Exodus 11:7

But among all the Israelites, not even a dog will snarl at man or beast.’ Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses delivers this declaration to Pharaoh during the final plague sequence, immediately following the announcement of the coming death strike. The statement contrasts Israel's protected status with Egypt's impending devastation.

The words — The Hebrew לֹ֤א יֶֽחֱרַץ־כֶּ֙לֶב֙ (lo yeche-ratz kelev) literally renders "not it will sharpen a dog." The text uses this phrase to state that no canine tongue will bark or snarl at either human or livestock.

The thread — This pattern of marked separation appears in Exodus 8:22 where flies do not enter Goshen and Exodus 10:23 where Israel dwells in light while Egypt endures darkness. Joshua 10:21 similarly records that no opposing soldier dared speak against Israel during the campaign.

Why it lands — The text explicitly states that the LORD creates a visible distinction between Egypt and Israel during the crisis. It requires the reader to acknowledge that divine action, not human circumstance, determines which group experiences protection and which experiences judgment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וּלְכֹ֣ל׀u./le./Kholand/ to/ all בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] people of יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElIsrael לֹ֤אlo'not יֶֽחֱרַץ־ye.che.ratz-it will sharpen כֶּ֙לֶב֙ke.leva dog לְשֹׁנ֔וֹle.sho.N/otongue/ its לְמֵאִ֖ישׁle./me./'Ishto/ from/ a human וְעַד־ve./'ad-and/ unto בְּהֵמָ֑הbe.he.Mahlivestock לְמַ֙עַן֙le.Ma.'anso that תֵּֽדְע֔וּןte.de.'U/nyou may know/ !אֲשֶׁר֙'a.Sherthat יַפְלֶ֣הyaf.Lehhe separates יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh בֵּ֥יןbeinbetween מִצְרַ֖יִםmitz.Ra.yimEgypt וּבֵ֥יןu./Veinand/ between יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElIsrael

King James Version

But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.

Cross-references

Joshua 10:21 The whole army returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one dared to utter a word against the Israelites.
Exodus 8:22 But on that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen, where My people live; no swarms of flies will be found there. In this way you will know that I, the LORD, am in the land.
Exodus 10:23 No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one left his place. Yet all the Israelites had light in their dwellings.
Malachi 3:18 So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
Exodus 9:4 But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’”
Job 5:16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
Exodus 7:22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same things by their magic arts. So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?