Psalms 105:29

He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.

He turned {H2015} their waters {H4325} into blood {H1818}, and slew {H4191} their fish {H1710}.

He turned their water into blood and caused their fish to die.

He turned their waters to blood and caused their fish to die.

He turned their waters into blood, And slew their fish.

Psalm 105:29 describes the first plague brought upon Egypt by God, where the nation's water sources, particularly the mighty Nile River, were miraculously transformed into blood, leading to the death of their fish and rendering the water undrinkable. This event was a powerful demonstration of God's judgment against Pharaoh and Egypt, and His unwavering commitment to deliver His people, Israel.

Context

Psalm 105 is a historical psalm that recounts God's faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, tracing His provident hand through the lives of the patriarchs, the sojourn in Egypt, and the dramatic Exodus. Verses 26-36 specifically detail the plagues God sent upon Egypt, culminating in Israel's liberation. This verse, Psalm 105:29, focuses on the initial and highly impactful first plague described in Exodus 7:17-21. The turning of water into blood was not merely a discomfort but an attack on Egypt's lifeblood, the Nile, which was central to their survival, economy, and even their religious worship of certain deities.

Key Themes

  • Divine Power and Sovereignty: The immediate and complete transformation of water into blood showcases God's absolute control over creation. It was a supernatural act beyond any human or natural explanation, asserting His supreme authority over all gods and rulers.
  • Judgment and Justice: This plague, like the others, was a direct act of divine judgment against Pharaoh's stubbornness and Egypt's oppression of the Israelites. It served as a clear message that God would not tolerate the enslavement of His chosen people.
  • Deliverance for Israel: While a curse for Egypt, the plagues were instrumental in compelling Pharaoh to release the Israelites, fulfilling God's promise to bring His people out of bondage with a mighty hand. This act underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant people, as seen throughout the narrative of the Exodus.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "turned their waters into blood" (הָפַךְ אֶת־מֵימֵיהֶם לְדָם, hāp̄aḵ ’eṯ-mêmêhem ləḏām) conveys a complete and irreversible transformation. It's not merely a discoloration, but a genuine change in the substance, making it repugnant and deadly. The phrase "slew their fish" (וַיָּמֶת אֶת־דְּגָתָם, wayyāmeṯ ’eṯ-dəḡāṯām) emphasizes the immediate and devastating impact on aquatic life, highlighting the severe ecological and economic consequences of this plague for the Egyptians, who relied heavily on fish from the Nile.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us of several enduring truths:

  • God's Unchallengeable Power: No force, human or natural, can stand against the will of God. He is sovereign over all creation and all nations.
  • Justice for the Oppressed: God hears the cries of the oppressed and acts decisively to bring justice. This offers comfort and hope to those facing injustice today.
  • Consequences of Defiance: Pharaoh's refusal to obey God brought severe consequences upon his land and people. It serves as a timeless warning against persistent rebellion against divine commands.
  • God's Faithfulness: Even in judgment, God is working out His plan of redemption and demonstrating His unwavering faithfulness to His promises, particularly to those who trust in Him. This narrative of God's powerful acts is echoed in other psalms, such as Psalm 78:44, which also recounts this plague.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 78:44

    And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.

  • Exodus 7:20

    And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that [were] in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that [were] in the river were turned to blood.

  • Exodus 7:21

    And the fish that [was] in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

  • Revelation 16:3

    And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead [man]: and every living soul died in the sea.

  • Isaiah 50:2

    Wherefore, when I came, [was there] no man? when I called, [was there] none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because [there is] no water, and dieth for thirst.

  • Ezekiel 29:4

    But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales.

  • Ezekiel 29:5

    And I will leave thee [thrown] into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven.

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