Psalms 105:31
He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּבֹ֣א
and there came
H935
וַיָּבֹ֣א
and there came
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
2 of 6
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Historical Context
These plagues demonstrated God's control over nature against Egyptian deities. The fly plague may have challenged Khepri, the beetle-god, while lice defiled Egyptian priests who required bodily purity for temple service. Magicians could not replicate the lice plague, leading them to declare 'This is the finger of God' (Exodus 8:19)—an acknowledgment of Yahweh's superior power.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the power of God's spoken word teach us about Scripture's authority?
- How do God's judgments reveal the futility of false religion and idolatry?
- In what ways does God's word both create and judge in our lives today?
Analysis & Commentary
This verse combines the fourth plague (flies, Exodus 8:20-32) and the third plague (lice, Exodus 8:16-19). The phrase 'He spake' emphasizes the power of God's word—His mere command brings judgment. The Hebrew amar (אָמַר) for 'spake' parallels creation language ('God said, and it was so'), showing that the same word that creates can also judge. 'Divers sorts of flies' translates arov (עָרֹב), likely meaning swarms of biting insects. The comprehensive nature ('all their coasts') demonstrates that God's judgments are thorough and inescapable. This verse teaches that God's word is sovereign in judgment as in blessing.