Exodus 7:19 - 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.’”
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What does "Exodus 7:19" mean?
This verse from Exodus 7:19 is a pivotal part of the narrative describing the first plague God inflicts upon Egypt. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
Yahweh's Command: The verse begins with God (Yahweh) instructing Moses. This highlights that the upcoming event is divinely ordained and a direct consequence of Pharaoh's refusal to release the Israelites.
Moses as Intermediary: Moses is the prophet who receives the instructions, but he is to relay the command to Aaron, his brother. This shows a division of labor, with Moses as the primary communicator with God and Aaron as the active agent in performing certain tasks.
Aaron's Role: Aaron is instructed to take his rod (staff). In the Exodus story, Aaron's rod is a symbol of divine power given to him to perform miracles on behalf of God.
Scope of the Plague: The instruction to stretch out his hand "over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water" makes it clear that this plague is not limited to a specific area. It affects all the water sources throughout the entire land of Egypt. The repetition emphasizes the complete scope of the transformation.
Transformation into Blood: The purpose of stretching out the hand with the rod is "that they may become blood." This signifies a complete and devastating alteration of the water sources. The water, essential for life, is turned into something unusable and even repulsive.
Universal Contamination: "And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone." This clarifies that no container is safe from the plague. Whether the water is in natural bodies or stored in man-made vessels, all of it will be contaminated. This detail underscores the pervasiveness and inescapability of God's judgment.
Symbolic and Theological Significance:
Challenge to Egyptian Deities: The Nile River was central to Egyptian life and religion. It was often deified and seen as a source of fertility and prosperity. By turning the Nile into blood, God is directly challenging the power of Egyptian gods and demonstrating His supremacy.
Judgment on Egypt: The plague of blood is a judgment on Egypt for their oppression of the Israelites and their refusal to acknowledge Yahweh as the true God.
Demonstration of God's Power: The plague is a dramatic display of God's power to alter the natural world and to intervene in human affairs.
Warning and Opportunity: The plague serves as a warning to Pharaoh and an opportunity for him to repent and release the Israelites before further and more severe consequences follow.
In essence, this verse describes a divine command to initiate a devastating plague that will turn all the water in Egypt into blood, demonstrating God's power, challenging Egyptian deities, and serving as a judgment and a warning to Pharaoh.
Exodus 7:19 - 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.’”
What does "Exodus 7:19" mean?
This verse from Exodus 7:19 is a pivotal part of the narrative describing the first plague God inflicts upon Egypt. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
Yahweh's Command: The verse begins with God (Yahweh) instructing Moses. This highlights that the upcoming event is divinely ordained and a direct consequence of Pharaoh's refusal to release the Israelites.
Moses as Intermediary: Moses is the prophet who receives the instructions, but he is to relay the command to Aaron, his brother. This shows a division of labor, with Moses as the primary communicator with God and Aaron as the active agent in performing certain tasks.
Aaron's Role: Aaron is instructed to take his rod (staff). In the Exodus story, Aaron's rod is a symbol of divine power given to him to perform miracles on behalf of God.
Scope of the Plague: The instruction to stretch out his hand "over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water" makes it clear that this plague is not limited to a specific area. It affects all the water sources throughout the entire land of Egypt. The repetition emphasizes the complete scope of the transformation.
Transformation into Blood: The purpose of stretching out the hand with the rod is "that they may become blood." This signifies a complete and devastating alteration of the water sources. The water, essential for life, is turned into something unusable and even repulsive.
Universal Contamination: "And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone." This clarifies that no container is safe from the plague. Whether the water is in natural bodies or stored in man-made vessels, all of it will be contaminated. This detail underscores the pervasiveness and inescapability of God's judgment.
Symbolic and Theological Significance:
Challenge to Egyptian Deities: The Nile River was central to Egyptian life and religion. It was often deified and seen as a source of fertility and prosperity. By turning the Nile into blood, God is directly challenging the power of Egyptian gods and demonstrating His supremacy.
Judgment on Egypt: The plague of blood is a judgment on Egypt for their oppression of the Israelites and their refusal to acknowledge Yahweh as the true God.
Demonstration of God's Power: The plague is a dramatic display of God's power to alter the natural world and to intervene in human affairs.
Warning and Opportunity: The plague serves as a warning to Pharaoh and an opportunity for him to repent and release the Israelites before further and more severe consequences follow.
In essence, this verse describes a divine command to initiate a devastating plague that will turn all the water in Egypt into blood, demonstrating God's power, challenging Egyptian deities, and serving as a judgment and a warning to Pharaoh.