Exodus 7:19
And 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.
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָ֜ה
And the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֜ה
And the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 33
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
מַטְּךָ֣
thy rod
H4294
מַטְּךָ֣
thy rod
Strong's:
H4294
Word #:
9 of 33
a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance),
וּנְטֵֽה
and stretch out
H5186
וּנְטֵֽה
and stretch out
Strong's:
H5186
Word #:
10 of 33
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
יָדְךָ֩
thine hand
H3027
יָדְךָ֩
thine hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
11 of 33
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
12 of 33
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
מֵֽימֵיהֶ֖ם
of water
H4325
מֵֽימֵיהֶ֖ם
of water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
13 of 33
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
עַֽל
H5921
עַֽל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
15 of 33
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
נַהֲרֹתָ֣ם׀
upon their streams
H5104
נַהֲרֹתָ֣ם׀
upon their streams
Strong's:
H5104
Word #:
16 of 33
a stream (including the sea; expectation the nile, euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
17 of 33
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יְאֹֽרֵיהֶ֣ם
upon their rivers
H2975
יְאֹֽרֵיהֶ֣ם
upon their rivers
Strong's:
H2975
Word #:
18 of 33
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
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
19 of 33
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
אַגְמֵיהֶ֗ם
and upon their ponds
H98
אַגְמֵיהֶ֗ם
and upon their ponds
Strong's:
H98
Word #:
20 of 33
a marsh; hence a rush (as growing in swamps); hence a stockade of reeds
וְעַ֛ל
H5921
וְעַ֛ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
21 of 33
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
22 of 33
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מִקְוֵ֥ה
and upon all their pools
H4723
מִקְוֵ֥ה
and upon all their pools
Strong's:
H4723
Word #:
23 of 33
something waited for, i.e., a collection, i.e., (of water) a pond, or (of men and horses) a caravan or drove
מֵֽימֵיהֶ֖ם
of water
H4325
מֵֽימֵיהֶ֖ם
of water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
24 of 33
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
וְיִֽהְיוּ
H1961
וְיִֽהְיוּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
25 of 33
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
דָם֙
and that there may be blood
H1818
דָם֙
and that there may be blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
26 of 33
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
וְהָ֤יָה
H1961
וְהָ֤יָה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
27 of 33
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
דָם֙
and that there may be blood
H1818
דָם֙
and that there may be blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
28 of 33
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
בְּכָל
H3605
בְּכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
29 of 33
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֶ֣רֶץ
throughout all the land
H776
אֶ֣רֶץ
throughout all the land
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
30 of 33
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Cross References
Exodus 14:21And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.Exodus 10:12And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.Exodus 10:21And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.Exodus 14:26And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.Exodus 8:16And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
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 19 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.