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Exodus 8:19

in Exodus 8

“This is the finger of God,” the magicians said to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as Jehovah had spoken.

KJV

Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

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This verse in Exodus 8

Commentary

2 notes on this verse
The finger of God - This expression is thoroughly Egyptian; it need not imply that the magicians recognized Yahweh, the God who performed the marvel. They may possibly have referred it to as a god that was hostile to their own protectors.

This site's exposition

This is the finger of God

Egypt's own experts say it rather than Israel, and this is the first occurrence of the phrase in Scripture. It returns at 31:18, where the two tables of stone are written with the finger of God, and Luke 11:20 puts it in the mouth of Jesus about casting out devils. The confession changes nothing at court, since Pharaoh's heart was hardened and he hearkened not unto them, and the men he refuses to hear at the end of the verse are his own magicians.

The words behind it

16 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיֹּאמְר֤וּand they said

    vaiyomeruH559 →5305 times

  • הַֽחַרְטֻמִּים֙the magicians

    hachartumimH2748 →11 times

  • אֶל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • פַּרְעֹ֔הPharaoh

    parohH6547 →274 times

  • אֶצְבַּ֥ע[is] [the] finger of

    ʾetzba'H676 →31 times

  • אֱלֹהִ֖יםGod

    ʾelohimH430 →2601 times

  • הִ֑ואit

    hi'H1931 →1879 times

  • וַיֶּחֱזַ֤קand it was strong

    vaiyechezakH2388 →291 times

  • לֵב־[the] heart of

    lev-H3820 →595 times

  • פַּרְעֹה֙Pharaoh

    parohH6547 →274 times

  • וְלֹֽא־and not

    velo'-H3808 →5168 times

  • שָׁמַ֣עhe listened

    shama'H8085 →1159 times

  • אֲלֵהֶ֔םto them

    ʾalehemH413 →5510 times

  • כַּאֲשֶׁ֖רjust as

    kaasherH834 →5497 times

  • דִּבֶּ֥רhe had said

    diberH1696 →1141 times

  • יְהוָֽה׃ סYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Luke 11:20But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.11 worksPsalms 109:27Let them know that this is Your hand, that You, O LORD, have done it.11 worksPsalms 8:3When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place—10 worksExodus 31:18When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.5 worksDaniel 1:20In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.5 worksExodus 7:5And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.”4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Matthew 12:28But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.4 worksJohn 10:21But others replied, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”3 worksActs 4:16“What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it.2 worksExodus 9:3then the hand of the LORD will bring a severe plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks.2 worksDaniel 2:11What the king requests is so difficult that no one can tell it to him except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.”2 worksExodus 10:7Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is in ruins?”2 worksAmos 4:10“I sent plagues among you like those of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camp, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.2 worksEzekiel 39:21I will display My glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the judgment that I execute and the hand that I lay upon them.2 worksGenesis 41:24And the thin heads of grain swallowed the seven plump ones. I told this dream to the magicians, but no one could explain it to me.”2 worksDaniel 2:10–11The astrologers answered the king, “No one on earth can do what the king requests! No king, however great and powerful, has ever asked anything like this of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer.1 worksJohn 11:47Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.1 worksDaniel 2:19During the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he blessed the God of heaven1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Psalms 8:3

    When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place—

    it leads to

    • Genesis 1:1

      In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

    • Psalms 33:6

      By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.

    • Psalms 111:2

      Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.

    • Psalms 89:11

      The heavens are Yours, and also the earth. The earth and its fullness You founded.

    • Psalms 104:19

      He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows when to set.

  • Through

    Matthew 12:28

    But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

    it leads to

    • Luke 11:20

      But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

    • Daniel 7:14

      And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is…

  • Through

    Exodus 7:5

    And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.”

    it leads to

    • Exodus 14:18

      The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I am honored through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

About Exodus

The Giving of the Law on Mount Sinai — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
The Giving of the Law on Mount Sinai — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Exodus: the study guide →Read Exodus 8 →

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Chuck Missler, Learn the Bible in 24 Hours and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Exodus 8 →