Bible Strands
Exodus 9:26
The only place where it did not hail was in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative recounts the seventh plague as hail devastates Egypt while the Israelite community residing in Goshen remains untouched.
The words — The Hebrew רַק (rak) functions as an exclusive marker meaning "only" or "except," isolating Goshen from the surrounding destruction, while בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (bene Yisrael) literally identifies the "sons of Israel" occupying that territory.
The thread — This geographic exclusion mirrors the promised separation of livestock in Exodus 9:4 and the unharmed status of Israelites in Exodus 11:7, while the surrounding darkness in Exodus 10:23 continues the pattern of enforced boundaries.
Why it lands — The text establishes physical safety as a matter of assigned location rather than individual behavior, requiring readers to note how divine protection operates through spatial demarcation before drawing theological conclusions.
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
Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.
Cross-references
- 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.
- 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.’”
- 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.
- Exodus 9:6 And the next day the LORD did just that. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died.
- Exodus 12:13 The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a sign; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
- 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.
- Isaiah 32:18 Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place, in safe and secure places of rest.