Exoduschapter 7

25 verses · Moses, by tradition · 15th or 13th century BC · The Law

In Jewish life

The reading

Weekly portion 14 of 54

וָאֵרָא Va'era, Exodus 6:2 to 9:35

Read with it: Ezekiel 28:25 to 29:21.

The verse numbers here are the ones a Hebrew Bible carries, which differ from an English Bible by a verse or two in several places. The Sephardi reading is named only where this site records a difference; communities vary beyond what is listed. What these books are, and how a Christian reader meets them →

How it is read

Rashi meets the hardening of Pharaoh's heart at verse 3 and answers it directly. Pharaoh has resisted, he says, so it is better that his heart be hardened "in order that My signs may be multiplied against him". He then points to a distinction the text itself keeps. Through the first five plagues Scripture says that Pharaoh's heart was hardened, rather than that the LORD hardened it (Rashi on Exodus 7:3:1). That reading of the first five is worth setting beside this site's own entry on the question, which carries the positions with their holders. At verse 17 Rashi gives the reason the water was struck first. Egypt had no rain and lived by the river, so "God first smote their deity and afterwards smote them" (Rashi on Exodus 7:17:1). At verse 19 he holds that Aaron struck the river and Moses did not, because the river had sheltered Moses as a child (Rashi on Exodus 7:19:1). At verse 25 he reckons each plague at a quarter of a month, with warning given through the other three quarters (Rashi on Exodus 7:25:1). The text is the Rosenbaum and Silbermann Rashi of 1929 to 1934, in the public domain.

What the rabbis say

The rabbis take up the making of Moses as a god to Pharaoh at Bamidbar Rabbah 14:6 and 15:13. On the staff cast down before Pharaoh they taught at Menachot 85a:3 and Midrash Aggadah, Exodus 7:10:1. On the staff that swallowed the others they taught at Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Shabbat 11:2. On the hardening they taught in Midrash Lekach Tov, Exodus 7:3:1.

The text, verse by verse

Each word shows the Hebrew, the English under it, how it sounds and its Strong’s number. A rule between verses marks where the Hebrew manuscripts end a paragraph.

Made as God to Pharaoh

7:1

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 יְהוָה֙YahwehyahwehH3068 אֶל־toʾel-H413 מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesmoshehH4872 רְאֵ֛הconsiderreehH7200 נְתַתִּ֥יךָI have appointed younetatikhaH5414 אֱלֹהִ֖יםa godʾelohimH430 לְפַרְעֹ֑הto PharaohlefarohH6547 וְאַהֲרֹ֥ןand AaronveaharonH175 אָחִ֖יךָbrother yourʾachikhaH251 יִהְיֶ֥הhe will beyihyehH1961 נְבִיאֶֽךָ׃prophet yourneviekhaH5030

Ibn Ezra on Exodus 7:1

Ibn EzraSpain, 1089–1167· Commentary

I. AND THE LORD SAID. This was in response to, how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips (Ex.:12).

Read it in full at Sefaria · Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004

7:2

אַתָּ֣הyouʾatahH859 תְדַבֵּ֔רyou will speaktedaberH1696 אֵ֖ת<obj.>ʾetH853 כָּל־allkol-H3605 אֲשֶׁ֣רthatʾasherH834 אֲצַוֶּ֑ךָּI will command youʾatzavekaH6680 וְאַהֲרֹ֤ןand AaronveaharonH175 אָחִ֙יךָ֙brother yourʾachikhaH251 יְדַבֵּ֣רhe will speakyedaberH1696 אֶל־toʾel-H413 פַּרְעֹ֔הPharaohparohH6547 וְשִׁלַּ֥חand he will let goveshilachH7971 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 בְּנֵֽי־[the] people ofbenei-H1121 יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelyisraelH3478 מֵאַרְצֽוֹ׃from land hismeartzoH776

7:3

וַאֲנִ֥יand IvaaniH589 אַקְשֶׁ֖הI will make stubbornʾakshehH7185 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 לֵ֣ב[the] heart oflevH3820 פַּרְעֹ֑הPharaohparohH6547 וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֧יand I will multiplyvehirbeitiH7235 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 אֹתֹתַ֛יsigns myʾototaiH226 וְאֶת־and <obj.>veetH853 מוֹפְתַ֖יwonders mymoftaiH4159 בְּאֶ֥רֶץin [the] land ofbeeretzH776 מִצְרָֽיִם׃EgyptmitzrayimH4714

7:4

וְלֹֽא־and notvelo'-H3808 יִשְׁמַ֤עhe will listenyishma'H8085 אֲלֵכֶם֙to youʾalekhemH413 פַּרְעֹ֔הPharaohparohH6547 וְנָתַתִּ֥יand I will putvenatatiH5414 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 יָדִ֖יhand myyadiH3027 בְּמִצְרָ֑יִםon EgyptbemitzrayimH4714 וְהוֹצֵאתִ֨יand I will bring outvehotzetiH3318 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 צִבְאֹתַ֜יhosts mytzivotaiH6635 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 עַמִּ֤יpeople myʾamiH5971 בְנֵֽי־[the] people ofvenei-H1121 יִשְׂרָאֵל֙IsraelyisraelH3478 מֵאֶ֣רֶץfrom [the] land ofmeeretzH776 מִצְרַ֔יִםEgyptmitzrayimH4714 בִּשְׁפָטִ֖יםwith acts of judgmentbishfatimH8201 גְּדֹלִֽים׃greatgedolimH1419

7:5

וְיָדְע֤וּand they will knowveyadeuH3045 מִצְרַ֙יִם֙EgyptmitzrayimH4713 כִּֽי־thatki-H3588 אֲנִ֣יIʾaniH589 יְהוָ֔ה[am] YahwehyahwehH3068 בִּנְטֹתִ֥יwhen stretch out IbintotiH5186 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 יָדִ֖יhand myyadiH3027 עַל־onʾal-H5921 מִצְרָ֑יִםEgyptmitzrayimH4714 וְהוֹצֵאתִ֥יand I will bring outvehotzetiH3318 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 בְּנֵֽי־[the] people ofbenei-H1121 יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelyisraelH3478 מִתּוֹכָֽם׃from among themmitokhamH8432

7:6

וַיַּ֥עַשׂand he didvaiyaasH6213 מֹשֶׁ֖הMosesmoshehH4872 וְאַהֲרֹ֑ןand AaronveaharonH175 כַּאֲשֶׁ֨רjust askaasherH834 צִוָּ֧הhe commandedtzivahH6680 יְהוָ֛הYahwehyahwehH3068 אֹתָ֖ם<obj.> themʾotamH853 כֵּ֥ןsokenH3651 עָשֽׂוּ׃they didʾasuH6213

7:7

וּמֹשֶׁה֙and MosesumoshehH4872 בֶּן־[was] a son ofben-H1121 שְׁמֹנִ֣יםeightyshemonimH8084 שָׁנָ֔הyear[s]shanahH8141 וְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ןand AaronveaharonH175 בֶּן־[was] a son ofben-H1121 שָׁלֹ֥שׁthreeshaloshH7969 וּשְׁמֹנִ֖יםand eightyushemonimH8084 שָׁנָ֑הyear[s]shanahH8141 בְּדַבְּרָ֖םwhen spoke theybedaberamH1696 אֶל־toʾel-H413 פַּרְעֹֽה׃PharaohparohH6547

The Rod That Swallowed the Serpents

7:8

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 יְהוָ֔הYahwehyahwehH3068 אֶל־toʾel-H413 מֹשֶׁ֥הMosesmoshehH4872 וְאֶֽל־and toveel-H413 אַהֲרֹ֖ןAaronʾaharonH175 לֵאמֹֽר׃<to> sayinglemorH559

7:9

כִּי֩thatkiH3588 יְדַבֵּ֨רhe will sayyedaberH1696 אֲלֵכֶ֤םto youʾalekhemH413 פַּרְעֹה֙PharaohparohH6547 לֵאמֹ֔ר<to> sayinglemorH559 תְּנ֥וּgivetenuH5414לָכֶ֖םfor <the> yourselveslakhemמוֹפֵ֑תa wondermofetH4159 וְאָמַרְתָּ֣and you will sayveamartaH559 אֶֽל־toʾel-H413 אַהֲרֹ֗ןAaronʾaharonH175 קַ֧חtakekachH3947 אֶֽת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 מַטְּךָ֛staff yourmatekhaH4294 וְהַשְׁלֵ֥ךְand throw [it]vehashlekhH7993 לִפְנֵֽי־<to> beforelifnei-H6440 פַרְעֹ֖הPharaohfarohH6547 יְהִ֥יit may becomeyehiH1961 לְתַנִּֽין׃<into> a serpentletaninH8577

7:10

וַיָּבֹ֨אand he wentvaiyavo'H935 מֹשֶׁ֤הMosesmoshehH4872 וְאַהֲרֹן֙and AaronveaharonH175 אֶל־toʾel-H413 פַּרְעֹ֔הPharaohparohH6547 וַיַּ֣עַשׂוּand they didvaiyaasuH6213 כֵ֔ןsokhenH3651 כַּאֲשֶׁ֖רjust askaasherH834 צִוָּ֣הhe had commandedtzivahH6680 יְהוָ֑הYahwehyahwehH3068 וַיַּשְׁלֵ֨ךְand he threw downvaiyashlekhH7993 אַהֲרֹ֜ןAaronʾaharonH175 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 מַטֵּ֗הוּstaff hismatehuH4294 לִפְנֵ֥י<to> beforelifneiH6440 פַרְעֹ֛הPharaohfarohH6547 וְלִפְנֵ֥יand <to> beforevelifneiH6440 עֲבָדָ֖יוservants hisʾavadavH5650 וַיְהִ֥יand it becamevayhiH1961 לְתַנִּֽין׃<into> a serpentletaninH8577

Ibn Ezra on Exodus 7:10

Ibn EzraSpain, 1089–1167· Commentary

This too, namely, that the rod became a tannin (serpent), was a wonder.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004

Onkelos Exodus 7:10

Targum

Moshe and Aharon came to Pharaoh and they did exactly as Adonoy commanded [them].

Read it in full at Sefaria · Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009 [with Onkelos translation]

7:11

וַיִּקְרָא֙and he summonedvaiyikra'H7121 גַּם־alsogam-H1571 פַּרְעֹ֔הPharaohparohH6547 לַֽחֲכָמִ֖ים<to> the wise menlachakhamimH2450 וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִ֑יםand <to> the sorcerersvelamkhashefimH3784 וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֨וּand they didvaiyaasuH6213 גַם־alsogam-H1571 הֵ֜םtheyhemH1992 חַרְטֻמֵּ֥י[the] magicians ofchartumeiH2748 מִצְרַ֛יִםEgyptmitzrayimH4714 בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶ֖םby enchantments theirbelahateihemH3814 כֵּֽן׃thuskenH3651

Ramban on Exodus 7:11

RambanSpain, 1194–1270· Commentary

AND THEY ALSO, THE MAGICIANS OF EGYPT, DID IN LIKE MANNER ‘B’LAHATEIHEM’ (WITH THEIR SECRET ARTS). Our Rabbis have said. Sanhedrin 67b.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976

7:12

וַיַּשְׁלִ֙יכוּ֙and they threw downvaiyashlikhuH7993 אִ֣ישׁeach oneʾishH376 מַטֵּ֔הוּstaff hismatehuH4294 וַיִּהְי֖וּand they becamevaiyihyuH1961 לְתַנִּינִ֑ם<into> serpentsletaninimH8577 וַיִּבְלַ֥עand it swallowed upvaiyivla'H1104 מַטֵּֽה־[the] staff ofmateh-H4294 אַהֲרֹ֖ןAaronʾaharonH175 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 מַטֹּתָֽם׃staffs theirmatotamH4294

Ibn Ezra on Exodus 7:12

Ibn EzraSpain, 1089–1167· Commentary

This, the swallowing of the magicians’ rods by Aaron’s staff and their consequent disappearance, 58 The magicians’ rods disappeared permanently. was a second wonder.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004

7:13

וַיֶּחֱזַק֙and it was strongvaiyechezakH2388 לֵ֣ב[the] heart oflevH3820 פַּרְעֹ֔הPharaohparohH6547 וְלֹ֥אand notvelo'H3808 שָׁמַ֖עhe listenedshama'H8085 אֲלֵהֶ֑םto themʾalehemH413 כַּאֲשֶׁ֖רjust askaasherH834 דִּבֶּ֥רhe had saiddiberH1696 יְהוָֽה׃YahwehyahwehH3068

Ibn Ezra on Exodus 7:13

Ibn EzraSpain, 1089–1167· Commentary

By itself. 62 God did not harden Pharaoh’s heart. Pharaoh hardened it himself.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004

The Nile Turned to Blood

7:14

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 יְהוָה֙YahwehyahwehH3068 אֶל־toʾel-H413 מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesmoshehH4872 כָּבֵ֖ד[is] heavykavedH3515 לֵ֣ב[the] heart oflevH3820 פַּרְעֹ֑הPharaohparohH6547 מֵאֵ֖ןhe has refusedmeenH3985 לְשַׁלַּ֥חto let goleshalachH7971 הָעָֽם׃the peoplehaamH5971

Ibn Ezra on Exodus 7:14

Ibn EzraSpain, 1089–1167· Commentary

AND THE LORD SAID…PHARAOH’S HEART IS STUBBORN. Kaved (is stubborn) is a verb in the perfect.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004