Exodus 9:8
New International Version
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh.

New Living Translation
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from a brick kiln, and have Moses toss it into the air while Pharaoh watches.

English Standard Version
And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw them in the air in the sight of Pharaoh.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the furnace; in the sight of Pharaoh, Moses is to toss it into the air.

King James Bible
And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

New King James Version
So the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh.

New American Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from a kiln, and Moses shall toss it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.

NASB 1995
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.

NASB 1977
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses toss it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.

Amplified Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the brick kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of furnace soot, and Moses is to throw it toward heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of furnace soot, and Moses is to throw it toward heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

American Standard Version
And Jehovah said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: Take a few handfuls of ashes from a stove and you, Moses, throw them into the air. Be sure the king is watching.

English Revised Version
And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take a handful of ashes from a kiln, and have Moses throw them up in the air as Pharaoh watches.

Good News Translation
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take a few handfuls of ashes from a furnace; Moses is to throw them into the air in front of the king.

International Standard Version
Then the LORD told Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it into the air in front of Pharaoh.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ?Take handfuls of soot from the furnace; in the sight of Pharaoh, Moses is to toss it into the air.

NET Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from a furnace, and have Moses throw it into the air while Pharaoh is watching.

New Heart English Bible
The LORD said to Moses and to Aaron, "Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it towards heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

World English Bible
Yahweh said to Moses and to Aaron, “Take handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH says to Moses and to Aaron, “Take for yourselves the fullness of your handfuls—soot of a furnace, and Moses has sprinkled it toward the heavens, before the eyes of Pharaoh,

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith unto Moses and unto Aaron, 'Take to you the fulness of your hands of soot of a furnace, and Moses hath sprinkled it towards the heavens, before the eyes of Pharaoh,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will say to Moses and to Aaron, Take to you your two fists full of ashes of the furnace; and Moses sprinkled it towards the heavens in the eyes of Pharaoh.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: Take to you handfuls of ashes out of the chimney, and let Moses sprinkle it in the air in the presence of Pharao.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron: “Take handfuls of ashes from the oven, and let Moses sprinkle it into the air, in the sight of Pharaoh.

New American Bible
So the LORD said to Moses and Aaron: Each of you take handfuls of soot from a kiln, and in the presence of Pharaoh let Moses scatter it toward the sky.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw it in the air in the sight of Pharaoh.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron, Take two handfuls of the ashes of the furnace and let Moses scatter it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said to Moshe and Aaron: “Make full your handfuls of the ashes of a furnace, and let Moshe scatter them before the face of Heaven, before the eyes of Pharaoh.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron: 'Take to you handfuls of soot of the furnace, and let Moses throw it heavenward in the sight of Pharaoh.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, Take you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward heaven before Pharao, and before his servants.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sixth Plague: Boils
8Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the furnace; in the sight of Pharaoh, Moses is to toss it into the air. 9It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on man and beast throughout the land.”…

Cross References
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.

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.

Leviticus 13:18-20
When a boil appears on someone’s skin and it heals, / and a white swelling or a reddish-white spot develops where the boil was, he must present himself to the priest. / The priest shall examine it, and if it appears to be beneath the skin and the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a diseased infection that has broken out in the boil.

Job 2:7
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

Isaiah 1:6
From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and festering sores neither cleansed nor bandaged nor soothed with oil.

2 Kings 20:7
Then Isaiah said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” So they brought it and applied it to the boil, and Hezekiah recovered.

Leviticus 14:9
On the seventh day he must shave off all his hair—his head, his beard, his eyebrows, and the rest of his hair. He must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and he will be clean.

Numbers 12:10
As the cloud lifted from above the Tent, suddenly Miriam became leprous, white as snow. Aaron turned toward her, saw that she was leprous,

2 Chronicles 26:19
Uzziah, with a censer in his hand to offer incense, was enraged. But while he raged against the priests in their presence in the house of the LORD before the altar of incense, leprosy broke out on his forehead.

Isaiah 53:4
Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.

Matthew 8:17
This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”

Luke 17:12-14
As He entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers. They stood at a distance / and raised their voices, shouting, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” / When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were on their way, they were cleansed.

Mark 1:40-42
Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” / Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” / And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed.

John 9:6-7
When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes. / Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.

Acts 19:11-12
God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul, / so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

take to.

Exodus 8:16
And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

Jump to Previous
Aaron Air Ashes Dust Eyes Fire Fulness Furnace Hand Handfuls Heaven Heavenward Kiln Little Moses Pharaoh Presence Scatter Shower Sight Sky Soot Sprinkle Sprinkled Throw Toss Towards Yourselves
Jump to Next
Aaron Air Ashes Dust Eyes Fire Fulness Furnace Hand Handfuls Heaven Heavenward Kiln Little Moses Pharaoh Presence Scatter Shower Sight Sky Soot Sprinkle Sprinkled Throw Toss Towards Yourselves
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














Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron
This phrase indicates direct divine communication, emphasizing the authority and command of God. Moses and Aaron are God's chosen leaders to confront Pharaoh, highlighting their roles as prophets and mediators. This reflects the consistent biblical theme of God using chosen individuals to fulfill His purposes, as seen with other prophets like Elijah and Jeremiah.

Take handfuls of soot from the furnace
The soot from the furnace symbolizes the oppression and labor of the Israelites in Egypt, as furnaces were used for brick-making, a task imposed on the Israelites. This act serves as a reminder of their suffering and God's awareness of their plight. The soot also foreshadows the coming plague, representing the transformation of oppression into judgment against Egypt.

in the sight of Pharaoh
Performing this act in Pharaoh's presence is significant as it serves as a direct challenge to his authority and a demonstration of God's power. It underscores the public nature of God's judgments and the opportunity for Pharaoh to witness and respond to God's signs, similar to the confrontations between Elijah and the prophets of Baal.

Moses is to toss it into the air
The act of tossing soot into the air symbolizes the spread and inevitability of the plague. It signifies the transition from a symbolic act to a tangible judgment, illustrating the power of God to transform the natural elements into instruments of His will. This action parallels other biblical instances where physical acts accompany divine intervention, such as the parting of the Red Sea or the fall of Jericho.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who is orchestrating the events to demonstrate His power and sovereignty over Egypt and its gods.

2. Moses
The prophet and leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egyptian bondage.

3. Aaron
Moses' brother and spokesperson, who assists Moses in confronting Pharaoh and performing signs.

4. Pharaoh
The ruler of Egypt, whose heart is hardened against letting the Israelites go, serving as an antagonist in the account.

5. Furnace
A place where soot is collected, symbolizing the labor and oppression of the Israelites in Egypt, as well as a tool for God's judgment.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty and Power
The act of taking soot and turning it into a plague demonstrates God's control over creation and His ability to use simple elements to fulfill His purposes.

Symbolism of Soot and Furnace
The soot from the furnace represents the oppression of the Israelites and becomes a tool of judgment against Egypt, showing that God can turn the instruments of oppression into instruments of justice.

Obedience to God's Commands
Moses and Aaron's obedience in performing God's instructions serves as a model for believers to trust and obey God's commands, even when they seem unusual or challenging.

Hardened Hearts and Divine Judgment
Pharaoh's hardened heart serves as a warning about the dangers of resisting God's will and the inevitable consequences of such resistance.

God's Deliverance and Faithfulness
The plagues are part of God's plan to deliver His people, reminding believers of God's faithfulness to His promises and His power to save.THE SIXTH PLAGUE.

(8-10) Here, again, there is little question of what the plague was. Doubts may be entertained as to its exact character, and its proper medical designation, but all agree, and cannot but agree, that it was a visitation of the bodies of men with a severe cutaneous disorder, accompanied by pustules or ulcers. It was not announced beforehand to the Egyptians, nor were they allowed the opportunity of escaping it. Like the third plague, it was altogether of the nature of a judgment; and the judgment was a severe one. Now, for the first time, was acute suffering inflicted on the persons of men; now, for the first time, was it shown how Jehovah could smite with a terrible disease; and if with a disease, why not with death? No doubt those stricken suffered unequally; but with some the affliction may have resembled the final affliction of Job, when he was smitten with "sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown" (Job 2:7). Its severity is marked by the statement that "the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils" (Exodus 9:11). And it was universal, or quasi-universal (Exodus 9:11). Moreover, it was not confined to men; it was also "upon the beasts"--i.e., upon such of the domesticated animals as had escaped the preceding plague. It does not, however, seem to have been fatal; and it wrought no change upon the Pharaoh, whose heart God is now, for the first time, said to have hardened (Exodus 9:12), as He had declared to Moses (Exodus 4:21; Exodus 7:3). . . .

Verses 8-12. - THE SIXTH PLAGUE. The sixth plague was sent, like the third, without notice given. It was also, like the third, a plague which inflicted direct injury upon the person. There was a very solemn warning in it; for the same power that could afflict the body with "boils and blains," i.e., with a severe cutaneous disease accompanied by pustulous ulcers - could also (it must have been felt) smite it with death. It is uncertain what exactly the malady was. Some have supposed elephantiasis, some "black leprosy," some merely an eruptive disease such as is even now common m Egypt during the autumn. But it is, at any rate, evident that the malady was exceedingly severe - "the magicians could not stand before Moses" because of it (ver. 11). If it was "the botch of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 28:27), as seems probable, since the name in the Hebrew is the same, it was incurable. Pharaoh and his people were warned by it that God's power would be shown on themselves, not in the way of mere annoyance - as with the earlier plagues - but of serious injury - and if so, why not of death? Thus, the sixth plague heralded the tenth, and, except the tenth, was the most severe of all. Verse 8. - Ashes of the furnace. Rather "soot from the furnace." The word commonly used in Hebrew for "ashes" is different. Many recondite reasons have been brought forward for the directions here given. But perhaps the object was simply to show that as water, and earth (Exodus 8:13) and air (Exodus 10:13) could be turned into plagues, so fire could be. The "soot of the furnace" might well represent fire, and was peculiarly appropriate for the preduction of a disease which was in the main an "inflammation." It is not likely that Moses imitated any superstitious practice of the priests of Egypt. Toward the heaven. The act indicated that the plague would come from heaven - i.e. from God. In the sight of Pharaoh. Compare Exodus 7:20 It is probable that the symbolic act which brought the plague was performed "in the sight of Pharaoh" in every case, except where the plague was unannounced, though the fact is not always recorded.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

said
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Moses
מֹשֶׁ֣ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

and Aaron,
אַהֲרֹן֒ (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

“Take
קְח֤וּ (qə·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3947: To take

handfuls
מְלֹ֣א (mə·lō)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4393: Fullness, that which fills

of soot
פִּ֖יחַ (pî·aḥ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6368: A powder, ashes, dust

from the furnace;
כִּבְשָׁ֑ן (kiḇ·šān)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3536: A smelting furnace

in the sight
לְעֵינֵ֥י (lə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of Pharaoh,
פַרְעֹֽה׃ (p̄ar·‘ōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings

Moses
מֹשֶׁ֛ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

is to toss it
וּזְרָק֥וֹ (ū·zə·rā·qōw)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2236: Be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew

into the air.
הַשָּׁמַ֖יְמָה (haš·šā·may·māh)
Article | Noun - masculine plural | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky


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OT Law: Exodus 9:8 Yahweh said to Moses and to Aaron (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 9:7
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