Exodus 9:15

KJV

For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.

KJV (with Strong's)

For now I will stretch out {H7971} my hand {H3027}, that I may smite {H5221} thee and thy people {H5971} with pestilence {H1698}; and thou shalt be cut off {H3582} from the earth {H776}.

Complete Jewish Bible

By now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with such severe plagues that you would have been wiped off the earth.

Berean Standard Bible

For by this time I could have stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the earth.

American Standard Version

For now I had put forth my hand, and smitten thee and thy people with pestilence, and thou hadst been cut off from the earth:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 9:15 unveils God's profound declaration to Pharaoh, asserting His immediate and absolute power to utterly destroy the oppressive ruler and the entire Egyptian nation through a devastating pestilence, thereby cutting them off from existence. This stark pronouncement serves not merely as a threat but as a revelation of divine capability, setting the stage for God's sovereign choice to prolong the plagues for a greater, redemptive purpose: the magnification of His name throughout the earth.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically positioned within the escalating narrative of the plagues, specifically following the fifth plague (on livestock) and preceding the sixth (boils). It marks a pivotal moment where God explicitly states His ultimate power, contrasting it with Pharaoh's continued defiance. The immediate preceding verses detail the devastating murrain on Egyptian livestock, yet Pharaoh's heart remains hardened. Crucially, the very next verse, [Exodus 9:16](/exodus/9-16 "God's Purpose in Raising Pharaoh"), provides the divine rationale for *not* immediately executing the judgment threatened here, revealing God's overarching purpose to display His power and make His name known globally. This juxtaposition highlights the tension between God's immediate capability and His long-term, redemptive plan.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Egypt, with its pantheon of gods and its Pharaoh considered a divine intermediary, presented a formidable challenge to the monotheistic claims of Yahweh. The plagues were not random acts but direct assaults on specific Egyptian deities and the very foundations of Pharaoh's power and Egypt's prosperity. "Pestilence" was a familiar and terrifying concept in the ancient world, often attributed to divine wrath or demonic forces. For God to declare His intent to bring such a plague, and to "cut off" Pharaoh and his people, was a direct challenge to the perceived invincibility of Egypt and its gods, demonstrating Yahweh's unparalleled supremacy over all earthly and spiritual powers. The threat of being "cut off from the earth" would have resonated deeply, implying not just death but the obliteration of lineage, memory, and national identity—a fate worse than mere physical demise in many ancient cultures.
* **Key Themes:** Exodus 9:15 powerfully reinforces several overarching themes found throughout the book. It underscores God's **sovereignty and omnipotence**, demonstrating His absolute control over life, death, and the destinies of nations, directly challenging Pharaoh's perceived divine authority. The verse also highlights God's **righteous judgment** against sin and persistent rebellion, as Pharaoh's hardened heart (as seen from [Exodus 7:13](/exodus/7-13 "Pharaoh's Hardened Heart Begins")) justly invites increasingly severe divine retribution. Furthermore, it introduces the profound theme of God's **purposeful delay of judgment**, a concept explicitly articulated in [Exodus 9:16](/exodus/9-16 "God's Strategic Delay in Judgment"), revealing that God's actions, even His forbearance, are always directed towards the ultimate goal of magnifying His glory and making His name known throughout the entire world.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Exodus 9:15 is a potent declaration from God, revealing His immediate capability to bring about total destruction upon Pharaoh and Egypt, thereby emphasizing His absolute sovereignty and the dire consequences of defying His will.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **stretch out (Hebrew, _shâlach'_):** This verb signifies "to send away, for, or out," and in this context, "to stretch forth" or "to reach forth." When combined with "hand," it denotes a deliberate, decisive, and often forceful action. Here, it conveys God's readiness and intent to execute judgment directly and powerfully, indicating His active involvement rather than a passive observation.
* **hand (Hebrew, _yâd'_):** In this idiomatic phrase "stretch out my hand," _yâd_ represents God's power, authority, and means of action. It is an anthropomorphic expression that emphasizes God's direct, personal, and irresistible intervention. The "hand" of God is consistently depicted in Scripture as the instrument of His might, whether in creation, deliverance, or judgment.
* **pestilence (Hebrew, _deber'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to destroy," _deber_ refers to a deadly epidemic, murrain, or plague. It signifies a widespread, often sudden, and fatal disease that God can unleash as a form of judgment. Unlike localized afflictions, _deber_ implies a comprehensive and devastating impact, threatening the very existence of Pharaoh and his people.
* **cut off (Hebrew, _kâchad'_):** This primitive root means "to secrete, by act or word," and intensively, "to destroy." In this context, "cut off from the earth" signifies complete removal, annihilation, or extinction from the land of the living. For Pharaoh, it implies not just loss of power or life, but the complete obliteration of his lineage and the end of Egypt as a dominant force, representing the ultimate divine judgment against persistent rebellion.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For now I will stretch out my hand,"**: This clause emphasizes the immediacy and directness of God's potential action. The phrase "stretch out my hand" is a powerful anthropomorphism, signifying God's active and decisive intervention, demonstrating His readiness and capability to execute judgment without delay. It underscores that God is not merely threatening but is poised to act.
* **"that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence;"**: Here, God specifies the nature of the immediate, devastating judgment. "Smite" (H5221, _nâkâh_) indicates a forceful, destructive blow, and "pestilence" (H1698, _deber_) refers to a deadly, widespread epidemic. This highlights the comprehensive scope of the potential judgment, targeting both the defiant ruler and the entire nation, demonstrating that no one would be exempt from God's wrath if He chose to act immediately.
* **"and thou shalt be cut off from the earth."**: This final clause describes the ultimate consequence of the threatened judgment: complete annihilation and removal from existence. "Cut off" (H3582, _kâchad_) signifies total destruction, implying not just death but the obliteration of legacy, lineage, and national identity. For Pharaoh, it meant the end of his reign, his dynasty, and Egypt's standing as a formidable power, representing the most severe form of divine judgment against unrepentant rebellion.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 9:15 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the phrase "stretch out my hand," attributing a human physical action to God, thereby making His power and direct involvement more comprehensible and impactful to a human audience. The declaration itself functions as a **divine speech act** or **prophecy**, a direct, authoritative pronouncement from God that carries inherent power and certainty. The phrase "cut off from the earth" serves as a form of **hyperbole** or **intensification**, emphasizing the absolute and devastating nature of the threatened judgment, implying total annihilation beyond mere physical death. Furthermore, the verse sets up a dramatic **contrast** with the following verse [Exodus 9:16](/exodus/9-16 "God's Purpose in Raising Pharaoh"), where God explains why He *didn't* immediately execute this total destruction, revealing a deeper, more expansive purpose for His actions.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 9:15 serves as a profound theological statement, asserting God's absolute sovereignty and omnipotence over all creation, including the most powerful earthly rulers and nations. It underscores that God possesses the immediate capability to execute total destruction, demonstrating His unrivaled power over life and death. This verse also highlights God's unwavering justice, which demands a response to persistent rebellion and defiance against His commands. While God is capable of instant annihilation, His decision to prolong the plagues, as explicitly explained in [Exodus 9:16](/exodus/9-16 "God's Purpose in Raising Pharaoh") and later reiterated by Paul in [Romans 9:17](/romans/9-17 "God's Purpose in Pharaoh's Hardening"), reveals a deliberate, strategic purpose: to display His character, magnify His name, and provide an enduring testimony of His unparalleled authority to both Israel and the nations. This purposeful delay underscores that even God's forbearance is part of His sovereign plan to bring about His ultimate glory.

* [Exodus 9:16](/exodus/9-16 "God's Purpose in Raising Pharaoh")
* [Romans 9:17](/romans/9-17 "God's Purpose in Pharaoh's Hardening")
* [Deuteronomy 32:39](/deuteronomy/32-39 "God's Sole Power Over Life and Death")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 9:15 stands as a potent reminder for all humanity of God's absolute sovereignty and the inevitable consequences of persistent defiance against His divine will. It calls us to respond with profound humility and reverence, acknowledging that while God is infinitely patient and merciful, His justice will ultimately prevail against unrepentant rebellion. Understanding His immense power to judge should not lead to a paralyzing fear, but rather to a deep and abiding respect that compels us to align our lives with His righteous commands. This verse challenges us to examine our own hearts: are we stubbornly resisting God's call, or are we yielding to His authority? It invites us to consider the gravity of our choices and to embrace the path of obedience, recognizing that God's patience is an invitation to repentance, not an excuse for continued disobedience. His power, though capable of judgment, is ultimately for our good, drawing us into a right relationship with Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's declaration in Exodus 9:15 challenge my understanding of His power and justice?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be subtly resisting God's will, similar to Pharaoh's hardened heart?**
* **How does the knowledge of God's capacity for immediate judgment shape my daily walk and my commitment to obedience?**
* **What does God's purposeful delay of judgment (as explained in 9:16) teach me about His character and His desire for His name to be known?**

### FAQ
**Why did God not immediately destroy Pharaoh as threatened in Exodus 9:15?**

Answer: Although God declares His immediate power to "smite thee and thy people with pestilence" and to "cut off" Pharaoh from the earth, [Exodus 9:16](/exodus/9-16 "God's Purpose in Raising Pharaoh") clarifies His larger, redemptive purpose: "And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth." God's delay was not due to inability or a change of mind, but a deliberate, sovereign choice to prolong the display of His power through a series of escalating judgments. This served to magnify His name and demonstrate His supremacy to both Egypt and Israel, creating a powerful and enduring testimony for future generations about the Lord's unparalleled might, justice, and faithfulness to His covenant people. God's ultimate goal was not merely to punish Pharaoh, but to reveal His glory on a global scale.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 9:15, with its stark declaration of divine judgment and the threat of being "cut off from the earth," finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Pharaoh faced temporal judgment for his defiant rebellion against God, humanity's universal rebellion against a holy God incurs an eternal separation and spiritual death, a far more grievous "cutting off" from the source of all life. Yet, in an act of unparalleled love and substitutionary atonement, Jesus Christ, the spotless [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), willingly allowed Himself to be "cut off" from the Father on the cross. As prophesied in [Isaiah 53:8](/isaiah/53-8 "The Suffering Servant Cut Off"), He was "cut off out of the land of the living" and bore the full weight of God's righteous wrath against sin, enduring the ultimate pestilence of divine judgment. His death, which appeared to be a complete cutting off, was in reality the means by which humanity could be reconciled to God. His glorious resurrection, a display of God's power far exceeding the plagues of Egypt, demonstrates His triumph over sin, death, and the very power of the devil ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14 "Christ's Victory Over Death")). Thus, through faith in Christ, the ultimate "cutting off" is averted, and eternal life is offered, fulfilling God's purpose to make His name known not through judgment, but through the saving power of His Son.

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

Exodus 3:20

And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.

Exodus 9:6

And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.

Proverbs 2:22

But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

Exodus 9:16

And in very deed for this [cause] have I raised thee up, for to shew [in] thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

Exodus 14:28

And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, [and] all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.

Exodus 12:29

¶ And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that [was] in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

Exodus 12:30

And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for [there was] not a house where [there was] not one dead.