Exodus 7:20

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.”

Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded; in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron raised the staff 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.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded; in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron raised the staff and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was turned to blood.
KJV: And 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.
WEB: Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD 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.
ASV: And Moses and Aaron did so, as Jehovah 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.
DARBY: And Moses and Aaron did so, as Jehovah had commanded; and he lifted up the staff, and smote the waters that were in the river before the eyes of Pharaoh, and before the eyes of his bondmen; and all the waters that were in the river were turned into blood.
BLB: And Moses and Aaron did so, as YHWH had commanded; and he lifted up the staff and struck the waters that [were] in the River, in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants, and all the waters that [were] in the River were turned to blood.

ÅB: Og Moses og Aron gjorde som Herren hadde sagt; han løftet staven og slo på vannet i elven så de så på det, både Farao og hans tjenere; da ble alt vannet i elven til blod,
OTB: Moses og Aron gjorde akkurat som Herren hadde befalt. Han løftet staven og slo vannet i Nilen foran farao og hans tjenestemenn, og alt vannet i Nilen ble til blod.
B1930: Og Moses og Aron gjorde som Herren hadde sagt; han løftet staven og slo på vannet i elven så de så på det, både Farao og hans tjenere; da blev alt vannet i elven til blod,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 78:44
He turned their rivers to blood, and from their streams they could not drink.
Read in context
Psalms 105:29
He turned their waters to blood and caused their fish to die.
Read in context
John 2:9–11
and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not know where it was from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside
Read in context
Exodus 17:5–6
And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.
Read in context
Exodus 7:17–18
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.
Read in context
Numbers 20:8–12
“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”
Read in context
Exodus 17:9–12
So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.”
Read in context
Revelation 8:8
Then the second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood,
Read in context