Exodus 7:20-22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 7:14-25

Here is the first of the ten plagues, the turning of the water into blood, which was, 1. A dreadful plague, and very grievous. The very sight of such vast rolling streams of blood, pure blood no doubt, florid and high-colored, could not but strike a horror upon people: much more afflictive were the consequences of it. Nothing more common than water: so wisely has Providence ordered it, and so kindly, that that which is so needful and serviceable to the comfort of human life should be cheap,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 7:20

And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded ,.... Moses delivered the rod to Aaron, who took it and went to the water side: and he lift up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river ; or "in that river" F9 ביאר εν τω ποταμω Sept. "in eo rivo", Junius and Tremellius, Piscator. , the river Nile, on the brink of which Pharaoh then stood: in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants ; his nobles and courtiers who tended him in his walk to the water;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 7:21

And the fish that was in the river died ,.... Which was a full proof that the conversion of it into blood was real; for had it been only in appearance, or the water of the river had only the colour of blood, and looked like it, but was not really so, it would not have affected the fishes, they would have lived as well as before; and this plague was the greater affliction to the Egyptians, not as it affected their drink but their food, fish Numbers 11:5 being what the common people chiefly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 7:22

And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments ,.... Who were either in company with Pharaoh and his nobles, or were immediately sent for to try their art, and confront Moses and Aaron with it; and who very probably got a little water in a vessel, and by some juggling trick imposing upon, and deceiving the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, made it look like blood; and the devil might help them to a sufficient quantity of blood, and discolour the water with it, and make it appear... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 7:20

All the waters - were turned to blood - Not merely in appearance, but in reality; for these changed waters became corrupt and insalubrious, so that even the fish that were in the river died; and the smell became highly offensive, so that the waters could not be drank; Exodus 7:21 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 7:22

And the magicians - did so - But if all the water in Egypt was turned into blood by Moses, where did the magicians get the water which they changed into blood? This question is answered in Exodus 7:24 . The Egyptians dug round about the river for water to drink, and it seems that the water obtained by this means was not bloody like that in the river: on this water therefore the magicians might operate. Again, though a general commission was given to Moses, not only to turn the waters of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 7:20

Verse 20 20.And Moses and Aaron did so. He repeats that what God threatened as to the death of the fish, and the stinking of the Nile, actually took place; that he may aggravate the sin of the king, who was unaffected by the manifold power of God. Still he immediately adds that his counsellors witnessed it also. Hence we may conjecture, that the same infatuation had pervaded the whole court. It was also proper that so memorable a circumstance should not only be known generally, but that its... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 7:22

Verse 22 22.And the magicians of Egypt did so. A question arises as to how the magicians could imitate Moses, when the material to work upon no longer remained; for, if there were no water left in Egypt, its transmutation was impossible. But I have no doubt but that, for the purpose of their illusion, pure and clear waters appeared for a little while, and then were changed into blood. For, since the season for concluding the contests was not yet arrived, doubtless God opened a way for Himself,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 7:14-21

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 7:14-25

The Nile turned into blood. The first of the series of plagues which fell on Egypt was of a truly terrific character. At the stretching out of the red of Aaron, the broad, swift-flowing current of. the rising Nile suddenly assumed the hue and qualities of blood. The stroke fell also on the reservoirs, canals, and ponds. Whatever connection may be traced between this plague and natural phenomena (see Hengstenberg) it is plain that it stood on an entirely different footing from changes... read more

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