Flies

How Nave’s arranged it

• General scriptures concerningEcclesiastes 10:1
• Plague ofExodus 8:21–31Psalms 78:45Psalms 105:31
• FIGURATIVEIsaiah 7:18

The passages, in Bible order (5)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 5 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Exodus 8:21–31

   But if you will not let My people go, I will send swarms of flies upon you and your officials and your people and your houses. The houses of the Egyptians and even the ground where they stand will be full of flies.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 8:21–312 voices

   Kynomyia does not represent "dog fly," as the Latins translated it, with the Greek letter upsilon; according to the sense of the Hebrew the diphthong oi should be written so that the word is koinomyia, that is, "every genus of flies."

   “Swarms of flies - Generally, supposed to be the dog-fly, which at certain seasons is described as a plague far worse than mosquitos. Others, however, adopt the opinion that the insects were a species of beetle, which was reverenced by the Egyptians as a symbol of life, of reproductive or creative power. The sun-god, as creator, bore the name Chepera, and is represented in the form, or with the head, of a beetle.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 8:21–31→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Psalms 78:45

   He sent swarms of flies that devoured them, and frogs that devastated them.

   ›Commentary on Psalms 78:452 voices

   “He sent divers sorts of flies ... - The account of this plague is found in Exo 8:24. The word there used is simply “swarm,” without indicating what the swarm was composed of. The rabbis explain the word as denoting a mixture, or a conflux of noxious insects, as if the word were derived from ערב ‛ârab - “to mix.” The Septuagint renders it κυνόμνια kunomnia - “dog-fly” - which Philo describes as so named from its impudence.

   “He sent divers sorts of flies among them,.... This was the fourth plague; see Exo 8:24, the word signifies a "mixture" (f), and the Targum renders it "a mixture of wild beasts;'' so Josephus (g) understood this plague of various sorts of beasts of different forms, and such as had never been seen before.

   Everything gathered on Psalms 78:45→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Psalms 105:31

   He spoke, and insects swarmed— gnats throughout their country.

   ›Commentary on Psalms 105:312 voices

   “He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies,.... Or a "mixture" (z) of various insects, and, as some interpret it, of wild beasts; and so Kimchi says evil beasts are meant, which were raised up to go into all their borders; the Arabic version renders it "dogflies", after the Septuagint; See Gill on Psa 78:45, this was the fourth plague, Exo 8:24. And lice in all their coasts; this is the third plague, and what the magicians could not imitate, but were obliged to own the finger of God was in it, Exo 8:

   “Or, rather, the "darkness" here is figurative (Jer 13:16), the literal plague of darkness (Ex 10:22, 23) being only alluded to as the symbol of God's wrath which overhung Egypt as a dark cloud during all the plagues. Hence, it is placed first, out of the historical order. Thus, "They rebelled not (that is, no longer) against His word," refers to the Egyptians.

   Everything gathered on Psalms 105:31→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Ecclesiastes 10:1

   As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

   ›Commentary on Ecclesiastes 10:12 voices

   “So the higher a man's religious character is, the more hurt is caused by a sinful folly in him. Bad savor is endurable in oil, but not in what professes to be, and is compounded by the perfumer ("apothecary") for, fragrance. "Flies" answer to "a little folly" (sin), appropriately, being small (1Co 5:6); also, "Beelzebub" means prince of flies.

   "Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's oil; a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour. "Here he gives an example to illustrate the idea expressed above, in which he says that many good things can be outweighed by one fool, since one evil mixed with good in this way will pollute the greater part of it, just as flies if they die in oil, make it lose its colour and smell. And since wisdom is often mixed with cleverness and prudence has wickedness, he teaches that we must search out wisdom alone, or that it be mixed with the innocence of doves.

   Everything gathered on Ecclesiastes 10:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Isaiah 7:18

   On that day the LORD will whistle to the flies at the farthest streams of the Nile and to the bees in the land of Assyria.

   ›Commentary on Isaiah 7:182 voices

   “Rivers - Of the river Nile, which may be called rivers, either for its greatness, or because towards the end of it, it is divided into seven streams. When the Chaldeans had in good measure subdued the Egyptians, it is probable great numbers of the Egyptian soldiers listed themselves in the Chaldean army, and with them invaded the land of Judah.

   “Hiss for the fly “Hist the fly” - See note on Isa 5:26. Egypt, and - Assyria - Sennacherib, Esarhaddon, Pharaoh-necho, and Nebuchadnezzar, who one after another desolated Judea.

   Everything gathered on Isaiah 7:18→

   Verse page →Original language →