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](/exodus/7-24 "The Egyptians dig for water") vividly portrays the immediate and severe impact of the first plague on ancient Egypt, where the life-giving Nile River was 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, underscoring the plague's profound disruption of daily life and the nation's utter helplessness before divine judgment.

### CONTEXT
This verse directly follows [Aaron's act of striking the Nile with his rod](/exodus/7-20 "Aaron strikes the Nile, turning water to blood"), at God's command, which instantaneously transformed the waters into blood, killing the fish, and rendering the river undrinkable. The Nile was not merely a source of sustenance for the Egyptians but also central to their religious beliefs, worshipped as a deity such as Hapi, the god of the annual flooding. The plague was a direct assault on both their physical well-being and their pantheon of gods, unequivocally demonstrating the supreme power of the God of Israel. Despite this undeniable display of divine authority, [Pharaoh's heart remained hardened](/exodus/7-22 "Pharaoh's hardened heart after the first plague"), especially after his own magicians seemingly replicated the feat, though they could not reverse it or alleviate its effects.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
[Exodus 7:24](/exodus/7-24 "The Egyptians dig for water") describes the direct consequence of the Nile turning to blood, focusing on the Egyptians' desperate response. The phrase "And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink" paints a vivid picture of a society plunged into immediate crisis. Their primary, abundant water supply—the very lifeblood of their civilization—had become unusable. The act of "digging round about the river" indicates a frantic, widespread effort, suggesting that the contamination was so pervasive that even tributaries or shallow wells near the main river were affected, or that they hoped to find groundwater unaffected by the plague. This desperation underscores the severity and totality of the plague's impact on their daily lives and survival.

The subsequent clause, "for they could not drink of the water of the river," provides the stark, undeniable reason for their actions. The Hebrew phrase "לא יכלו לשתות" (*lo yakhelu lishtot*) powerfully conveys an absolute inability, leaving no ambiguity about the severity of the crisis. The term "יְאֹר" (*ye'or*) specifically refers to the Nile River, emphasizing the targeted nature of God's judgment against Egypt's most vital resource and a key object of their worship. This verse highlights human helplessness when confronted with divine power, as all their ingenuity and resources could not provide a solution to a problem divinely imposed.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **Divine Judgment and Sovereignty:** The plague on the Nile, culminating in the Egyptians' inability to find water, unequivocally showcases God's absolute control over creation and His intention to judge Egypt for their oppression of Israel. The inability to drink from the Nile highlights human helplessness before divine power and the futility of human efforts against God's will.
* **Egyptian Desperation and Vulnerability:** The act of "digging round about the river for water to drink" vividly portrays the sudden and acute crisis faced by the Egyptians. Their normal, abundant water supply was contaminated, forcing them to resort to desperate measures for survival. This underlines the severity of the plague's impact on daily life and the vulnerability of even a powerful nation when deprived of basic necessities by divine hand.
* **Futility of False Gods:** By striking the Nile, God directly challenged the Egyptian pantheon, particularly deities associated with the river, fertility, and life (such as Hapi, Osiris, and Khnum). The inability of their gods to provide clean water or reverse the plague underscored the supremacy of the Lord, revealing the impotence of idols in the face of the one true God.
* **God's Provision and Sustenance:** In stark contrast to the Egyptians' desperate search for water, God consistently provided for Israel, even in the wilderness. This plague serves as a powerful reminder that God alone is the ultimate source of life and provision, and reliance on anything else leads to futility and desperation.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Exodus 7:24](/exodus/7-24 "The Egyptians dig for water") serves as a potent reminder of God's sovereignty over all aspects of life and His readiness to act decisively in judgment against those who oppose His will and oppress His people. For believers, it reinforces the truth that God is the ultimate source of life and provision, and that relying on anything else leads to futility and desperation, much like the Egyptians digging for water. It encourages us to seek the true "living water" that Jesus offers, as spoken of in [John 4:10](/john/4-10 "Jesus offers living water to the Samaritan woman"). This event also illustrates that stubborn resistance to God's commands can lead to increasingly severe consequences, as seen throughout the narrative of the [ten plagues of Egypt](/chapter/bible_verses_kjv/exodus/7 "The Ten Plagues of Egypt").

### 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" suggests they were digging shallow wells in the immediate vicinity of the Nile, hoping to find groundwater that had filtered through the soil and was therefore untainted by the blood. This indicates the profound and widespread nature of the plague, as their usual, easily accessible water sources were completely unusable, forcing them into desperate and laborious 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") 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.

**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, 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). 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.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The desperate search for water in [Exodus 7:24](/exodus/7-24 "The Egyptians dig for water") 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, so too do the world's promises ultimately fail to quench the deepest human longings. Christ is presented as the ultimate fulfillment of this need, the true "living water" who satisfies spiritual thirst eternally ([John 4:10-14](/john/4-10 "Jesus offers living water") and [John 7:37-38](/john/7-37 "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.

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.