New International Version When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed down to the ground. So the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt; New Living Translation So Moses lifted his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed toward the earth. The LORD sent a tremendous hailstorm against all the land of Egypt. English Standard Version Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. Berean Standard Bible So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt. Berean Literal Bible And Moses stretched out his staff toward the heavens, and YHWH gave voices and hail, and fire went to the earth. And YHWH rained down hail on the land of Egypt. King James Bible And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. New King James Version And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. New American Standard Bible So Moses reached out with his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. NASB 1995 Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. NASB 1977 And Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. Legacy Standard Bible So Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and Yahweh gave forth thunder and hail, and fire went down to the earth. And Yahweh rained down hail on the land of Egypt. Amplified Bible Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning (fireballs) ran down to the earth and along the ground. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. Berean Annotated Bible So Moses (drawn out) stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD {YHWH} sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt (land of bondage). Christian Standard Bible So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail. Lightning struck the land, and the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. Holman Christian Standard Bible So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail. Lightning struck the earth, and the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. American Standard Version And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and Jehovah sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down unto the earth; and Jehovah rained hail upon the land of Egypt. English Revised Version And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down unto the earth; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. GOD'S WORD® Translation When Moses lifted his staff toward the sky, the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD made it hail on Egypt. Good News Translation So Moses raised his stick toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the ground. The LORD sent International Standard Version When Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. The LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. NET Bible When Moses extended his staff toward the sky, the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire fell to the earth; so the LORD caused hail to rain down on the land of Egypt. New Heart English Bible Moses stretched forth his rod toward the heavens, and the LORD sent thunder, and hail, and fire fell to the earth. The LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. Webster's Bible Translation And Moses stretched forth his rod towards heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground: and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt. World English Bible Moses stretched out his rod toward the heavens, and Yahweh sent thunder and hail; and lightning flashed down to the earth. Yahweh rained hail on the land of Egypt. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Moses stretches out his rod toward the heavens, and YHWH has given voices and hail, and fire goes toward the earth, and YHWH rains hail on the land of Egypt, Berean Literal Bible And Moses stretched out his staff toward the heavens, and YHWH gave voices and hail, and fire went to the earth. And YHWH rained down hail on the land of Egypt. Young's Literal Translation And Moses stretcheth out his rod towards the heavens, and Jehovah hath given voices and hail, and fire goeth towards the earth, and Jehovah raineth hail on the land of Egypt, Smith's Literal Translation And Moses will stretch forth his rod towards the heavens, and Jehovah gave voices, and hail; and fire will go upon the earth: and Jehovah will rain hail upon the land of Egypt. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Moses stretched forth his rod towards heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning running along the ground: and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. Catholic Public Domain Version And Moses extended his staff into the sky, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and also lightning dashing across the earth. And the Lord rained down hail upon the land of Egypt. New American Bible So Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent forth peals of thunder and hail. Lightning flashed toward the earth, and the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt. New Revised Standard Version Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire came down on the earth. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Moses lifted up his staff toward heaven; and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning ran along on the ground; and the LORD showered hail upon the land of Egypt. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Moshe lifted his staff before the face of Heaven, and LORD JEHOVAH gave a noise, and hail and fire was walking on the ground, and LORD JEHOVAH brought down the hail on the land of Egypt. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven; and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down unto the earth; and the LORD caused to hail upon the land of Egypt. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Moses stretched forth his hand to heaven, and the Lord sent thunderings and hail; and the fire ran along upon the ground, and the Lord rained hail on all the land of Egypt. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Seventh Plague: Hail…22Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt—on man and beast and every plant of the field throughout the land of Egypt.” 23So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt. 24The hail fell and the lightning continued flashing through it. The hail was so severe that nothing like it had ever been seen in all the land of Egypt from the time it became a nation.… Cross References So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, Exodus 10:21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.” Exodus 14:16 And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. and the LORD sent thunder and hail, Psalm 78:48 He abandoned their cattle to the hail and their livestock to bolts of lightning. Psalm 18:13 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded—hailstones and coals of fire. and lightning struck the earth. Psalm 77:18 Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. Psalm 97:4 His lightning illuminates the world; the earth sees and trembles. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt. Psalm 105:32 He gave them hail for rain, with lightning throughout their land. Joshua 10:11 As they fled before Israel along the descent from Beth-horon to Azekah, the LORD cast down on them large hailstones from the sky, and more of them were killed by the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites. Revelation 16:21 And great hailstones weighing almost a hundred pounds each rained down on them from above. And men cursed God for the plague of hail, because it was so horrendous. Psalm 78:47-48 He killed their vines with hailstones and their sycamore-figs with sleet. / He abandoned their cattle to the hail and their livestock to bolts of lightning. Job 38:22-23 Have you entered the storehouses of snow or observed the storehouses of hail, / which I hold in reserve for times of trouble, for the day of war and battle? Isaiah 30:30 And the LORD will cause His majestic voice to be heard and His mighty arm to be revealed, striking in angry wrath with a flame of consuming fire, and with cloudburst, storm, and hailstones. Ezekiel 38:22 I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. 1 Samuel 12:17-18 Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.” / So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. Revelation 8:7 Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass. Psalm 18:12-14 From the brightness of His presence His clouds advanced—hailstones and coals of fire. / The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded—hailstones and coals of fire. / He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them. Treasury of Scripture And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along on the ground; and the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. the Lord sent Exodus 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. Exodus 20:18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 1 Samuel 12:17,18 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king… and hail Joshua 10:11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword. Job 38:22,23 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, … Psalm 18:13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. Jump to Previous Caused Earth Egypt Fire Flashed Forth Ground Hail Heaven Heavens Lightning Moses Rained Ran Rod Staff Stretched Thunder TowardsJump to Next Caused Earth Egypt Fire Flashed Forth Ground Hail Heaven Heavens Lightning Moses Rained Ran Rod Staff Stretched Thunder TowardsExodus 9 1. The plague on livestock8. The plague of boils 13. The message of Moses about the hail, 22. The plague of hail 27. Pharaoh pleads with Moses, but yet is hardened So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, Moses obeyed God’s command, and the shepherd’s staff again served as the visible instrument of divine authority. His upward gesture directed attention to the Lord, not to Moses, as the source of the judgment about to fall. Exo 10:21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand”… and the LORD sent thunder and hail, The storm came from the covenant God of Israel and exposed the helplessness of Egypt’s gods and Pharaoh’s claimed power. Although God had warned Egypt through Moses, the plague struck those who refused His word, while Egyptians who feared the Lord could protect their servants and livestock by bringing them indoors. Psa 78:48 He abandoned their cattle to the hail and their livestock… and lightning struck the earth. Fire flashing and running upon the ground intensified the terror of the storm. The judgment joined heaven and earth in testimony that the Lord rules every force of creation and can turn Egypt’s fertile land into a place of devastation. Psa 77:18 Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind;… So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt. Hail was extraordinary in Egypt and destructive to its crops, animals, and people exposed in the open. The seventh plague marked an escalating judgment against Pharaoh’s hardened resistance, demonstrating that no kingdom can withstand the Lord when it exalts itself against His purposes. Psa 105:32 He gave them hail for rain, with lightning… Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe prophet and leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt. In this verse, Moses acts in obedience to God's command, demonstrating his role as God's instrument. 2. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who demonstrates His power and sovereignty over creation through the plagues, including the hailstorm. 3. Egypt The land where the Israelites were enslaved. The plagues, including the hail, were judgments against Egypt and its gods, showcasing God's supremacy. 4. Thunder, Hail, and Lightning These elements are manifestations of God's power and judgment. The Hebrew word for hail, (barad), signifies a destructive force used by God to execute His will. 5. The Plagues A series of divine judgments against Egypt, each designed to demonstrate God's power and compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites. Teaching Points God's SovereigntyThe plagues, including the hail, demonstrate God's absolute control over nature and His ability to use it to fulfill His purposes. Obedience to God's Commands Moses' action in stretching out his staff is a model of obedience. Believers are called to act in faith, trusting in God's instructions. Judgment and Mercy While the plagues were acts of judgment, they also served as opportunities for repentance. God's judgments are often accompanied by His call to turn back to Him. God's Power Over Idols The plagues were direct challenges to the gods of Egypt, showing that no idol can stand against the true God. Believers are reminded to trust in God alone. The Role of Intercession Moses' role as an intercessor for Israel points to the importance of prayer and standing in the gap for others. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Exodus 9:23?2. How does Exodus 9:23 demonstrate God's power over nature and human affairs? 3. What can we learn about obedience to God from Exodus 9:23? 4. How does Exodus 9:23 connect to God's covenant with Israel? 5. In what ways can we see God's justice in Exodus 9:23? 6. How can we apply the lessons of Exodus 9:23 to modern-day faith challenges? 7. How does Exodus 9:23 demonstrate God's power over nature? 8. What historical evidence supports the events described in Exodus 9:23? 9. How does the hail in Exodus 9:23 symbolize divine judgment? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 9? What Does Exodus 9:23 Mean So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven– This opening phrase reminds us of the consistent pattern throughout Exodus where God works through Moses’ obedient actions (Exodus 4:20; 7:19). – The staff, previously an ordinary shepherd’s tool, has become the ongoing symbol of divine authority (Exodus 4:2-4). – By lifting it “toward heaven,” Moses is openly acknowledging that any forthcoming power comes from the LORD alone, not from human craft (Psalm 121:2). – Practical implication: God still calls His people to simple, visible acts of obedience that invite His intervention (James 2:17). And the LORD sent thunder and hail – Scripture states plainly that “the LORD sent,” underscoring His direct control over creation (Job 37:6, 10-13). – Thunder first: it alarmed the Egyptians (1 Samuel 7:10) and preceded the hail, showing layered intensity in the plague sequence. – Hail in Egypt’s normally dry climate demonstrated supernatural judgment, dismantling trust in their weather-deity idols (Numbers 33:4; Isaiah 19:1). – This scene foreshadows later judgments where heavenly signs accompany God’s wrath (Revelation 16:21). And lightning struck the earth – The phrase ties the storm to ground-level devastation: not merely noise in the sky but visible, destructive fire (Exodus 9:24 adds “fire flashing continually”). – Cross reference: Psalm 78:48 describes this same event retrospectively, noting that “He abandoned their cattle to the hail and their livestock to bolts of lightning.” – The mingling of opposing elements—ice and fire—highlights that God is unhindered by natural laws when executing justice (Jeremiah 10:13). – Takeaway: divine power reaches every realm; nothing earthly is outside His reach (Hebrews 12:29). So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt – “Rained down” pictures sustained action, not a brief storm: a thorough sweeping judgment (Joshua 10:11). – The judgment was targeted: “upon the land of Egypt,” yet God shielded His covenant people in Goshen (Exodus 9:26). – This differentiation magnifies God’s mercy alongside His justice, prefiguring salvation through Christ, who spares believers from wrath (Romans 5:9). – God’s repeated plagues escalate toward the Passover, building a narrative of deliverance through substitutionary sacrifice (Exodus 12:13). summary Exodus 9:23 records a literal, historic act of God. Moses obeys by raising his staff, and the LORD answers with a storm of thunder, hail, and lightning that devastates Egypt while preserving Israel. Each element—staff, thunder, hail, lightning—demonstrates God’s sovereign authority over nature and nations. The verse assures believers that the LORD actively intervenes, judges sin, protects His own, and ultimately points forward to the fuller redemption accomplished in Christ. (23) The fire ran along upon the ground.—Heb., fire walked earthwards. Kalisch and Knobel understand by this mere ordinary lightning, but Aben-Ezra, Canon Cook, and others think that the phenomenon was such as our Version well expresses. There is no doubt that the electric fluid occasionally takes a form which has something of permanency, continuing several seconds, or even minutes, either stationary or with a slow motion. Appearances of this kind have been called “fire-balls,” and indicate an excessive electrical disturbance, involving great peril to life and property. If the expression “fire walked earthwards” does not imply anything of this kind, yet the peculiar phrase of Exodus 9:24 would seem to do so.Verse 23. - Moses stretched forth his rod. In the last set of three plagues, the earthly agent was Moses (Exodus 9:10; Exodus 10:13, 22), whose diffidence seems to have worn off as time went on, and he became accustomed to put himself forward. Thunder and hail. Thunder had not been predicted; but it is a common accompaniment of a hail-storm, the change of temperature produced by the discharge of electricity no doubt conducing to the formation of hailstones. The fire ran along upon the ground. Some very peculiar electrical display seems to be intended - something corresponding to the phenomena called "fireballs," where the electric fluid does not merely flash momentarily, but remains for several seconds, or even minutes, before it disappears.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So Mosesמֹשֶׁ֣ה (mō·šeh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver stretched out וַיֵּ֨ט (way·yêṭ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend his staff מַטֵּהוּ֮ (maṭ·ṭê·hū) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe toward עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against heaven, הַשָּׁמַיִם֒ (haš·šā·ma·yim) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky and the LORD וַֽיהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel sent נָתַ֤ן (nā·ṯan) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set thunder קֹלֹת֙ (qō·lōṯ) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 6963: A voice, sound and hail, וּבָרָ֔ד (ū·ḇā·rāḏ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1259: Hail and lightning אֵ֖שׁ (’êš) Noun - common singular Strong's 784: A fire struck וַתִּ֥הֲלַךְ (wat·ti·hă·laḵ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk the earth. אָ֑רְצָה (’ā·rə·ṣāh) Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land So the LORD יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel rained וַיַּמְטֵ֧ר (way·yam·ṭêr) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4305: To rain hail בָּרָ֖ד (bā·rāḏ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1259: Hail upon עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the land אֶ֥רֶץ (’e·reṣ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 776: Earth, land of Egypt. מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (miṣ·rā·yim) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa Additonal Resources Exodus 9:23 Blue Letter BibleExodus 9:23 Bible Gateway Exodus 9:23 Bible.com Exodus 9:23 NIV |
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