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.’”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses delivers this declaration to Pharaoh during the sequence of plagues, announcing the imminent judgment on Egyptian livestock.

The words — The Hebrew verb הִפְלָה (hif.lah) translates literally as "he will separate" or "make a distinction," establishing a clear boundary between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt.

The thread — This specific preservation of Israel’s animals aligns with the geographic exclusion in Exodus 8:22, the localized light in Exodus 10:23, and the blood-sign protection in Exodus 12:13.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that divine judgment is precisely targeted at Egypt while simultaneously guaranteeing the physical safety of Israel’s property, leaving no ambiguity about the scope of the impending disaster.

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

וְהִפְלָ֣הve./hif.Lahand/ he will separate יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh בֵּ֚יןbeinbetween מִקְנֵ֣הmik.Neh[the] livestock of יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsrael וּבֵ֖יןu./Veinand/ between מִקְנֵ֣הmik.Neh[the] livestock of מִצְרָ֑יִםmitz.Ra.yimEgypt וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not יָמ֛וּתya.Mutit will die מִכָּל־mi./kolof/ all לִבְנֵ֥יli/v.Nei[that belongs] to/ [the] people of יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElIsrael דָּבָֽר׃da.Varanything

King James Version

And the Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children’s of Israel.

Cross-references

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.
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.
Isaiah 65:13 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.
Malachi 3:18 So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”