Exodus 9:3
New International Version
the hand of the LORD will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys and camels and on your cattle, sheep and goats.

New Living Translation
the hand of the LORD will strike all your livestock—your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats—with a deadly plague.

English Standard Version
behold, the hand of the LORD will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks.

Berean Standard Bible
then the hand of the LORD will bring a severe plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks.

King James Bible
Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

New King James Version
behold, the hand of the LORD will be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep—a very severe pestilence.

New American Standard Bible
behold, the hand of the LORD will come with a very severe plague on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks.

NASB 1995
behold, the hand of the LORD will come with a very severe pestilence on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks.

NASB 1977
behold, the hand of the LORD will come with a very severe pestilence on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks.

Legacy Standard Bible
behold, the hand of Yahweh will come with a very heavy pestilence on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks.

Amplified Bible
now hear this: the hand of the LORD will fall on your livestock which are out in the field, on the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks—a horrible plague shall come.

Christian Standard Bible
then the LORD’s hand will bring a severe plague against your livestock in the field—the horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
then the LORD’s hand will bring a severe plague against your livestock in the field—the horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks.

American Standard Version
behold, the hand of Jehovah is upon thy cattle which are in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the herds, and upon the flocks: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

Contemporary English Version
he will bring a terrible disease on your horses and donkeys, your camels and cattle, and your sheep and goats.

English Revised Version
behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the herds, and upon the flocks: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
the LORD will bring a terrible plague on your livestock, including your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats.

Good News Translation
I will punish you by sending a terrible disease on all your animals--your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats.

International Standard Version
then the hand of the LORD will come with a very severe plague on your livestock in the fields, on horses, on donkeys, on camels, on cattle, and on sheep.

Majority Standard Bible
then the hand of the LORD will bring a severe plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks.

NET Bible
then the hand of the LORD will surely bring a very terrible plague on your livestock in the field, on the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks.

New Heart English Bible
look, the hand of the LORD is on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks with a very grievous pestilence.

Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which are in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

World English Bible
behold, Yahweh’s hand is on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks with a very grievous pestilence.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
behold, the hand of YHWH is on your livestock which [are] in the field, on horses, on donkeys, on camels, on herd, and on flock—a very grievous pestilence.

Young's Literal Translation
lo, the hand of Jehovah is on thy cattle which are in the field, on horses, on asses, on camels, on herd, and on flock -- a pestilence very grievous.

Smith's Literal Translation
Behold, the hand of Jehovah is upon thy cattle which are in the field; upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen and upon the sheep: death exceedingly heavy.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold my hand shall be upon thy fields: and a very grievous murrain upon thy horses, and asses, and camels, and oxen, and sheep.

Catholic Public Domain Version
behold, my hand will be over your fields. And a very grievous pestilence will be upon the horses, and the donkeys, and the camels, and the oxen, and the sheep.

New American Bible
the hand of the LORD will strike your livestock in the field—your horses, donkeys, camels, herds and flocks—with a very severe pestilence.

New Revised Standard Version
the hand of the LORD will strike with a deadly pestilence your livestock in the field: the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Behold, the LORD will smite your cattle which are in the desert, the horses, the asses, the camels, the oxen, and the sheep; there shall be a very severe plague.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Behold, the hand of LORD JEHOVAH will be on your cattle that are in the wilderness, on the horses, and on the donkeys, and on the camels, and on the oxen, and on the sheep, a plague that is very severe.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which are in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the herds, and upon the flocks; there shall be a very grievous murrain.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
behold, the hand of the Lord shall be upon thy cattle in the fields, both on the horses, and on the asses, and on the camels and oxen and sheep, a very great mortality.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Fifth Plague: Livestock
2But if you continue to restrain them and refuse to let them go, 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. 4But 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.’ ”…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:27
The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors and scabs and itch from which you cannot be cured.

Deuteronomy 28:60-61
He will afflict you again with all the diseases you dreaded in Egypt, and they will cling to you. / The LORD will also bring upon you every sickness and plague not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.

Leviticus 26:16
then this is what I will do to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life. You will sow your seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.

Leviticus 26:25
And I will bring a sword against you to execute the vengeance of the covenant. Though you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

2 Samuel 24:15
So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from that morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.

2 Chronicles 21:14-15
So behold, the LORD is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a serious blow. / And day after day you yourself will suffer from a severe illness, a disease of your bowels, until it causes your bowels to come out.’”

Psalm 78:50
He cleared a path for His anger; He did not spare them from death but delivered their lives to the plague.

Psalm 91:5-6
You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, / nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the calamity that destroys at noon.

Isaiah 10:16
Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts will send a wasting disease among Assyria’s stout warriors, and under his pomp will be kindled a fire like a burning flame.

Jeremiah 21:6
I will strike down the residents of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a terrible plague.’

Jeremiah 32:24
See how the siege ramps are mounted against the city to capture it. And by sword and famine and plague, the city has been given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What You have spoken has happened, as You now see!

Ezekiel 14:19
Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out My wrath upon it through bloodshed, cutting off from it both man and beast,

Amos 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.

Revelation 6:8
Then I looked and saw a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth.

Revelation 16:2
So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.


Treasury of Scripture

Behold, the hand of the LORD is on your cattle which is in the field, on the horses, on the asses, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

the hand

Exodus 7:4
But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

Exodus 8:19
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.

1 Samuel 5:6-11
But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof…

murrain.

Exodus 5:3
And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

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Exodus 9
1. The plague on livestock
8. The plague of boils
13. The message of Moses about the hail,
22. The plague of hail
27. Pharaoh pleads with Moses, but yet is hardened














behold
The Hebrew word for "behold" is "הִנֵּה" (hinneh), which serves as an imperative to pay attention or to see something significant. In the context of Exodus, it is a divine alert, emphasizing the seriousness of God's impending action. This word invites the reader to witness the unfolding of God's power and justice, reminding us of His sovereignty and the importance of being attentive to His words and actions.

the hand of the LORD
The phrase "the hand of the LORD" is a powerful anthropomorphism, using human imagery to describe divine action. In Hebrew, "יָד יְהוָה" (yad YHWH) signifies God's direct intervention in human affairs. Historically, this expression is used to demonstrate God's might and authority, often in the context of judgment or deliverance. It reassures believers of God's active presence in the world, executing His will with precision and purpose.

will fall
The Hebrew verb "הָיָה" (hayah) in this context implies an inevitable occurrence. It conveys certainty and the unstoppable nature of God's decree. This serves as a reminder of the reliability of God's word; what He declares will come to pass. It encourages believers to trust in God's promises and warnings, knowing that His plans are unchangeable and His purposes will be fulfilled.

with a severe plague
The term "severe plague" translates from the Hebrew "דֶּבֶר כָּבֵד" (dever kaved), indicating a heavy or grievous pestilence. In the ancient Near Eastern context, plagues were often seen as divine retribution. This phrase underscores the intensity of God's judgment against Egypt, serving as a warning of the consequences of defying His commands. It also highlights God's control over nature, using it as an instrument of His will.

on your livestock in the field
The phrase "on your livestock in the field" specifies the target of the plague, emphasizing the economic and societal impact of God's judgment. Livestock were essential to Egyptian agriculture and economy, symbolizing wealth and sustenance. This targeted strike demonstrates God's ability to disrupt human reliance on material resources, urging believers to place their trust in Him rather than in worldly possessions.

on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks
This detailed enumeration of animals—horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks—reflects the comprehensive nature of the plague. Each animal had a specific role in Egyptian society, from transportation to agriculture. The specificity of this list highlights the thoroughness of God's judgment, leaving no aspect of Egyptian life untouched. It serves as a reminder of God's omniscience and His ability to address every facet of human existence. This comprehensive impact calls believers to recognize the breadth of God's dominion and the futility of resisting His will.

Verse 3. - Thy cattle which is in the field. The word "cattle" here is to be taken generally, as including under it the various kinds particularised. The cattle are mentioned as being at this time "in the field," because during the inundation all of them were brought in and housed, while, after the waters had retired, and the land had dried, most of them were turned out to graze. This is always the time at which epidemics break out. The horses, the asses, etc. Horses, which had been unknown prior to the Hyksos invasion, and which consequently do not appear in the list of animals presented to Abraham (Genesis 12:16), first became common under the eighteenth dynasty, when they seem to have been employed exclusively in war. Their use for agricultural purposes, which is perhaps here indicated, was not till later. (See Chabas, Etudes sur l'Antquite' Historic, p. 421.) The ass was employed in great numbers at all times in Egypt. Women and children rode on them, men sometimes in a sort of litter between two of them. They were chiefly used for carrying burthens, which were sometimes of enormous size (Lepsius, Denkmaler, Part 2. pls. 42a, 47, 56, 80c, etc.). The camels. Camels are not represented on any Egyptian monument; but they are occasionally mentioned in the inscriptions (Chabas, Etudes, pp. 400-13). They are called kauri or kamaru. There is no doubt of their employment by the Egyptians as beasts of burthen in the traffic with Syria and with the Sinaitic peninsula.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
then
הִנֵּ֨ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

the hand
יַד־ (yaḏ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of the LORD
יְהוָ֜ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

will bring
הוֹיָ֗ה (hō·w·yāh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a severe
כָּבֵ֥ד (kā·ḇêḏ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3515: Heavy

plague
דֶּ֖בֶר (de·ḇer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1698: A pestilence

on your livestock
בְּמִקְנְךָ֙ (bə·miq·nə·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4735: Something bought, property, livestock, acquisition

in the field—
בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה (baś·śā·ḏeh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

on your horses,
בַּסּוּסִ֤ים (bas·sū·sîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird)

donkeys,
בַּֽחֲמֹרִים֙ (ba·ḥă·mō·rîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2543: A male ass

camels,
בַּגְּמַלִּ֔ים (bag·gə·mal·lîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1581: A camel

herds,
בַּבָּקָ֖ר (bab·bā·qār)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1241: Beef cattle, ox, a herd

and flocks.
וּבַצֹּ֑אן (ū·ḇaṣ·ṣōn)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock


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OT Law: Exodus 9:3 Behold the hand of Yahweh (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 9:2
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