Exodus 8:7

But the magicians did the same thing by their magic arts, and they also brought frogs up onto the land of Egypt.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Aaron has just brought frogs over Egypt through divine command, and the Egyptian magicians respond by replicating the plague. Pharaoh will immediately summon Moses and Aaron to negotiate the removal of the frogs.

The words — הַ/חֲרְטֻמִּ֖ים (ha./char.tu.Mim) translates to "the magicians," and בְּ/לָטֵי/הֶ֑ם (be./la.tei./Hem) means "by their enchantments." The text records that they did (וַ/יַּֽעֲשׂוּ־) the same thing (כֵ֥ן) and brought up (וַ/יַּעֲל֥וּ) the frogs (הַֽ/צְפַרְדְּעִ֖ים) on the land.

The thread — This replication of the plague appears in Exodus 7:11 and Exodus 7:22, where the magicians initially mimic the staff-to-serpent and water-to-blood signs. Deuteronomy 13:1 addresses a different scenario involving a prophet or dreamer who gives a sign or wonder to test loyalty.

Why it lands — The text records the magicians' direct imitation of the plague without attributing their success to divine endorsement. A reader must distinguish between mimicked phenomena and the sovereign authority that initiates them.

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

וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־va/i.ya.'a.su-and/ they did כֵ֥ןkhenthus הַֽחֲרְטֻמִּ֖יםha./char.tu.Mimthe/ magicians בְּלָטֵיהֶ֑םbe./la.tei./Hemby/ enchantments/ their וַיַּעֲל֥וּva/i.ya.'a.Luand/ they brought up אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֖יםha/tz.far.de.'Imthe/ frogs עַל־'al-on אֶ֥רֶץ'E.retz[the] land of מִצְרָֽיִם׃mitz.Ra.yimEgypt

King James Version

And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.

Cross-references

Exodus 7:11 But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts.
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.
Deuteronomy 13:1 If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,
Matthew 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,
2 Timothy 3:8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.
Revelation 13:14 Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.