Exodus

Describes how Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt and slavery, and how they receive laws from God.

Chapter 7

1 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

*And God told Moses, "I've made you a god for Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet."

2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

*You must say everything I tell you: and Aaron, your brother, will talk to Pharaoh so that he lets the Israelites leave his land.

3 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

*I will make Pharaoh's mind more stubborn, and do even more miracles and amazing things in Egypt.

4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

*But Pharaoh won't listen to you; this way, I can punish Egypt, free my people, the children of Israel, from their land with powerful actions.

5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

*The Egyptians will understand that I am God when I reach out my hand to Egypt and save the Israeli children from there.

6 And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.

*And Moses and Aaron followed the LORD's instructions, just like He asked them to do.

7 And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.

*Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was ninety-three years old, when they talked to Pharaoh.

8 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

*And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.

*When Pharaoh asks you to show a sign, tell Aaron to throw his staff at him, and it will turn into a snake.

10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

*Moses and Aaron met with Pharaoh as the Lord instructed. They followed the Lord's commands. Aaron showed Pharaoh and his people his staff, and when he threw it on the ground, it turned into a snake.

11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

*Then Pharaoh called both wise people and spell casters, along with Egypt's magic users. They all performed similar feats using their spells.

12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

*They all threw their sticks, and they turned into snakes; but Aaron's stick devoured the others.

13 And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

*He made Pharaoh's mind more stubborn, so he didn't listen to them; just like the Lord had said would happen.

14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.

*And God told Moses, Pharaoh's heart is very stubborn; he won't allow the people to leave.

15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river’s brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.

*Go to Pharaoh in the morning when he goes to the water. Stand by the river's edge waiting for him, and then take the rod that was changed into a snake in your hand.

16 And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

*You should tell him, "The Lord God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying let my people go so they can serve me in the wilderness, but so far you have not listened."

17 Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

*So says God, To prove that I am God, watch as I use my staff to turn the water in the river to blood.

18 And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.

*The river fish will die, making the river smell bad. The Egyptians will not want to drink from the river's water.

19 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.

*And God told Moses, Tell Aaron to use his staff and wave his hand over Egypt's waters - rivers, streams, ponds, and pools. Turn them into blood, so there is blood everywhere in Egypt, even in wooden and stone containers.

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.

*Moses and Aaron followed God's instructions. They used a stick to change the river water into blood, right in front of Pharaoh and his helpers.

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.

*The fish in the river died, making the river smell bad. The people of Egypt couldn't drink from it because it had blood in it. This happened everywhere in Egypt.

22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.

*The Egyptian magicians also used magic, but Pharaoh's heart remained unchanged and he didn't listen, just like the LORD had predicted.

23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.

*Pharaoh went back to his home and didn't pay attention to this matter either.

24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.

*All Egyptians dug around the river to get water to drink, because they couldn't drink from the river water directly.

25 And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.

*After seven days, the LORD struck the river.

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