: As soon as I go out of the city, I will lift up my hands in prayer to Jehovah. The thunder will stop. There will be no more hail. Thus you may know that the earth belongs to Jehovah. But I know that you and your servants do not yet respect Jehovah God. The flax and the barley were ruined, because the barley was ripe, and the flax was budding. But the wheat crops ripen later, and they were not damaged. Moses left the royal palace and the city. He lifted his arms in prayer to Jehovah. The thunder, hail, and drenching rain stopped.
Jehovah said to Moses: Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts. Let them come up upon the land of Egypt and eat every herb of the land, all that the hail has left. Moses held his staff over the land of Egypt. Jehovah made a wind from the east blow over the land all that day and all that night. By morning the east wind had brought the locusts. read more. They invaded all of Egypt and landed all over the country in great swarms. Never before had there been so many locusts, nor would there ever be that many again. They covered all the ground until it was black with them. They ate all the plants and all the fruit on the trees that the hail had left. Nothing green was left on any tree or plant anywhere in Egypt.
Jehovah then said to Moses: Raise your hand toward the sky. Darkness thick enough to be felt will cover the land of Egypt. Moses raised his hand toward the sky. Total darkness fell throughout Egypt for three days. read more. The Egyptians could not see each other. No one left his house during that time. The Israelites, however, had light where they were living. The king called Moses. He said: You may go and worship Jehovah. Even your women and children may go with you. But your sheep, goats, and cattle must stay here. Moses answered: Then you would have to provide us with animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings to offer to Jehovah our God. No, we will take our animals with us! Not one will be left behind. We must select the animals with which to worship Jehovah our God. We will not know what animals to sacrifice to him until we get there. Jehovah made the king stubborn. He would not let them go. He said to Moses: Get out of my sight! Do not let me ever see you again! On the day I do, you will die! You have spoken it! Moses answered. You will never see me again.
Moses approached the king. He said: I have come to let you know what Jehovah is going to do. About midnight he will go through the land of Egypt, and wherever he goes, the first-born son in every family will die. Your own son will die. So will the son of the lowest slave woman. Even the first-born males of cattle will die.
At midnight Jehovah killed every firstborn male in Egypt from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who ruled the land to the firstborn son of the prisoner in jail, and also every firstborn animal. Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the other Egyptians got up during the night. There was loud crying throughout Egypt because in every house someone had died.
The priest will examine the sore. If the hairs in it have turned white and the sore appears to be deeper than the surrounding skin, it is a dreaded skin disease, and the priest will pronounce you unclean.
The priest will examine you again on the seventh day. If in his opinion the sore looks the same and has not spread, he will isolate you for another seven days.
the priest will examine it. If it seems to be deeper than the surrounding skin and the hairs in it are yellowish and thin, it is a dreaded skin disease. He will declare you unclean.
While the meat was still in their mouths, before they had even had a chance to chew it, Jehovah became angry with the people and struck them with a severe plague.
They died because they had returned and made the whole community complain about Moses. They spread lies about the land.
Moses said to Aaron: Take your incense burner, put burning coals from the altar and incense in it, and go quickly into the congregation to make peace with Jehovah for the people. Jehovah shows his anger! A plague has started. Aaron took his incense burner, as Moses told him. He ran into the middle of the assembly, because the plague had already begun among the people. He put incense on the incense burner to make peace with Jehovah for the people. read more. He stood between those who had died and those who were still alive. The plague stopped. Fourteen thousand seven hundred died from the plague in addition to those who died because of Korah.
Jehovah will strike you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors and with the scab and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed.
Jehovah thundered in the heavens. The Most High made his voice heard with hailstones and lightning.
He sent a swarm of flies that bit them and frogs that ruined them.
He spoke, and swarms of flies and gnats infested their entire territory. He gave them hail and lightning instead of rain throughout their land. read more. He struck their grapevines and fig trees and smashed the trees in their territory.
Immediately the flow of her blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
In that hour he cured many diseases, plagues and evil spirits. Sight was restored to the blind.
Fausets
deber, "destruction." Any sudden, severe, and dangerous disease. Maweth," death," i.e. deadly disease; so "the black death" of the middle ages. Nega', "a stroke" from God, as leprosy (Leviticus 13). Mageephah, qeteb, "pestilence" (Ps 91:6), "that walketh in darkness," i.e. mysterious, sudden, severe, especially in the night, in the absence of the light and heat of the sun. Rosheph, "flame," i.e. burning fever; compare Hab 3:5 margin (See EGYPT and EXODUS on the ten plagues.)
A close connection exists between the ordinary physical visitations of Egypt and those whereby Pharaoh was constrained to let Israel go. It attests the sacred author's accurate acquaintance with the phenomena of the land which was the scene of his history. "The supernatural presents in Scripture generally no violent opposition to the natural, but rather unites in a friendly alliance with it" (Hengstenberg). A special reason why in this case the natural background of the miracles should appear was in order to show that Jehovah was God of Egypt as much as of Israel, and rules "in the midst of the earth" (Ex 8:22)
By exhibiting Jehovah through Moses at will bringing on with unusual intensity, and withdrawing in answer to intercession at once and completely, the well known Egyptian periodical scourges which their superstition attributed to false gods, Jehovah was proved more effectively to be supreme than He could have been by inflicting some new and strange visitation. The plagues were upon Egypt's idols, the Nile water, the air, the frog, the cow, the beetle, etc., as Jehovah saith (Ex 12:12), "against all the gods of Egypt will I execute judgment" (Ex 18:11; 15:11; Nu 33:4). Ten is significant of completeness, the full flood of God's wrath upon the God-opposed world power. The magicians initiate no plague; in producing the same plague by their enchantments (which seem real, as demoniacal powers have exerted themselves in each crisis of the kingdom of God) as Moses by God's word, they only increase the visitation upon themselves. The plagues as they progress prove:
(1) Jehovah's infinite power over Egypt's deified powers of nature. The first stroke affects the very source of the nation's life, the Nile; then the soil (the dust producing the plague); then the irrigating canals breeding flies.
(2) The difference marked between Israel and Egypt; the cattle, the crops, the furnaces (wherein Israel was worn with bondage) represent all the industrial resources of the nation. The stroke on the firstborn was the crowning one, altogether supernatural, whereas the others were intensifications of existing scourges. The firstborn, usually selected for worship, is now the object of the stroke. The difference marked all along from the third plague was most marked in that on the firstborn (Ex 11:7). The plague was national, the firstborn representing Egypt: Isa 43:3, "I gave Egypt for thy ransom."
See Verses Found in Dictionary
At that same time I will cut off the land of Goshen where my people live. No swarms of flies shall be there. / Then you will know that I am Jehovah in the midst of the earth.
But against any of the sons of Israel a dog will not even bark, whether against man or beast. This is so you may understand how Jehovah makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.
Jehovah said: That night I will go through the land of Egypt. I will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast. I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt! I am Jehovah!
Who among the gods is like you Jehovah? Who is like you, wonderful in holiness? Who can work wonders and mighty acts like yours?
Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all the other gods. It was proven when they treated the people with contempt.
The Egyptians buried all their firstborn sons, whom Jehovah had killed in a mighty act of judgment on their gods.
plagues that roam the dark, epidemics that strike at noon.
I AM JEHOVAH YOUR GOD, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, YOUR SAVIOR. Egypt is the ransom I exchanged for you. Sudan and Seba are the price I paid for you.