Exodus Chapter 7

Updated: September 14, 2025

I will Stretch Out My Hand

1And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. 2Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land. 3And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. 4But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them. 6And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they. 7And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.

Aaron's Staff Becomes a Serpent

8And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 9When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. 10And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. 13And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

The First Plague: Blood

14And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go. 15Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand. 16And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear. 17Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. 18And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river. 19And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.

20And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 21And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said. 23And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also. 24And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river. 25And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

God Commands Moses and Aaron

1 Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I have made you as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you; and Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. 3 I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 But Pharaoh will not listen to you, and I will lay my hand on Egypt, and bring out my armies, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I stretch out my hand on Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” 6 Moses and Aaron did so. As Yahweh commanded them, so they did. 7 Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.

Aaron’s Staff

8 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 9 “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Perform a miracle!’ then you shall tell Aaron, ‘Take your rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it become a serpent.’” 10 Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, as Yahweh had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers. They also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same thing with their enchantments. 12 For they each cast down their rods, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. 13 Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken.

The First Plague: Blood

14 Yahweh said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn. He refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning. Behold, he goes out to the water; and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand. 16 You shall tell him, ‘Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness:” and behold, until now you haven’t listened. 17 Thus says Yahweh, “In this you shall know that I am Yahweh. Behold, I will strike with the rod that is in my hand on the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. 18 The fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall become foul; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink water from the river.”’” 19 Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your rod, and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’”

20 Moses and Aaron did so, as Yahweh commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 21 The fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians couldn’t drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt. 22 The magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken. 23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he didn’t even take this to heart. 24 All the Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink; for they couldn’t drink of the water of the river. 25 Seven days were fulfilled, after Yahweh had struck the river.

God Commands Moses and Aaron

1 The LORD answered Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. 2 You are to speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his land.

3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you.

Then I will lay My hand on Egypt, and by mighty acts of judgment I will bring the divisions of My people the Israelites out of the land of Egypt. 5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.”

6 So Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded them. 7 Moses was eighty years old and Aaron was eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.

Aaron’s Staff

8 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh tells you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ you are to say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a serpent. a”

10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent.

11 But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts. 12 Each one threw down his staff, and it became a serpent. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up the other staffs.

13 Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, b and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.

The First Plague: Blood

14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding; c he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning as you see him walking out to the water. Wait on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. 16 Then say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me in the wilderness. But you have not listened until now. 17 This is what the LORD says: By this you will know that I am the LORD. Behold, with the staff in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will turn to blood. 18 The fish in the Nile will die, the river will stink, and the Egyptians will be unable to drink its water.’ ”

19 And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over their rivers and canals and ponds and reservoirs—that they may become blood.’ There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in the vessels of wood and stone.”

20 Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded; in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron raised the staff d and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was turned to blood. 21 The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. And there was blood throughout the land of Egypt.

22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same things by their magic arts. So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said. 23 Instead, Pharaoh turned around, went into his palace, and did not take any of this to heart. 24 So all the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink, because they could not drink the water from the river.

25 And seven full days passed after the LORD had struck the Nile.

Footnotes:

9 a Hebrew tannin ; here and in verse 10, in contrast to Moses’ staff, which became a nachash  in Exodus 4:3 and was noted again in Exodus 7:15
13 b Or stiffened  or strengthened ; also in verse 22
14 c Or heavy  or stubborn
20 d Hebrew he raised the staff ; see verse 19; some translators Moses raised the staff .

I will Stretch Out My Hand

1And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'See, I have given thee a god to Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother is thy prophet; 2thou -- thou dost speak all that I command thee, and Aaron thy brother doth speak unto Pharaoh, and he hath sent the sons of Israel out of his land. 3'And I harden the heart of Pharaoh, and have multiplied My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt, 4and Pharaoh doth not hearken, and I have put My hand on Egypt, and have brought out My hosts, My people, the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great judgments; 5and the Egyptians have known that I am Jehovah, in My stretching out My hand against Egypt; and I have brought out the sons of Israel from their midst.' 6And Moses doth -- Aaron also -- as Jehovah commanded them; so have they done; 7and Moses is a son of eighty years, and Aaron is a son of eighty and three years, in their speaking unto Pharaoh.

Aaron's Staff Becomes a Serpent

8And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 9'When Pharaoh speaketh unto you, saying, Give for yourselves a wonder; then thou hast said unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast before Pharaoh -- it becometh a monster.' 10And Moses goeth in -- Aaron also -- unto Pharaoh, and they do so as Jehovah hath commanded; and Aaron casteth his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it becometh a monster. 11And Pharaoh also calleth for wise men, and for sorcerers; and the scribes of Egypt, they also, with their flashings, do so, 12and they cast down each his rod, and they become monsters, and the rod of Aaron swalloweth their rods; 13and the heart of Pharaoh is strong, and he hath not hearkened unto them, as Jehovah hath spoken.

The First Plague: Blood

14And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'The heart of Pharaoh hath been hard, he hath refused to send the people away; 15go unto Pharaoh in the morning, lo, he is going out to the water, and thou hast stood to meet him by the edge of the River, and the rod which was turned to a serpent thou dost take in thy hand, 16and thou hast said unto him: Jehovah, God of the Hebrews, hath sent me unto thee, saying, Send My people away, and they serve Me in the wilderness; and lo, thou hast not hearkened hitherto. 17Thus said Jehovah: By this thou knowest that I am Jehovah; lo, I am smiting with the rod which is in my hand, on the waters which are in the River, and they have been turned to blood, 18and the fish that are in the River die, and the River hath stank, and the Egyptians have been wearied of drinking waters from the River.' 19And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thy hand against the waters of Egypt, against their streams, against their rivers, and against their ponds, and against all their collections of waters; and they are blood -- and there hath been blood in all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in those of stone.'

20And Moses and Aaron do so, as Jehovah hath commanded, and he lifteth up his hand with the rod, and smiteth the waters which are in the River, before the eyes of Pharaoh, and before the eyes of his servants, and all the waters which are in the River are turned to blood, 21and the fish which is in the River hath died, and the River stinketh, and the Egyptians have not been able to drink water from the River; and the blood is in all the land of Egypt. 22And the scribes of Egypt do so with their flashings, and the heart of Pharaoh is strong, and he hath not hearkened unto them, as Jehovah hath spoken, 23and Pharaoh turneth and goeth in unto his house, and hath not set his heart even to this; 24and all the Egyptians seek water round about the river to drink, for they have not been able to drink of the waters of the River. 25And seven days are completed after Jehovah's smiting the River,

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The F.O.G Commentary

When God’s Power Meets Pharaoh’s Pride

What’s Exodus 7 about?

This is where the gloves come off. Moses and Aaron march back into Pharaoh’s throne room, but this time they’re not just making requests – they’re demonstrating that the God of Israel isn’t just another deity in Egypt’s crowded pantheon. What follows is a supernatural showdown that reveals the true nature of power, pride, and divine purpose.

The Full Context

Exodus 7 picks up right after God’s pep talk to Moses in chapter 6. The Israelites have rejected Moses’ message, Pharaoh has made their work conditions even worse, and Moses is basically asking God, “Are you sure you’ve got the right guy?” God’s response? “Watch this.” This chapter marks the beginning of the famous ten plagues, but it’s really about establishing credentials. Moses is about to become God’s spokesperson in the most powerful empire on earth, and Aaron will serve as his mouthpiece.

The stage is set in the royal court of Egypt, the political and religious center of the ancient world’s superpower. Pharaoh wasn’t just a king – he was considered a living god, the incarnation of Horus, with absolute authority over life and death. When Moses and Aaron walk into that throne room, they’re not just challenging a political leader; they’re declaring war on Egypt’s entire religious system. The literary structure here is brilliant – God is systematically dismantling Egypt’s pantheon, starting with the Nile, which Egyptians considered the lifeblood of their civilization and the dwelling place of their gods.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The Hebrew word for “wonder” or “sign” (mopheth) that appears throughout this chapter isn’t just about supernatural spectacle. It literally means “a conspicuous example” or “a distinguishing mark.” God isn’t putting on a magic show – He’s providing unmistakable evidence of His identity and authority.

When God tells Moses he will be “like God to Pharaoh” in Exodus 7:1, the Hebrew word elohim is fascinating here. It’s the same word used for God throughout Genesis, but it can also mean “judge” or “one who exercises divine authority.” Moses isn’t becoming divine – he’s becoming God’s representative with delegated authority to speak and act on God’s behalf.

Grammar Geeks

The phrase “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart” uses the Hebrew verb chazaq, which means “to strengthen” or “to make firm.” It’s the same word used for strengthening a wall or fortifying a city. God isn’t forcing Pharaoh to be evil – He’s allowing Pharaoh’s existing stubbornness to become absolutely resolute, revealing what was already there.

The transformation of Aaron’s staff into a serpent (nachash) carries deep symbolic weight. In Egyptian mythology, the serpent was both a symbol of royal power (the cobra on Pharaoh’s crown) and divine authority. When Aaron’s serpent swallows the Egyptian magicians’ serpents, it’s a vivid declaration that Israel’s God has superior power over Egypt’s gods.

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

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Picture this scene from an ancient Egyptian perspective. The royal court would have been magnificent – towering columns covered in hieroglyphs, incense burning, the pharaoh seated on his throne wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. Court magicians weren’t just entertainment; they were highly trained priests who served as intermediaries between the human and divine realms.

Did You Know?

Egyptian court magicians were called “hartummim” – a word that appears in both Hebrew and Egyptian texts. These weren’t street performers but educated priests who studied in temple schools for years, mastering both practical skills and religious rituals. They were the ancient equivalent of PhD-level scholars in theology and natural sciences.

When Moses and Aaron performed their sign, everyone in that room would have understood the implications immediately. Staff-to-serpent transformations were part of Egyptian magical traditions – but the fact that Aaron’s serpent consumed theirs? That was a clear statement about which god was supreme.

The turning of the Nile to blood would have been absolutely devastating news. The Nile wasn’t just Egypt’s water source – it was the physical manifestation of their god Hapi, the giver of life. Egyptians believed the annual flooding of the Nile was literally the god bleeding life into their land. When the water turned to blood, it wasn’t just an ecological disaster; it was theological warfare.

Wrestling with the Text

Here’s where things get theologically complex. Exodus 7:3 says God will harden Pharaoh’s heart, but Exodus 7:13 says Pharaoh’s heart was hardened without specifying who did it. And Exodus 7:22 tells us that even after seeing Aaron’s superior power, Pharaoh’s heart remained hard.

This raises the age-old question: Is God manipulating Pharaoh, or is He simply allowing Pharaoh’s natural stubbornness to run its course? The Hebrew text suggests both/and rather than either/or. God is sovereign over human choices, but humans are still responsible for their decisions. Pharaoh had multiple opportunities to respond differently, but his pride and position made him unwilling to acknowledge any authority higher than his own.

Wait, That’s Strange…

Why could the Egyptian magicians also turn water to blood and produce frogs? The text doesn’t dismiss their abilities as fake – it acknowledges they had real power. This suggests a spiritual battle between competing supernatural forces, not just a contest between real magic and parlor tricks.

The fact that Egyptian magicians could replicate some of the plagues but couldn’t reverse them is telling. They could make the situation worse but couldn’t make it better. There’s a lesson here about the difference between having power and having authority to heal and restore.

How This Changes Everything

Exodus 7 fundamentally shifts how we understand God’s relationship with human power structures. This isn’t just ancient history – it’s a template for how God confronts systems that oppress His people and deny His authority.

Notice that God doesn’t immediately destroy Pharaoh or Egypt. Instead, He systematically demonstrates His power through increasingly severe signs. This reveals something crucial about God’s character: He’s patient, giving multiple opportunities for repentance, but He’s also absolutely committed to delivering His people.

“God’s signs aren’t just displays of power – they’re invitations to recognize His authority and align with His purposes.”

The progression here matters. God starts with signs that Egyptian magicians can duplicate, then moves to plagues they cannot. He’s not showing off – He’s methodically proving that no human power, no matter how impressive, can ultimately stand against His will.

For Moses and the Israelites, this chapter represents a turning point. After generations of slavery, they’re finally seeing concrete evidence that God hasn’t forgotten His promises. The God who spoke to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the same God who’s now confronting the most powerful empire on earth on their behalf.

Key Takeaway

When God commits to delivering His people, no human authority – no matter how powerful, prestigious, or seemingly permanent – can ultimately prevent His purposes from being fulfilled. The question isn’t whether God can overcome opposition, but whether we’ll align ourselves with His plans or resist them.

Exodus Chapter 7

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