Exodus 8:16 - Exposition

Lice . Kinnim— the word is only found here and in the Psalms which celebrate the Exodus ( Psalms 78:46 ; Psalms 105:31 ). It was understood as "lice"by Josephus, the Talmudical writers, Bochart, Pool, and our translators in the reign of James I . But the great weight of authority is in favour of the rendering " gnats " or "mosquitoes." See the preceding paragraph. It must also be berne in mind that the nearest Egyptian equivalent, khennems , has the signification of mosquito.