Exodus 10:19

KJV

And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the LORD {H3068} turned {H2015} a mighty {H3966} strong {H2389} west {H3220} wind {H7307}, which took away {H5375} the locusts {H697}, and cast {H8628} them into the Red {H5488} sea {H3220}; there remained {H7604} not one {H259} locust {H697} in all the coasts {H1366} of Egypt {H4714}.

Complete Jewish Bible

ADONAI reversed the wind and made it blow very strongly from the west. It took up the locusts and drove them into the Sea of Suf; not one locust remained on Egyptian soil.

Berean Standard Bible

And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind that carried off the locusts and blew them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust remained anywhere in Egypt.

American Standard Version

And Jehovah turned an exceeding strong west wind, which took up the locusts, and drove them into the Red Sea; there remained not one locust in all the border of Egypt.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 10:19 vividly describes the Lord's immediate and complete removal of the devastating locust plague from Egypt, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over creation and His thoroughness in both judgment and deliverance. Through a divinely orchestrated "mighty strong west wind," God swept every single locust into the Red Sea, leaving the land entirely free of the scourge, a powerful display of His control and precision.

### CONTEXT
This verse marks the dramatic conclusion of the eighth plague, the plague of locusts, which is detailed in [Exodus 10:1-19](/exodus/10 "The Plague of Locusts"). Immediately preceding this verse, Pharaoh, under immense pressure from his officials and the widespread devastation, finally pleaded with Moses to intercede with the Lord for the removal of the locusts ([Exodus 10:16-18](/exodus/10-16 "Pharaoh pleads with Moses")). Exodus 10:19 then recounts God's swift and total response to this plea. Following this act of divine deliverance, the narrative immediately shifts to Pharaoh's predictable hardening of heart once the pressure was relieved ([Exodus 10:20](/exodus/10-20 "Pharaoh's heart hardens again")), setting the stage for the ninth plague of darkness.

Historically and culturally, the plagues were not merely natural disasters but direct assaults on the gods of Egypt and Pharaoh's perceived divine authority. Locust plagues were a known, devastating agricultural threat in the ancient Near East, but the scale, timing, and complete removal of this particular plague clearly marked it as a supernatural act of judgment. The "west wind" was geographically logical for clearing the locusts from Egypt into the Red Sea, but its "mighty strong" nature and precise timing underscore divine intervention rather than mere coincidence. This event further demonstrated Yahweh's unparalleled power over nature, a domain often attributed to various Egyptian deities, thereby undermining their worship and asserting His supremacy.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Exodus 10:19 succinctly narrates the divine reversal of the locust plague, highlighting God's power and precision.

**Key Word Analysis:**
* **"mighty strong west wind"** (רוּחַ־יָם חָזָק מְאֹד - *ruach-yam chazaq me'od*): This phrase emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the wind. *Ruach* can mean "wind," "spirit," or "breath," often indicating divine agency. *Yam* here means "sea" but also points to the west (the direction of the Mediterranean Sea from Egypt). *Chazaq me'od* means "exceedingly strong" or "very mighty." This is no ordinary breeze but a divinely commanded, powerful force, perfectly timed and directed by the Lord to accomplish His specific purpose. It underscores God's absolute control over natural phenomena.
* **"Red sea"** (יַם־סוּף - *Yam Suph*): Literally "Sea of Reeds." While its exact location is debated, it refers to a body of water east of Egypt. Its significance here is twofold: it serves as the precise destination for the locusts, ensuring their complete removal from Egypt, and it foreshadows the later, even more dramatic, divine act of deliverance and judgment at this very body of water ([Exodus 14:21-31](/exodus/14-21 "The Parting of the Red Sea")).
* **"not one locust"**: This phrase, though possibly hyperbolic, emphasizes the *completeness* and *thoroughness* of God's work. When God removes a plague or delivers, He does so entirely, leaving no remnant of the destructive force. This highlights His perfect efficacy and the totality of His intervention.

**Verse Breakdown:**
* **"And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind,"**: This opening clause immediately attributes the action to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. He is not a passive observer but the active orchestrator. The "turning" of the wind indicates His direct command and redirection of natural forces.
* **"which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea;"**: The wind is God's instrument. It "took away" (lifted and carried) the vast swarm and "cast them" (threw them forcefully) into the designated body of water. This demonstrates God's precise control over the plague's origin, movement, and ultimate disposal.
* **"there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt."**: This concluding statement powerfully affirms the absolute success and completeness of God's intervention. The land was entirely purged, leaving no lingering threat or sign of the devastation, a testament to God's thorough and effective deliverance.

**Literary Devices:**
The verse employs **divine agency** as the primary driver of the narrative, emphasizing God's direct involvement. The phrase "not one locust" serves as a form of **hyperbole** or **emphatic exaggeration**, underscoring the absolute completeness of the removal rather than a literal count of zero, thereby magnifying God's power and the thoroughness of His deliverance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully teaches several profound theological truths. First, it affirms God's **absolute sovereignty over creation**. He not only brings judgment through natural phenomena but also commands and redirects them with precision to bring relief. This demonstrates His power over all forces, visible and invisible. Second, it highlights God's **completeness in deliverance**. When God acts to save or remove an obstacle, He does so thoroughly, leaving no remnant of the destructive force. This foreshadows His complete salvation from sin and its consequences. Third, it underscores God's **faithfulness to His people** by acting decisively against their oppressors, even when Pharaoh's repentance is fleeting.

This theme of divine control over nature and complete deliverance resonates throughout the biblical narrative:
* [Psalm 107:29](/psalm/107-29 "God calms the storm"): "He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed." This psalm celebrates God's power to deliver from various distresses, including control over the elements, echoing the power displayed in Exodus 10:19.
* [Isaiah 43:16](/isaiah/43-16 "God makes a way in the sea"): "Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path through the mighty waters." This verse, reflecting on the Red Sea event, reinforces God's ability to create paths of deliverance through seemingly insurmountable obstacles, a power prefigured by the disposal of the locusts into the sea.
* [Romans 9:17](/romans/9-17 "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you"): "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.'" This New Testament reference directly links Pharaoh's resistance and God's powerful acts (like the plagues) to God's ultimate purpose of demonstrating His power and making His name known.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 10:19 offers profound encouragement and a sober warning for modern believers. It reminds us that no "plague" or overwhelming challenge in our lives—be it a destructive habit, a crushing debt, a debilitating illness, or a spiritual struggle—is too great for God to remove. Just as He completely cleared the locusts, He is capable of bringing thorough deliverance and restoration to situations that seem hopeless. This verse calls us to trust in God's sovereign power and His perfect timing, knowing that His interventions are not partial but complete and effective. It also serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating that even clear, undeniable demonstrations of God's power and mercy do not guarantee lasting change in a hardened heart unless there is genuine, sustained repentance and submission to His will.

* What "plagues" or overwhelming challenges are you facing where you need to trust in God's complete and thorough deliverance?
* How does God's precise control over the "mighty strong west wind" in this verse challenge or affirm your understanding of His sovereignty over seemingly natural events in your own life?
* In what ways might you, like Pharaoh, be tempted to harden your heart even after experiencing God's clear intervention and mercy?

### FAQ

**Was the removal of the locusts a natural event or a miracle?**

Answer: While a strong west wind is a natural phenomenon, its precise timing, "mighty strong" nature, and the absolute completeness of the locusts' removal, leaving "not one locust," strongly indicate a divinely orchestrated miracle. God used a natural means, but He supernaturally empowered and directed it to achieve His specific purpose, demonstrating His control over creation.

**Why did God choose to cast the locusts into the "Red Sea" specifically?**

Answer: Geographically, a west wind would naturally blow locusts from the fertile Nile Delta region towards the east, making the Red Sea (or Sea of Reeds) a logical destination for their removal from Egypt. Theologically, casting them into the sea signifies their complete and irreversible destruction, a place of no return. It also serves as a powerful foreshadowing of God's later, even greater act of judgment and deliverance at the same body of water when He would destroy Pharaoh's army and save Israel.

**Does "there remained not one locust" mean literally zero?**

Answer: This phrase is likely an emphatic hyperbole, a common literary device in biblical narrative to stress the completeness and thoroughness of an action. While there might have been a stray locust here or there, the intent is to convey that the plague was decisively and effectively ended, with no significant remnant remaining to continue the devastation. It highlights the perfection and efficacy of God's intervention.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 10:19, while an Old Testament narrative, points forward to the person and work of Jesus Christ in profound ways. Just as God demonstrated His absolute authority over creation by commanding the winds and the sea to remove the locusts, Jesus, as God incarnate, displayed the same divine authority by calming storms with a word ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Jesus calms the storm")) and walking on water ([Matthew 14:25](/matthew/14-25 "Jesus walks on water")). This shows Him to be the Lord who commands nature, not merely a prophet.

Furthermore, the complete removal of the locusts—the "plague" devastating Egypt—foreshadows Christ's ultimate work in removing the "plague" of sin and its destructive power from humanity. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus completely disarmed the powers of sin and death, leaving "not one" remnant of their dominion for those who trust in Him ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Christ disarmed the spiritual powers")). The Red Sea, where the locusts were cast, can be seen as a type of baptism and a place of ultimate deliverance from bondage. In the New Testament, baptism is associated with being united with Christ in His death and resurrection, signifying a complete break from the old life of sin and slavery ([Romans 6:3-4](/romans/6-3 "Buried with Christ in baptism")). Thus, Jesus is the ultimate deliverer who completely removes the spiritual plagues that afflict humanity, offering thorough and lasting salvation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.