Bible Strands
Exodus 7:20
Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded; in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron raised the staff and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was turned to blood.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses and Aaron act before Pharaoh and his officials, executing the moment God commanded the Nile to be struck. The narrative records the immediate fulfillment of the warning given in Exodus 7:19.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־ (va/i.ya.'a.su-) translates literally as "and they did," marking direct compliance. The verb וַיָּ֤רֶם (va/i.Ya.rem) means "and he raised," describing Aaron's physical action with the staff before the strike.
The thread — This event is recalled in Psalms 78:44 and Psalms 105:29 as a remembered act of judgment on Egypt's waters. The sequence fulfills the declaration in Exodus 7:17 that the staff strike would demonstrate Yahweh's identity.
Why it lands — The text states that obedience to the command immediately turned the Nile to blood before the Egyptian court. It requires a reader to acknowledge that the described action directly fulfills the prior warning without mitigation or delay.
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
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Psalms 78:44 He turned their rivers to blood, and from their streams they could not drink.
- Psalms 105:29 He turned their waters to blood and caused their fish to die.
- Exodus 7:17 This is what the LORD says: By this you will know that I am the LORD. Behold, with the staff in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will turn to blood.
- Exodus 17:5 And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.
- Exodus 17:9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.”
- Numbers 20:8 “Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”
- John 2:9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not know where it was from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside
- Revelation 8:8 Then the second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood,