Exodus 7:15
Get 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.
Original Language Analysis
לֵ֣ךְ
H1980
לֵ֣ךְ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
1 of 18
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
פַּרְעֹ֞ה
thee unto Pharaoh
H6547
פַּרְעֹ֞ה
thee unto Pharaoh
Strong's:
H6547
Word #:
3 of 18
paroh, a general title of egyptian kings
בַּבֹּ֗קֶר
in the morning
H1242
בַּבֹּ֗קֶר
in the morning
Strong's:
H1242
Word #:
4 of 18
properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning
יֹצֵ֣א
lo he goeth out
H3318
יֹצֵ֣א
lo he goeth out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
6 of 18
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
הַמַּ֔יְמָה
unto the water
H4325
הַמַּ֔יְמָה
unto the water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
7 of 18
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
וְנִצַּבְתָּ֥
and thou shalt stand
H5324
וְנִצַּבְתָּ֥
and thou shalt stand
Strong's:
H5324
Word #:
8 of 18
to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively)
לִקְרָאת֖וֹ
against he come
H7125
לִקְרָאת֖וֹ
against he come
Strong's:
H7125
Word #:
9 of 18
an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
10 of 18
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
שְׂפַ֣ת
brink
H8193
שְׂפַ֣ת
brink
Strong's:
H8193
Word #:
11 of 18
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
הַיְאֹ֑ר
by the river's
H2975
הַיְאֹ֑ר
by the river's
Strong's:
H2975
Word #:
12 of 18
a channel, e.g., a fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the nile, as the one river of egypt, including its collateral trenches; also the tigris, as the m
וְהַמַּטֶּ֛ה
and the rod
H4294
וְהַמַּטֶּ֛ה
and the rod
Strong's:
H4294
Word #:
13 of 18
a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance),
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
14 of 18
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ
which was turned
H2015
נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ
which was turned
Strong's:
H2015
Word #:
15 of 18
to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert
Cross References
Exodus 8:20And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.Exodus 7:10And 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.Exodus 2:5And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
Historical Context
The Nile was Egypt's lifeline, worshipped as divine. Hapi's annual flood determined Egypt's prosperity. The plague striking Egypt's water supply while Goshen remained unaffected (8:22-23) demonstrates selective judgment.
Questions for Reflection
- How does this plague reveal God's sovereignty over creation and false gods?
- What modern 'life sources' do people trust instead of God?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Verse 15 in the first plague narrative describes the Nile turning to blood. This targets Hapi, Egyptian god of the Nile, demonstrating YHWH's supremacy over Egypt's life source. The water that sustains Egypt becomes death, reversing the blessing.