King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.
Complete Jewish Bible:
By now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with such severe plagues that you would have been wiped off the earth.
Berean Standard Bible:
For by this time I could have stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the earth.
American Standard Version:
For now I had put forth my hand, and smitten thee and thy people with pestilence, and thou hadst been cut off from the earth:
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
For now I will stretch out{H7971} my hand{H3027}, that I may smite{H5221} thee and thy people{H5971} with pestilence{H1698}; and thou shalt be cut off{H3582} from the earth{H776}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 3:20
- And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
Exodus 9:6
- And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.
Proverbs 2:22
- But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
Exodus 9:16
- And in very deed for this [cause] have I raised thee up, for to shew [in] thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
Exodus 14:28
- And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, [and] all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
Exodus 12:29
- ¶ And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that [was] in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
Exodus 12:30
- And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for [there was] not a house where [there was] not one dead.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 9:15
1. **Themes:**
- **Divine Power and Judgment:** The verse emphasizes God's sovereignty and his ability to execute judgment upon the earth.
- **Warning and Mercy:** It serves as a warning to Pharaoh, indicating the severity of the consequences if he continues to refuse to let the Israelites go. Despite the harsh message, it implies an opportunity for Pharaoh to change his course, reflecting a theme of mercy delayed for the sake of divine justice.
- **Election and Covenant:** The protection of the Israelites (God's chosen people) is implied, highlighting the theme of God's faithfulness to his covenant.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **The Exodus Narrative:** Exodus 9:15 is part of the larger story of the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt. This verse occurs during the series of plagues that God sends upon Egypt to persuade Pharaoh to release the Israelites.
- **Pharaoh's Hardened Heart:** At this point in the narrative, Pharaoh has repeatedly hardened his heart against God's commands, delivered through Moses and Aaron, despite the increasing severity of the plagues.
- **The Pestilence Plague:** This specific verse threatens the imminent onset of a pestilence, which is the fifth plague. It follows the plagues of water turned to blood, frogs, gnats, and flies, and precedes the plagues of boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and the death of the firstborn.
- **Time Period:** The events of Exodus are traditionally dated to the late Bronze Age, around the 13th century BCE, during the New Kingdom period of Egypt.
The verse reflects the escalating conflict between the God of Israel and the gods of Egypt, represented by Pharaoh, and sets the stage for the ultimate demonstration of God's power and the redemption of the Israelites.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7971
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלַח
Transliteration: shâlach
Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). - Strong's Number: H3027
There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָד
Transliteration: yâd
Pronunciation: yawd
Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves. - Strong's Number: H5221
There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָכָה
Transliteration: nâkâh
Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
Description: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound. - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H1698
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דֶּבֶר
Transliteration: deber
Pronunciation: deh'-ber
Description: from דָבַר (in the sense of destroying); a pestilence; murrain, pestilence, plague. - Strong's Number: H3582
There are 30 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּחַד
Transliteration: kâchad
Pronunciation: kaw-khad'
Description: a primitive root; to secrete, by act or word; hence (intensively) to destroy; conceal, cut down (off), desolate, hide. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.