Exodus 8:3

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:

And the river {H2975} shall bring forth {H8317} frogs {H6854} abundantly {H8317}, which shall go up {H5927} and come {H935} into thine house {H1004}, and into thy bedchamber {H2315}{H4904}, and upon thy bed {H4296}, and into the house {H1004} of thy servants {H5650}, and upon thy people {H5971}, and into thine ovens {H8574}, and into thy kneadingtroughs {H4863}:

The river will swarm with frogs. They will go up, enter your palace and go into your bedroom, onto your bed. They will enter the houses of your servants and your people and go into your ovens and kneading bowls.

The Nile will teem with frogs, and they will come into your palace and up to your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and your people, and into your ovens and kneading bowls.

and the river shall swarm with frogs, which shall go up and come into thy 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 kneading-troughs:

Commentary

Exodus 8:3 vividly describes the severity and pervasive nature of the second of the ten plagues brought upon Egypt by God through Moses and Aaron. This verse illustrates how the frogs, emerging from the Nile River, would infest every corner of Egyptian life, from the most private spaces to the most public and essential areas, leaving no place untouched.

Context

Following the plague of water turned to blood, which targeted the very lifeblood of Egypt, the Nile, God now sends an overwhelming infestation of frogs. The Nile was not only central to Egyptian agriculture and daily life but was also revered as a deity, and creatures within it were often considered sacred. Pharaoh's heart remained stubborn, despite the initial judgment, prompting this next, more personal and intrusive plague. This plague was a direct assault on the Egyptian god Heket, a frog-headed goddess associated with fertility and birth, demonstrating God's absolute supremacy over all false gods and their perceived domains.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Power: The plague of frogs powerfully demonstrates God's absolute control over creation. He commands nature, and even common creatures become instruments of His will, proving that no aspect of life is beyond His reach or command.
  • Pervasive Judgment: The detailed list of places the frogs would invade—houses, bedchambers, beds, ovens, kneadingtroughs—emphasizes the inescapable and deeply personal nature of this judgment. It highlights that God's judgment leaves no part of life untouched when people refuse to obey His commands and acknowledge His authority.
  • Humiliation of False Gods: By turning a creature often associated with a deity (Heket) into a source of torment and disgust, God directly challenged and humiliated the Egyptian pantheon. This was a crucial part of God's plan to make Himself known to Egypt and prove His uniqueness as the one true God.
  • Pharaoh's Stubbornness: The progression of the plagues, each more intense and uncomfortable than the last, underscores Pharaoh's hardened heart and his continued defiance against God's command to "Let my people go."

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated as "abundantly" (רַב, rav) in this verse emphasizes the sheer, overwhelming quantity of frogs. It signifies not just a few scattered frogs, but an immense, suffocating multitude that would completely inundate every space. This highlights the severity and the intended psychological impact of the plague, designed to break Pharaoh's resistance through sheer discomfort and disruption.

Practical Application

Exodus 8:3 serves as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering power and His commitment to justice. For believers, it reinforces the truth that God is sovereign over all circumstances, even the most mundane or repulsive. For those who defy Him, it illustrates that there is no hiding place from His presence or His judgment; His reach is comprehensive. It encourages us to heed God's word and obey His commands, understanding that His purposes will ultimately prevail, and that even ordinary elements can be used by an extraordinary God to accomplish His divine will.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 105:30

    Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.

  • Exodus 12:34

    And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
← Back