World English Bible
- The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I have made you as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.
- You shall speak all that I command you; and Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.
- I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
- But Pharaoh will not listen to you, so I will lay my hand on Egypt, and bring out my armies, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
- The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand on Egypt, and bring the children of Israel out from among them.”
- Moses and Aaron did so. As the LORD commanded them, so they did.
- Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.
- The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
- “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Perform a miracle!’ then you shall tell Aaron, ‘Take your rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, and it will become a serpent.’”
- Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, as the LORD had commanded. Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
- Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers. They also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same thing with their enchantments.
- For they each cast down their rods, and they became serpents; but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
- Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them, as the LORD had spoken.
- The LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn. He refuses to let the people go.
- Go to Pharaoh in the morning. Behold, he is going out to the water. You shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him. You shall take the rod which was turned to a serpent in your hand.
- You shall tell him, ’The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness. Behold, until now you haven’t listened.”
- The LORD says, “In this you shall know that I am the LORD. Behold: I will strike with the rod that is in my hand on the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
- The fish that are in the river will die and the river will become foul. The Egyptians will loathe to drink water from the river.”’”
- The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your rod, and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood. There will be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’”
- Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and struck 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.
- The fish that were in the river died. The river became foul. The Egyptians couldn’t drink water from the river. The blood was throughout all the land of Egypt.
- The magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their enchantments. So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them, as the LORD had spoken.
- Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he didn’t even take this to heart.
- All the Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink; for they couldn’t drink the river water.
- Seven days were fulfilled, after the LORD had struck the river.
Exodus Chapter 7 sets in motion a powerful stage for God’s supremacy, an unmistakable declaration of who truly reigns. Moses and Aaron stand boldly before Pharaoh, setting off a chain of events that will forever alter history. Yet it’s easy to miss the depth of both spiritual and historical significance beneath these events, so let us pause to explore it deeply.
Often, western readers gloss over the serpentine symbolism in this chapter. Ancient Egyptian culture revered serpents deeply; the cobra (“uraeus”) adorned Pharaoh’s crown, symbolizing the king’s protection and divine authority from Egyptian gods. Thus, Aaron’s rod becoming a serpent (Hebrew: “tannin,” sometimes translated as dragon or sea-monster, symbolizing chaos or powerful destructive forces) challenges Pharaoh’s sovereignty directly. Here God proclaims that His authority supersedes Egypt’s mightiest symbols and gods.
Notice, however, the magicians also replicate this sign, at least superficially (v. 11). Here we glimpse a profound spiritual truth echoed throughout Scripture: counterfeit miracles exist and may deceive many temporarily (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, English Standard Version). Yet Aaron’s serpent devours theirs, decisively establishing divine superiority. Augustine, discussing such wonders in his City of God, recommends discernment, reminding us that signs alone do not equate to truth—truth lies in who God is and His revelation.
One of Exodus’ challenging theological themes is found here clearly: God’s sovereignty interacting with human response. “But Pharaoh’s heart became hard…” (v. 13, New International Version), suggests not a mere passive occurrence, but a deeply complex relationship between God’s sovereignty and Pharaoh’s own stubborn defiance.
Many theologians such as Calvin and Luther have wrestled deeply with the concept of God “hardening Pharaoh’s heart,” ultimately emphasizing God’s sovereignty. Others, like Arminius and Wesley, highlight the role Pharaoh’s own repeated resistance played. While these theological positions both have merit, the biblical Hebrew here presses upon us two verbs interchangeably used: Pharaoh hardened his own heart (kaved, meaning “heavy,” stubborn) and God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (hizzeq, meaning “strengthened” or “made firm”). This dual language implies that God in some sense gives Pharaoh what Pharaoh chooses—confirming a trajectory he stubbornly pursued himself.
Turning the Nile River into blood directly confronts Egypt’s trusted deity: Hapi, the god of the Nile, who Egyptians depended upon for fertility and sustenance. Instead, God turns that very life-source into death, disruption, and judgment. Archaeological findings from Egypt confirm the Nile’s central importance in ancient life, agriculture, and religious rites. Thus, Yahweh’s first plague shattered both economic stability and spiritual confidence, exhibiting His complete mastery over creation.
This recurring biblical principle reminds us of God’s purposeful judgment against idolatry (Isaiah 42:8, Christian Standard Bible). Whenever we place security in false gods or faulty sources rather than God Himself, we must expect divine correction—the Fatherly discipline designed to liberate us, not merely punish.
As believers today, we confront similar challenges. We encounter cultural symbols and societal pressures that tempt us away from uncompromising trust in God alone. Exodus 7 speaks profoundly to trusting wholly in God’s supremacy, even in circumstances where other powers seem impressive or real.
Today, reflect on areas of your own life where you have subtly replaced reliance on God with dependence on worldly symbols or power—security, money, influence or approval—our modern idols. Learn from Pharaoh’s tragic choice and Moses’s radical obedience. Recognize God’s superiority clearly displayed, and rest your confidence fully in Him alone.
“A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” by Martin Luther. This powerful hymn reinforces our reliance on God’s sovereign strength above earthly powers:
“Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing;
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing…”
Heavenly Father,
You alone reign supreme over every power and authority. Forgive us when
we fail to trust You completely or when our hearts become stubborn
towards Your voice. Soften those places that have grown resistant, and
remind us that true power, life, and joy rest entirely in Your hands.
Equip and embolden us to stand faithfully, as Moses did, even before
intimidating circumstances or forces. Let Your mighty power shine
through our lives, turning hearts towards Christ, who reigns victorious
over all earthly rulers and spiritual forces. Through Jesus Christ our
Lord, Amen.