Exodus 8:21
19 “This is the finger of God,” the magicians said to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.
20 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, and when Pharaoh goes out to the water, stand before him and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.
But if you will not let My people go, I will send swarms of flies upon you and your officials and your people and your houses. The houses of the Egyptians and even the ground where they stand will be full of flies.
22 But on that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen, where My people live; no swarms of flies will be found there. In this way you will know that I, the LORD, am in the land.
23 I will make a distinction between My people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.’”
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
- But if you will not let My people go, I will send swarms of flies upon you and your officials and your people and your houses. The houses of the Egyptians and even the ground where they stand will be full of flies.
- KJV
- Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.
- WEB
- Else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you, and on your servants, and on your people, and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground they are on.
- ASV
- Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon they servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.
- DARBY
- For, if thou do not let my people go, behold, I will send dog-flies upon thee, and upon thy bondmen, and upon thy people, and into thy houses; and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of dog-flies, and also the ground on which they are.
- BLB
- For if you will not send out My people, behold, I am sending on you and on your servants and on your people and into your houses the swarm. And the houses of Egypt shall be full of the swarm, and also the ground on which they [are].
- ÅB
- For dersom du ikke lar mitt folk fare, da sender jeg fluesvermer over deg og dine tjenere og ditt folk og dine hus, og egypternes hus skal fylles av fluesvermene, ja endog jorden de står på.
- OTB
- Hvis du nekter å la mitt folk dra, vil jeg sende svermer av fluer over deg, dine embetsmenn, ditt folk og inn i dine hus. Husene til egypterne vil være fulle av fluer, og til og med bakken vil være dekket av dem.
- B1930
- For dersom du ikke lar mitt folk fare, da sender jeg fluesvermer over dig og dine tjenere og ditt folk og dine hus, og egypternes hus skal fylles av fluesvermene, ja endog jorden de står på.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 78:45
He sent swarms of flies that devoured them, and frogs that devastated them.
Read in contextIsaiah 7:18
On that day the LORD will whistle to the flies at the farthest streams of the Nile and to the bees in the land of Assyria.
Read in contextPsalms 105:31
He spoke, and insects swarmed— gnats throughout their country.
Read in context