The Plague of Insects

16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Extend your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may turn into [a]gnats through all the land of Egypt.’” 17 They did so; and Aaron extended his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were [b]gnats on every [c]person and animal. All the dust of the earth turned into [d](A)gnats through all the land of Egypt. 18 The soothsayer priests tried with their secret arts to produce [e]gnats, but (B)they could not; so there were [f]gnats on every person and animal. 19 Then the soothsayer priests said to Pharaoh, “(C)This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was [g]hardened, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 8:16 Or lice
  2. Exodus 8:17 Or lice
  3. Exodus 8:17 I.e., Egyptians and their livestock
  4. Exodus 8:17 Or lice
  5. Exodus 8:18 Or lice
  6. Exodus 8:18 Or lice
  7. Exodus 8:19 Lit strong

The Third Plague: Gnats

16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron: Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, and it will become gnats[a] throughout the land of Egypt.” 17 And they did this. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and when he struck the dust of the earth, gnats were on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats throughout the land of Egypt. 18 The magicians tried to produce gnats using their occult practices, but they could not. The gnats remained on man and beast.(A)

19 “This is the finger of God,”(B) the magicians said to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 8:16 Perhaps sand fleas or mosquitoes