King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which [is] in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: [there shall be] a very grievous murrain.
Complete Jewish Bible:
the hand of ADONAI is on your livestock in the field - on the horses, donkeys, camels, cattle and flocks -and will make them suffer a devastating illness.
Berean Standard Bible:
then the hand of the LORD will bring a severe plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks.
American Standard Version:
behold, the hand of Jehovah is upon thy cattle which are in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the herds, and upon the flocks: there shall be a very grievous murrain.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Behold, the hand{H3027} of the LORD{H3068} is{H1961} upon thy cattle{H4735} which is in the field{H7704}, upon the horses{H5483}, upon the asses{H2543}, upon the camels{H1581}, upon the oxen{H1241}, and upon the sheep{H6629}: there shall be a very{H3966} grievous{H3515} murrain{H1698}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 7:4
- But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, [and] my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
Acts 13:11
- And now, behold, the hand of the Lord [is] upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
Exodus 5:3
- ¶ And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.
1 Samuel 6:9
- And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, [then] he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that [it is] not his hand [that] smote us: it [was] a chance [that] happened to us.
1 Samuel 5:6
- ¶ But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, [even] Ashdod and the coasts thereof.
1 Samuel 5:11
- So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
Exodus 8:19
- Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This [is] the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 9:3
Exodus 9:3 is part of the narrative concerning the Ten Plagues that God sent upon Egypt to persuade Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. The verse specifically foretells the fifth plague, which is a pestilence or "very grievous murrain" that would strike the livestock of the Egyptians. This plague is significant for several reasons:
1. **Selective Judgment**: The plague was to be selective, affecting only the Egyptian cattle in the field and sparing those of the Israelites. This distinction underscores the theme of God's protection over His people and His judgment against their oppressors.
2. **God's Power Over Nature**: The plague demonstrates God's sovereignty over all creation, including animals. By targeting the livestock, which were essential to the Egyptians' economy, agriculture, and transportation, the plague would have had a profound economic and psychological impact.
3. **Escalation of the Conflict**: The fifth plague represents an escalation in the confrontation between God and Pharaoh. Each plague increased in severity, and with each, Pharaoh's heart grew harder, illustrating the theme of human resistance to divine will.
4. **Historical Context**: In the historical and cultural context of ancient Egypt, where animals such as cattle, horses, donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep were highly valued, this plague would have been particularly devastating. It would have affected not only the wealth of the nation but also the worship of certain Egyptian gods associated with these animals.
5. **Theological Significance**: The plague also serves a theological purpose, reinforcing the idea that Yahweh, the God of Israel, is the true and living God with power over all things, in stark contrast to the impotence of the Egyptian deities.
In summary, Exodus 9:3 is a verse that speaks to the heart of the Exodus story, highlighting God's power to judge and save, His control over nature, and His opposition to the gods of Egypt. It foreshadows the ultimate deliverance of the Israelites and the establishment of Yahweh's supremacy over all other gods.
*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: 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: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H1961
There are 72 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָיָה
Transliteration: hâyâh
Pronunciation: haw-yaw
Description: a primitive root (compare הָוָא); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary); beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. - Strong's Number: H4735
There are 64 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִקְנֶה
Transliteration: miqneh
Pronunciation: mik-neh'
Description: from קָנָה; something bought, i.e. property, but only livestock; abstractly, acquisition; cattle, flock, herd, possession, purchase, substance. - Strong's Number: H7704
There are 309 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂדֶה
Transliteration: sâdeh
Pronunciation: saw-deh'
Description: or שָׂדַי; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat); country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild. - Strong's Number: H5483
There are 131 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סוּס
Transliteration: çûwç
Pronunciation: soos
Description: or סֻס; from an unused root meaning to skip (properly, for joy); a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight); crane, horse (-back, -hoof). Compare פָּרָשׁ. - Strong's Number: H2543
There are 93 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֲמוֹר
Transliteration: chămôwr
Pronunciation: kham-ore'
Description: or (shortened) חֲמֹר; from חָמַר; a male ass (from its dun red); (he) ass. - Strong's Number: H1581
There are 51 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּמָל
Transliteration: gâmâl
Pronunciation: gaw-mawl'
Description: apparently from גָּמַל (in the sense of labor or burden-bearing); a camel; camel. - Strong's Number: H1241
There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּקָר
Transliteration: bâqâr
Pronunciation: baw-kawr'
Description: from בָּקַר; beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd; beeve, bull ([phrase] -ock), [phrase] calf, [phrase] cow, great (cattle), [phrase] heifer, herd, kine, ox. - Strong's Number: H6629
There are 247 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צֹאן
Transliteration: tsôʼn
Pronunciation: tsone
Description: or צאוֹן; (Psalm 144:13), from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men); (small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds). - Strong's Number: H3966
There are 278 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְאֹד
Transliteration: mᵉʼôd
Pronunciation: meh-ode'
Description: from the same as אוּד; properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated); diligently, especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), [idiom] louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so) sore, utterly, very ([phrase] much, sore), well. - Strong's Number: H3515
There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּבֵד
Transliteration: kâbêd
Pronunciation: kaw-bade'
Description: from כָּבַד; heavy; figuratively in a good sense (numerous) or in a bad sense (severe, difficult, stupid); (so) great, grievous, hard(-ened), (too) heavy(-ier), laden, much, slow, sore, thick. - 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.