Exodus 9:10

KJV

And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth [with] blains upon man, and upon beast.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they took {H3947} ashes {H6368} of the furnace {H3536}, and stood {H5975} before {H6440} Pharaoh {H6547}; and Moses {H4872} sprinkled {H2236} it up toward heaven {H8064}; and it became a boil {H7822} breaking forth {H6524} with blains {H76} upon man {H120}, and upon beast {H929}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So they took ashes from a kiln, stood in front of Pharaoh and threw them in the air; and they became infected sores on men and animals.

Berean Standard Bible

So they took soot from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on man and beast.

American Standard Version

And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man and upon beast.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Vividly recounts the dramatic initiation of the sixth plague upon Egypt, where Moses, acting under divine instruction, takes ashes from a furnace and sprinkles them towards the heavens. This seemingly simple act instantaneously triggers a widespread and severe outbreak of painful boils and festering blains, afflicting both the Egyptian populace and their livestock. This powerful and deeply personal judgment serves as a stark demonstration of God's escalating wrath against Pharaoh's unyielding defiance, unequivocally asserting divine supremacy over all Egyptian deities and human resistance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the escalating narrative of the ten plagues, marking a critical turning point in God's campaign to liberate Israel from Egyptian bondage. Preceded by plagues that affected water, land, and animals (blood, frogs, lice, flies, and livestock disease), the plague of boils, along with the subsequent hailstorm, locusts, darkness, and the death of the firstborn, intensifies the divine judgment. Unlike earlier plagues that Egyptian magicians could partially mimic, this affliction, like the preceding livestock plague, directly attacked the bodies of the Egyptians and their animals, proving utterly beyond the magicians' power to replicate or alleviate. Indeed, [Exodus 9:11](/exodus/9-11 "Magicians cannot stand before Moses") explicitly states that the magicians themselves were afflicted and could not stand before Moses, further exposing the impotence of Egypt's spiritual forces and the undeniable sovereignty of Yahweh. Pharaoh's persistent [hardening of his heart](/exodus/7-13 "Pharaoh's hardened heart") directly precipitated these increasingly severe and personal consequences, underscoring God's unwavering resolve to deliver His people.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Egypt was a polytheistic society, with a vast pantheon of gods and goddesses associated with various aspects of life, including health, disease, and healing (e.g., Sekhmet, the goddess of plague and healing; Thoth, the god of medicine). The plagues were not merely natural disasters but direct assaults on the perceived power and authority of these deities, demonstrating their utter impotence before the God of Israel. The "furnace" mentioned in the verse likely refers to the kilns used for brick-making, a primary task of the enslaved Israelites, symbolizing the harsh labor and oppression they endured. The act of taking ashes from such a furnace and casting them into the air would have been a profoundly symbolic and humiliating act for the Egyptians, turning the very instruments and byproducts of their tyranny into the means of their judgment. This plague, which caused visible, painful, and disfiguring skin lesions, would have been particularly devastating in a culture that valued physical perfection and ritual purity, potentially rendering those afflicted ritually unclean and socially ostracized.
* **Key Themes:** The plague of boils powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Exodus. Firstly, it underscores the **absolute sovereignty and power of God** over all creation, including human health and disease, challenging Egypt's perceived control over its own destiny and its gods. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **divine judgment against idolatry and oppression**. Each plague systematically targeted aspects of Egyptian life and their associated deities, culminating in direct physical suffering that exposed the futility of their false gods. Thirdly, the plague reinforces the **justice of God**, as the suffering inflicted upon the Egyptians symbolically mirrors the suffering they imposed on the Israelites. The use of "ashes of the furnace" connects the judgment directly to the Israelites' forced labor in brick kilns, as seen in [Exodus 5:7-8](/exodus/5-7-8 "Israelites' forced labor"). Finally, this plague, like others, demonstrates God's **faithfulness to His covenant promises** to deliver His people, even in the face of Pharaoh's stubborn defiance. The consistent pattern of divine distinction, where the Israelites in Goshen were spared from these calamities (e.g., [Exodus 8:22-23](/exodus/8-22-23 "God's distinction in the plague of flies")), further emphasizes God's protective hand over His chosen people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
[Exodus 9:10](/exodus/9-10 "The Sixth Plague: Boils") vividly describes the execution of the sixth plague: "And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth [with] blains upon man, and upon beast." This act, simple yet profoundly symbolic, immediately unleashes a debilitating skin affliction across Egypt.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **ashes (Hebrew, _pîyach'_):** (H6368) Derived from a root meaning "to puff away," this word refers to a powder, specifically ashes or dust. In this context, it signifies the byproduct of intense heat and labor, likely from the brick kilns where the Israelites toiled. Its use as the instrument of judgment symbolically links the Egyptians' suffering directly to the oppression they inflicted upon God's people, turning the very dust of their tyranny into a source of divine retribution.
* **sprinkled (Hebrew, _zâraq'_):** (H2236) A primitive root meaning "to sprinkle" (fluid or solid particles), "to scatter," or "to strew." This action, performed by Moses, is not a magical incantation but a divinely commanded, symbolic gesture. The act of sprinkling ashes "up toward heaven" signifies that the judgment originated from God, the sovereign Lord of the heavens, not from any earthly power or human agency. It underscores the direct, immediate, and supernatural nature of the plague.
* **boil (Hebrew, _shᵉchîyn'_):** (H7822) From a root probably meaning "to burn," this term denotes an inflammation, an ulcer, or a carbuncle. It describes a severe, painful skin eruption, often accompanied by fever and disfigurement. Coupled with "blains" (H76, _ʼăbaʻbuʻâh'_), which refers to inflammatory pustules or eruptive sores, these terms depict a widespread, debilitating dermatological condition that affected both humans and animals, causing intense suffering and likely leading to death in severe cases.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they took ashes of the furnace":** This initial phrase sets the stage for the dramatic act. "They" refers to Moses and Aaron, acting in obedience to God's command given in [Exodus 9:8](/exodus/9-8 "God commands Moses regarding the boils"). The "ashes of the furnace" are not just any ashes; they are specifically from a place of intense heat and labor, likely symbolizing the oppressive conditions and suffering endured by the Israelites in brick kilns. This choice of instrument is deeply symbolic, turning the byproduct of Egyptian cruelty into the vehicle of divine judgment.
* **"and stood before Pharaoh":** This detail emphasizes the public and confrontational nature of the act. Moses and Aaron perform this deed directly in Pharaoh's presence, ensuring that the king and his court are direct witnesses to the power of Yahweh and the immediate consequences of their continued defiance. It is a direct challenge to Pharaoh's authority and the perceived power of his gods.
* **"and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven":** Moses, as God's chosen representative, performs the symbolic action. The act of sprinkling "up toward heaven" signifies that the source of the plague is not earthly or magical, but divine. It is an appeal to the ultimate authority of the heavens, demonstrating that the judgment originates from the sovereign God who rules over all, contrasting sharply with the earthly limitations of Pharaoh and his magicians.
* **"and it became a boil breaking forth [with] blains upon man, and upon beast":** This clause describes the immediate and devastating effect of Moses's action. The transformation of sprinkled ashes into a severe, widespread skin affliction ("boil breaking forth with blains") is miraculous and instantaneous. The plague afflicted "man, and upon beast," indicating its indiscriminate nature across Egyptian society, from the common person to the royal court, and even their animals, which were often considered sacred in Egyptian religion. This direct bodily suffering was inescapable and profoundly humiliating.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. **Symbolism** is paramount, with the "ashes of the furnace" representing the Israelites' oppressive labor and the source of Egypt's wealth, now turned into an instrument of divine retribution. The act of sprinkling "up toward heaven" uses **Gesture as Metaphor**, visually signifying that the judgment originates from the celestial realm, from God Himself, rather than from any earthly power. The immediate and widespread nature of the plague demonstrates **Divine Agency** and **Cause and Effect**, where a simple, divinely commanded action by Moses results in an instantaneous, catastrophic outcome. Furthermore, the description of "a boil breaking forth [with] blains" employs **Vivid Imagery**, painting a visceral picture of the painful and disfiguring affliction, enhancing the sense of divine wrath and the severity of the judgment. The inclusion of both "man, and upon beast" highlights the **Scope and Indiscriminate Nature** of the judgment upon Egypt, emphasizing its totality.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The plague of boils in [Exodus 9:10](/exodus/9-10 "The Sixth Plague: Boils") powerfully articulates God's absolute sovereignty over creation, health, and disease, demonstrating His direct intervention in human affairs to execute justice. This physical affliction serves as a profound testament to the futility of human resistance and the impotence of false deities when confronted with the Almighty. The use of "furnace ashes" is a striking act of divine **poetic justice**, turning the very instruments of Israelite oppression into the means of Egyptian suffering, thereby highlighting God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people and His righteous indignation against injustice. This plague marks a significant escalation in the severity of God's judgments, moving from external afflictions to direct bodily suffering, underscoring the increasing consequences of unrepentant sin and Pharaoh's hardened heart.

* [Deuteronomy 28:27](/deuteronomy/28-27 "Curses for Disobedience: Boils of Egypt") - This passage lists "the boils of Egypt" as a curse for disobedience, indicating that such afflictions were recognized as a form of divine judgment.
* [Job 2:7](/job/2-7 "Satan afflicts Job with painful boils") - Satan inflicts Job with "painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head," illustrating boils as a severe form of suffering, often associated with divine allowance or judgment.
* [Revelation 16:2](/revelation/16-2 "First Bowl of Wrath: Foul and Painful Sores") - In the eschatological judgments, "foul and painful sores" come upon those who worship the beast, drawing a clear parallel to the plague of boils as a sign of divine wrath.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Exodus 9:10](/exodus/9-10 "The Sixth Plague: Boils") serves as a profound reminder of God's unwavering justice and His steadfast commitment to His covenant people. It powerfully illustrates that persistent rebellion against divine commands carries severe and escalating consequences, demonstrating that God will not be mocked and His will ultimately prevails. For believers, this passage highlights God's absolute sovereignty over all circumstances, including disease and natural phenomena, and His faithfulness to deliver His people from oppression. It encourages us to submit to God's will and trust in His power to overcome obstacles, knowing that He is actively working in the world to bring about His purposes, both in judgment and in deliverance. It challenges us to consider areas in our own lives where we might be resisting God's clear will, reminding us that true freedom and blessing come through humble obedience and reliance on His mighty hand.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the escalation of the plagues, culminating in direct physical suffering, reveal God's character and His approach to persistent sin?**
* **In what ways does this account challenge our understanding of God's sovereignty over natural processes and human suffering?**
* **What "furnaces" or oppressive systems in our world today might God be working to dismantle, and how might we participate in His work of justice and liberation?**
* **How does Pharaoh's continued hardening of his heart, despite intense suffering, serve as a warning for us regarding spiritual stubbornness?**

### FAQ
**Why were ashes used as the instrument for this plague?**

Answer: The use of "ashes of the furnace" is highly symbolic and deeply significant. These ashes likely represented the harsh, oppressive labor the Israelites endured in brick kilns, where they were forced to make bricks under cruel conditions, as described in [Exodus 5:7-8](/exodus/5-7-8 "Israelites' forced labor without straw"). By using the very byproduct of their suffering and the instrument of their oppression (the furnace) as the vehicle for judgment, God demonstrated His perfect justice. He turned the tools of Egyptian tyranny back upon the oppressors, visually connecting the Egyptians' suffering directly to the cruelty they inflicted upon God's chosen people. This act underscored that the judgment was not arbitrary but a righteous response to the injustice and defiance of Pharaoh and his kingdom.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The plague of boils, a direct physical affliction resulting from God's judgment upon a rebellious nation, powerfully foreshadows Christ's ultimate victory over sin, sickness, and spiritual oppression. While this plague brought physical suffering as a consequence of unrepentant rebellion, Christ, through His atoning sacrifice, bore the ultimate "boils" of sin and judgment on the cross. He took upon Himself the curse of humanity, as highlighted in [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law"), becoming sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God. He is the one who ultimately delivers His people not just from physical bondage, but from the spiritual bondage of sin and death, offering profound healing and new life. Just as God miraculously distinguished between Israel and Egypt during the plagues, sparing His chosen people from the affliction, Christ establishes a new covenant people, distinguished by grace and faith in His blood. Through His redemptive work, believers are spared from the ultimate judgment to come, finding their refuge and healing in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, as proclaimed in [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). His suffering on the cross was the ultimate act of divine justice and mercy, bringing about spiritual restoration and healing for all who believe, fulfilling the deepest need for deliverance from the "boils" of sin.

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.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 28:27

The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.