TRV
Translation
King James Version
And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:
Complete Jewish Bible
If you refuse to let them go, I will strike all your territory with frogs.
Berean Standard Bible
But if you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs.
American Standard Version
And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:
World English Bible Messianic
If you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your borders with frogs:
Geneva Bible (1599)
And if thou wilt not let them goe, beholde, I will smite all thy countrey with frogges:
Young's Literal Translation
and if thou art refusing to send away, lo, I am smiting all thy border with frogs;
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In the KJVVerse 1,713 of 31,102
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Commentary on Exodus 8 verses 1–15
1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:
3 And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs:
4 And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.
5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.
6 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.
9 And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?
10 And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.
11 And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.
12 And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.
13 And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.
14 And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.
15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Pharaoh is here first threatened and then plagued with frogs, as afterwards, in this chapter, with lice and flies, little despicable inconsiderable animals, and yet by their vast numbers rendered sore plagues to the Egyptians. God could have plagued them with lions, or bears, or wolves, or with vultures or other birds of prey; but he chose to do it by these contemptible instruments. 1. That he might magnify his own power. He is Lord of the hosts of the whole creation, has them all at his beck, and makes what use he pleases of them. Some have thought that the power of God is shown as much in the making of an ant as in the making of an elephant; so is his providence in serving his own purposes by the least creatures as effectually as by the strongest, that the excellency of the power, in judgment as well as mercy, may be of God, and not of the creature. See what reason we have to stand in awe of this God, who, when he pleases, can arm the smallest parts of the creation against us. If God be our enemy, all the creatures are at war with us. 2. That he might humble Pharaoh's pride, and chastise his insolence. What a mortification must it needs be to this haughty monarch to see himself brought to his knees, and forced to submit, by such despicable means! Every child is, ordinarily, able to deal with those invaders, and can triumph over them; yet now so numerous were their troops, and so vigorous their assaults, that Pharaoh, with all his chariots and horsemen, could make no head against them. Thus he poureth contempt upon princes that offer contempt to him and his sovereignty, and makes those who will not own him above them to know that, when he pleases, he can make the meanest creature to insult them and trample upon them. As to the plague of frogs we may observe,
I. How it was threatened. Moses, no doubt, attended the divine Majesty daily for fresh instructions, and (perhaps while the river was yet blood) he is here directed to give notice to Pharaoh of another judgment coming upon him, in case he continue obstinate: If thou refuse to let them go, it is at thy peril, Exo 8:1, Exo 8:2. Note, God does not punish men for sin unless they persist in it. If he turn not, he will whet his sword (Psa 7:12), which implies favour if he turn. So here, If thou refuse, I will smite thy borders, intimating that if Pharaoh complied the controversy should immediately be dropped. The plague threatened, in case of refusal, was formidably extensive. Frogs were to make such an inroad upon them as should make them uneasy in their houses, in their beds, and at their tables; they should not be able to eat, nor drink, nor sleep in quietness, but, wherever they were, should be infested by them, Exo 8:3, Exo 8:4. Note, 1. God's curse upon a man will pursue him wherever he goes, and lie heavily upon him whatever he does. See Deu 28:16, etc. 2. There is no avoiding divine judgments when they invade with commission.
II. How it was inflicted. Pharaoh not regarding the alarm, nor being at all inclined to yield to the summons, Aaron is ordered to draw out the forces, and with his outstretched arm and rod to give the signal of battle. Dictum factum - No sooner said then done; the host is mustered, and, under the direction and command of an invisible power, shoals of frogs invade the land, and the Egyptians, with all their art and all their might, cannot check their progress, nor so much as give them a diversion. Compare this with that prophecy of an army of locusts and caterpillars, Joe 2:2, etc.; and see Isa 34:16, Isa 34:17. Frogs came up, at the divine call, and covered the land. Note, God has many ways of disquieting those that live at ease.
III. How the magicians were permitted to imitate it, Exo 8:7. They also brought up frogs, but could not remove those that God sent. The unclean spirits which came out of the mouth of the dragon are said to be like frogs, which go forth to the kings of the earth, to deceive them (Rev 16:13), which probably alludes to these frogs, for it follows the account of the turning of the waters into blood. The dragon, like the magicians, intended by them to deceive, but God intended by them to destroy those that would be deceived.
IV. How Pharaoh relented under this plague: it was the first time he did so, Exo 8:8. He begs of Moses to intercede for the removal of the frogs, and promises fair that he will let the people go. He that a little while ago had spoken with the utmost disdain both of God and Moses is now glad to be beholden to the mercy of God and the prayers of Moses. Note, Those that bid defiance to God and prayer in a day of extremity will, first or last, be made to see their need of both, and will cry, Lord, Lord, Mat 7:22. Those that have bantered prayer have been brought to beg it, as the rich man that had scorned Lazarus courted him for a drop of water.
V. How Moses fixes the time with Pharaoh, and then prevails with God by prayer for the removal of the frogs. Moses, to show that his performances had no dependence upon the conjunctions or oppositions of the planets, or the luckiness of any one hour more than another, bids Pharaoh name his time. Nellum occurrit tempus regi - No time fixed on by the king shall be objected to, Exo 8:9. Have thou this honour over me, tell me against when I shall entreat for thee. This was designed for Pharaoh's conviction, that, if his eyes were not opened by the plague, they might by the removal of it. So various are the methods God takes to bring men to repentance. Pharaoh sets the time for tomorrow, Exo 8:10. And why not immediately? Was he so fond of his guests that he would have them stay another night with him? No, but probably he hoped that they would go away of themselves, and then he should get clear of the plague without being obliged either to God or Moses. However, Moses joins issue with him upon it: "Be it according to thy word, it shall be done just when thou wouldst have it done, that thou mayest know that, whatever the magicians pretend to, there is none like unto the Lord our God. None has such a command as he has over all the creatures, nor is any one so ready to forgive those that humble themselves before him." Note, The great design both of judgments and mercies is to convince us that there is none like the Lord our God, none so wise, so mighty, so good, no enemy so formidable, no friend so desirable, so valuable. Moses, hereupon, applies to God, prays earnestly to him, to remand the frogs, Exo 8:12. Note, We must pray for our enemies and persecutors, even the worst as Christ did. In answer to the prayer of Moses, the frogs that came up one day perished the next, or the next but one. They all died (Exo 8:13), and, that it might appear that they were real frogs, their dead bodies were left to be raked together in heaps, so that the smell of them became offensive, Exo 8:14. Note, The great Sovereign of the world makes what use he pleases of the lives and deaths of his creatures; and he that gives a being, to serve one purpose, may, without wrong to his justice, call for it again immediately, to serve another purpose.
VI. What was the issue of this plague (Exo 8:15): When Pharaoh saw there was a respite, without considering either what he had lately felt or what he had reason to fear, he hardened his heart. Note, 1. Till the heart is renewed by the grace of God, the impressions made by the force of affliction do not abide; the convictions wear off, and the promises that were extorted are forgotten. Till the disposition of the air is changed, what thaws in the sun will freeze again in the shade. 2. God's patience is shamefully abused by impenitent sinners. The respite he gives them, to lead them to repentance, they are hardened by; and while he graciously allows them a truce, in order to the making of their peace, they take that opportunity to rally again the baffled forces of an obstinate infidelity. See Ecc 8:11; Psa 78:34, etc.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–15. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
TRACTATE ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 1.15
For what reason do you puff yourself up with human pride? A man insulted you, and you swelled up and were angered. Rid yourself of the fleas that you may sleep. Find out who you are! For that you may know, brothers, that these things which would bother us were created to enable us to control our pride, [remember], God could have tamed the proud people of Pharaoh with bears, with lions or with snakes; he sent flies and frogs upon them that their pride might be tamed by the most ignoble of things.
Isidore of SevilleAD 636
QUESTIONS ON THE OLD TESTAMENT, EX 14:3
In the second plague frogs are brought forth. They are thought to stand figuratively for the songs of the poets. The poets have brought deceptive fables into this world, with their empty and conceited songs that are like the croaking of frogs. For the frog stands for empty loquacity. That animal is good for nothing else but to give out the sounds of its voice in offensive and annoying noises.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Exodus 8:2 presents God's unequivocal warning to Pharaoh, declaring the imminent second plague—an overwhelming infestation of frogs—should he persist in his refusal to release the Israelites. This divine ultimatum underscores God's escalating judgment, His unyielding resolve to deliver His covenant people, and His absolute authority over creation, serving as a direct challenge to Egypt's polytheistic beliefs and Pharaoh's perceived sovereignty.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Exodus 8:2 employs several potent literary devices. The verse functions as a clear Ultimatum, presenting Pharaoh with a direct choice and an immediate consequence, highlighting the escalating nature of God's demands. The use of "behold" (הִנֵּה, hinnēh) serves as an Interjection that commands attention, signaling the gravity and certainty of the divine declaration. There is a strong element of Divine Warning, where God explicitly states the impending judgment before its execution, providing Pharaoh with another opportunity to repent. The phrase "all thy borders" can be seen as a form of Hyperbole, emphasizing the pervasive and inescapable nature of the plague beyond literal boundaries, conveying that no part of Egypt would be untouched. Furthermore, the choice of frogs, an animal sacred to the Egyptian goddess Heket, introduces Symbolism and Irony, as God uses an object of reverence to bring about widespread discomfort and defilement, thereby mocking the impotence of Egypt's deities and asserting His own supremacy.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 8:2 powerfully articulates God's active involvement in human history, demonstrating His sovereign power not only over nations and rulers but also over the very fabric of creation. This second plague, following the first, illustrates a pattern of escalating divine judgment, where God's patience, though immense, is not infinite, and His warnings are always followed by consequences if unheeded. The specific nature of the plague, involving frogs, directly challenges the Egyptian pantheon, particularly deities like Heket, showcasing Yahweh's unrivaled authority over false gods and exposing the futility of idolatry. Ultimately, this judgment is a means to an end: the unwavering fulfillment of God's covenant promise to deliver His people Israel from bondage, revealing His steadfast faithfulness and His commitment to justice.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 8:2 serves as a profound reminder that God's warnings are not empty threats but serious declarations of His will and purpose. It underscores the timeless truth that disobedience carries significant consequences, and God will act decisively to fulfill His divine purposes and deliver His people. For believers, this passage reinforces the absolute necessity of heeding God's commands and trusting in His immense power and unwavering commitment to justice. It calls us to examine areas of our lives where we might be "refusing" God's will, whether through stubbornness, pride, or fear. For those who resist God's authority, this verse stands as a sobering reminder of divine accountability and the critical importance of recognizing His supreme sovereignty. It challenges us to respond with humility and obedience to God's revealed truth, knowing that His patience has limits, but His grace is always available to those who turn to Him.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did God choose frogs as a plague?
Answer: God's choice of frogs was highly significant because it directly targeted the Egyptian pantheon and their daily life. Frogs were associated with the goddess Heket, who was depicted with a frog's head and revered as a deity of fertility, childbirth, and resurrection. By overwhelming Egypt with an unprecedented, suffocating plague of frogs—filling homes, beds, ovens, and kneading troughs (Exodus 8:3)—God demonstrated His absolute superiority over Heket and all Egyptian deities. He turned a creature associated with life and sacredness into a source of widespread defilement, discomfort, and death, thereby powerfully mocking their spiritual beliefs and proving His unique status as the living God.
What is the significance of "smite all thy borders"?
Answer: The phrase "smite all thy borders" emphasizes the comprehensive, inescapable, and pervasive nature of the impending judgment. It signifies that the plague of frogs would not be confined to a specific area or class of people but would infest every part of Egypt, from its outermost boundaries to its innermost dwellings, including the royal palace and the humblest homes (Exodus 8:3-4). This demonstrates that no corner of their land or life was beyond God's reach or control, highlighting His absolute sovereignty and the futility of Pharaoh's attempts to resist His will. It underscores the totality of God's power to afflict an entire nation.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The plague of frogs, like all the plagues, serves as a powerful Old Testament foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate victory over the forces of sin, death, and spiritual darkness. Just as God demonstrated His supreme authority over creation and the false gods of Egypt, Christ, through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, triumphed over all the powers that hold humanity captive. The physical deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Pharaoh in Egypt prefigures the spiritual liberation from the tyranny of sin and its consequences that Christ offers to all who believe in Him. He is the true and ultimate Deliverer, fulfilling the pattern of divine intervention to rescue His people from oppression and establish His sovereign rule, not merely over a nation, but over the hearts and lives of all who call upon His name (Colossians 2:15). The pervasive nature of the frog plague, affecting every aspect of Egyptian life, hints at the all-encompassing nature of Christ's redemptive work, which touches every part of our existence, bringing freedom and new life (2 Corinthians 5:17).