Exodus 7:24

KJV

And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.

KJV (with Strong's)

And all the Egyptians {H4714} digged {H2658} round about {H5439} the river {H2975} for water {H4325} to drink {H8354}; for they could {H3201} not drink {H8354} of the water {H4325} of the river {H2975}.

Complete Jewish Bible

All the Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink, because they couldn't drink the river water.

Berean Standard Bible

So all the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink, because they could not drink the water from the river.

American Standard Version

And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 7:24 vividly portrays the immediate and devastating impact of the first plague on ancient Egypt, where the life-giving Nile River was miraculously transformed into blood. This verse highlights the desperate measures taken by the Egyptians, who, unable to drink from their primary water source, were forced to dig around the riverbanks in a futile search for potable water. This action underscores the plague's profound disruption of daily life, the nation's utter helplessness before divine judgment, and the direct assault on their most vital resource and a central object of their worship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the dramatic fulfillment of God's command to Moses and Aaron, where Aaron strikes the Nile with his rod, causing all the waters in Egypt to turn to blood ([Exodus 7:20](/exodus/7-20 "Aaron strikes the Nile")). The preceding verses established the initial confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh, Pharaoh's hardened heart, and God's declaration of His intent to demonstrate His power over Egypt's gods ([Exodus 7:1-19](/exodus/7-1-19 "God instructs Moses and Aaron about the plagues")). Verse 24, therefore, serves as a crucial narrative bridge, illustrating the direct, immediate, and widespread consequences of the plague. It sets the stage for the duration of the plague, which lasted seven days ([Exodus 7:25](/exodus/7-25 "The duration of the first plague")), and the subsequent plagues that would further escalate God's judgment against Pharaoh and Egypt.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Nile River was the absolute lifeblood of ancient Egypt, sustaining its agriculture, transportation, and daily existence. It was not merely a geographical feature but was deeply integrated into their religious worldview, revered as a deity itself, particularly associated with gods like Hapi (god of the Nile's annual inundation and fertility) and Osiris (god of the underworld and fertility, whose body was believed to be the Nile). The transformation of the Nile into blood was thus a direct, targeted assault on the very foundation of Egyptian civilization and their pantheon of gods. The act of "digging round about the river" for water highlights the profound and immediate crisis, as the Egyptians were utterly dependent on the Nile's waters for survival, and alternative sources were either non-existent or quickly contaminated.
* **Key Themes:** Exodus 7:24 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Exodus and the broader Pentateuch. It vividly illustrates the theme of **Divine Judgment and Sovereignty**, demonstrating God's absolute control over creation and His readiness to judge those who oppress His people and defy His will. The futility of the Egyptians' efforts to find water underscores the **Futility of Human Resistance** against divine power, contrasting sharply with God's effortless display of might. Furthermore, the plague highlights the **Impotence of False Gods**, as the revered Nile god and other Egyptian deities were powerless to prevent or reverse the defilement of their most sacred and vital resource, thereby proving the supremacy of the Lord, the God of Israel, over all other alleged gods, a theme echoed throughout the account of [the plagues](/exodus/7-8 "The Plagues of Egypt").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **digged (Hebrew, _châphar'_):** This primitive root means "to pry into; by implication, to delve, to explore; dig, paw, search out, seek." The use of this word emphasizes the laborious, desperate, and widespread effort undertaken by the Egyptians. It's not a casual search but an intense, physically demanding act, indicative of their dire need and the complete failure of their usual water sources.
* **river (Hebrew, _yᵉʼôr'_):** Of Egyptian origin, this term specifically refers to "a channel, e.g. a fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the Nile, as the one river of Egypt, including its collateral trenches." Its repeated use in the verse (and throughout the plague narrative) underscores that the judgment was precisely targeted at the Nile, the very lifeblood and object of worship for the Egyptians, making the impact personal, cultural, and existential.
* **could (Hebrew, _yâkôl'_):** This primitive root means "to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)." The negative "could not" (לא יכלו, _lo yakhelu_) conveys an absolute and utter inability. It signifies that despite all their resources, ingenuity, and desperate efforts, the Egyptians were completely powerless to overcome the divinely imposed crisis, highlighting their helplessness before the Lord's omnipotence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink":** This clause paints a vivid picture of widespread panic and desperate action. The phrase "all the Egyptians" emphasizes the universal impact of the plague, affecting every segment of society. Their act of "digging round about the river" suggests a frantic, laborious search for any untainted groundwater that might have filtered through the soil, perhaps hoping for shallow wells or pockets of water unaffected by the direct contamination of the main river and its visible tributaries. This demonstrates the immediate and profound disruption to their daily lives and the severity of their thirst.
* **"for they could not drink of the water of the river."**: This second clause provides the stark, undeniable reason for their desperate actions. It underscores the complete and utter defilement of the Nile, rendering it entirely undrinkable. The repetition of "water of the river" emphasizes that their primary, abundant, and life-sustaining source had become unusable, leading to a crisis of survival. This statement highlights the absolute efficacy of God's judgment and the devastating consequences for a nation that had relied so heavily on this particular body of water.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. **Irony** is prominent, as the Nile, the very source of life and fertility for Egypt, becomes a source of death and defilement, forcing its inhabitants into a desperate search for water. This reversal of expectation underscores the severity of God's judgment. There is also an element of **Hyperbole** or vivid description in "all the Egyptians digged round about the river," which, while perhaps not literally every single person, effectively conveys the widespread and frantic nature of the search for water, emphasizing the plague's universal impact. Finally, the narrative employs powerful **Symbolism**: the turning of the Nile to blood symbolizes not only divine judgment but also the defilement of Egypt's gods and the breaking of their reliance on false sources of life, preparing the way for the recognition of the one true God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 7:24 serves as a profound theological statement, illustrating God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His unwavering commitment to justice. The desperate plight of the Egyptians, driven to dig for water, reveals the futility of human self-reliance and the impotence of false gods when confronted with the power of the Almighty. This plague was not merely a natural disaster but a targeted divine act designed to humble Pharaoh, liberate Israel, and demonstrate to all nations that the Lord alone is God. It underscores that true life and sustenance come only from Him, and defiance leads to desolation.

* [Psalm 105:29](/psalms/105-29 "God turned their waters into blood")
* [Revelation 16:3-6](/revelation/16-3-6 "The second and third bowls of wrath: seas and rivers turn to blood")
* [Jeremiah 2:13](/jeremiah/2-13 "My people have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 7:24 offers a profound lesson for contemporary believers, reminding us of God's ultimate sovereignty and the consequences of resisting His will. Just as the Egyptians frantically dug for water, we often expend immense energy seeking satisfaction, security, and life from worldly sources that ultimately prove to be empty or defiled. This verse prompts us to examine where we place our trust and derive our sustenance. Are we desperately digging in the dry ground of human effort and worldly pursuits, or are we drawing from the inexhaustible wellspring of God's grace and provision? It calls us to recognize that true life and lasting satisfaction are found only in Christ, the living water, who promises that those who drink of Him will never thirst again ([John 4:13-14](/john/4-13-14 "Jesus offers living water") and [John 7:37-38](/john/7-37-38 "Jesus' invitation to drink living water")). The Egyptians' desperation serves as a stark warning against spiritual idolatry and a powerful invitation to turn to the one true God for all our needs.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you "digging around the river" for satisfaction or security, rather than trusting in God's provision?**
* **How does the Egyptians' helplessness in the face of the plague challenge your own sense of self-sufficiency or reliance on worldly resources?**
* **What "living water" is Jesus offering you today, and how can you more fully embrace His provision over the world's promises?**

### FAQ

**Why did the Egyptians dig for water "round about the river" instead of just away from it?**

Answer: The phrase "round about the river" (Hebrew: סָבִיב, _sâbîyb_) suggests they were digging shallow wells or attempting to access groundwater in the immediate vicinity of the Nile. This indicates a desperate hope that water filtered through the soil might be untainted by the blood, or that they were trying to tap into the water table that the Nile itself fed. It highlights the profound and widespread nature of the plague, as their usual, easily accessible water sources were completely unusable, forcing them into laborious and increasingly futile efforts for survival.

**How long did the plague of blood last?**

Answer: While [Exodus 7:24](/exodus/7-24 "The Egyptians dig for water") describes the immediate aftermath, [Exodus 7:25](/exodus/7-25 "Seven days after the plague of blood") explicitly states that "seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river." This indicates that the plague of blood lasted for a full week, a duration that would have caused immense suffering, widespread thirst, and significant economic disruption, intensifying the Egyptians' desperation and the impact of God's judgment on their daily lives and their very civilization.

**What does this plague reveal about God's power over false gods?**

Answer: This plague directly challenged and humiliated the Egyptian pantheon, particularly the deities associated with the Nile River, which was central to their life and worship. Gods such as Hapi (god of the Nile's annual inundation), Khnum (guardian of the Nile's source), and Osiris (god of the underworld and fertility, whose body was said to be the Nile) were rendered utterly impotent. By turning the very source of Egyptian life and worship into a source of death and defilement, God demonstrated His absolute supremacy over these impotent idols, proving that He alone controls creation and destiny, and that the gods of Egypt were nothing before Him.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The desperate search for water in [Exodus 7:24](/exodus/7-24 "The Egyptians dig for water") powerfully foreshadows humanity's spiritual thirst and the futility of seeking life and satisfaction from earthly sources or false gods. Just as the Nile, the source of physical life for Egypt, became a source of death and defilement, so too do the world's promises and idols ultimately fail to quench the deepest human longings, leading to spiritual desolation. Christ is presented as the ultimate fulfillment of this profound need, the true "living water" who satisfies spiritual thirst eternally ([John 4:10-14](/john/4-10-14 "Jesus offers living water to the Samaritan woman") and [John 7:37-38](/john/7-37-38 "Jesus' invitation to drink living water")). The judgment on the Nile, a symbol of Egyptian power and idolatry, also points to Christ's ultimate victory over all opposing powers and false deities, establishing His reign as the sole source of life, salvation, and true worship. His sacrifice on the cross, where He poured out His blood, ultimately cleanses and provides access to the "river of the water of life" ([Revelation 22:1](/revelation/22-1 "The river of the water of life")), contrasting sharply with the defiled waters of Egypt and offering eternal sustenance to all who believe.

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.