Exodus 9:29

And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; [and] the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth [is] the LORD'S.

And Moses {H4872} said {H559} unto him, As soon as I am gone out {H3318} of the city {H5892}, I will spread abroad {H6566} my hands {H3709} unto the LORD {H3068}; and the thunder {H6963} shall cease {H2308}, neither shall there be any more hail {H1259}; that thou mayest know {H3045} how that the earth {H776} is the LORD'S {H3068}.

Moshe said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to ADONAI; the thunder will end, and there won't be any more hail - so that you can know that the earth belongs to ADONAI.

Moses said to him, “When I have left the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s.

And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto Jehovah; the thunders shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know that the earth is Jehovah’s.

Commentary

This verse occurs during the devastating seventh plague upon Egypt, the plague of severe hail mixed with fire. Pharaoh, momentarily humbled by the destruction, calls for Moses and Aaron and confesses his sin, asking them to entreat the LORD to stop the plague. Moses agrees, but with the understanding that Pharaoh's repentance is likely insincere.

Commentary on Exodus 9:29

Moses responds to Pharaoh's plea by stating he will leave the city (likely Memphis or Tanis, where Pharaoh's palace was) to pray. He specifies that he will "spread abroad [his] hands unto the LORD," a common posture of prayer and supplication in the ancient world. The purpose of this immediate cessation of the thunder and hail upon Moses's prayer is explicitly stated: "that thou mayest know how that the earth [is] the LORD'S." This plague, like the others, was not merely a natural disaster but a direct demonstration of God's absolute power and sovereignty over all creation, intended to prove to Pharaoh (and Egypt) that the God of Israel is the one true God, the possessor and ruler of the entire earth.

Key Themes

  • God's Sovereignty: The central message is God's ultimate control over the earth and natural forces, demonstrated by His ability to start and stop the plague at will through His servant.
  • The Power of Prayer: Moses's intercessory prayer is shown to be effective in bringing an end to the divine judgment.
  • Divine Judgment: The hail plague itself is a manifestation of God's judgment against Pharaoh's stubbornness and Egypt's gods who supposedly controlled nature.
  • Witness to Pharaoh: The primary goal was not just to punish but to reveal God's identity and power to Pharaoh and the Egyptians, compelling them to acknowledge His authority. See also Exodus 7:5.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "spread abroad my hands" (Hebrew: paras yad) is a common biblical idiom for prayer or supplication, showing an attitude of reaching out to God. The declaration "the earth [is] the LORD'S" (Hebrew: la'adonai ha'aretz) is a powerful statement of divine ownership and dominion, echoed in other parts of Scripture, emphasizing that God's authority extends far beyond Israel to the entire world.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us today that God is sovereign over all things, including the forces of nature and the circumstances of our lives. It underscores the importance of prayer, showing that God hears and responds to the supplications of His people. It also challenges us to recognize God's ownership of everything and to live in submission to His will, acknowledging that He is the ultimate authority, not human rulers or earthly powers.

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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 143:6 (5 votes)

    I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul [thirsteth] after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

  • 1 Kings 8:22 (5 votes)

    ¶ And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:

  • 1 Kings 8:38 (5 votes)

    What prayer and supplication soever be [made] by any man, [or] by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:

  • 1 Corinthians 10:26 (5 votes)

    For the earth [is] the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

  • Isaiah 1:15 (5 votes)

    And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

  • Deuteronomy 10:14 (3 votes)

    Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens [is] the LORD'S thy God, the earth [also], with all that therein [is].

  • Psalms 135:6 (2 votes)

    Whatsoever the LORD pleased, [that] did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.