Exodus 4:9 · Bible study
Exodus 4:9 Commentary: Study, Nile Water Turned to Blood
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Exodus 4:9 where Moses turns Nile water to blood as a sign.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The third sign given to Moses: water from the Nile becomes blood on dry ground, authenticating his divine commission and prefiguring the first plague.
- Key words: 'sign' (H0226, ot), 'believe' (H0539, aman), 'water' (H4325, mayim), 'blood' (H1818, dam), 'River' (H2975, yeor, the Nile).
- Main debate: Not significant; some earlier Jewish writers (Josephus) thought the sign was performed in Midian, but commentators like Gill insist it was intended for Egypt.
- Theological theme: Judgment and deliverance, God's power over creation used to rescue the oppressed and confront idolatry.
- Best use: As part of a series on Moses' calling or as a bridge to the first plague in Exodus 7.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But if they do not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. Then the water you take from the Nile will become blood on the ground.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
It will happen, if they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, that you shall take of the water of the river, and pour it on the dry land. The water which you take out of the river will become blood on the dry land.”
KJV King James Version 1769
And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe even these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`And it hath come to pass, if they do not give credence even to these two signs, nor hearken to thy voice, that thou hast taken of the waters of the River, and hast poured on the dry land, and the waters which thou takest from the River have been, yea, they have become--blood on the dry land.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also those two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour [it] on the dry [land]; and the water that thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry [land].
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
But if they will not even believe these two signs, nor hear thy voice: take of the river water, and pour it out upon the dry land, and whatsoever thou drawest out of the river, shall be turned into blood.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y si aun no creyeren á estas dos señales, ni oyeren tu voz, tomarás de las aguas del río, y derrámalas en tierra; y volverse han aquellas aguas que tomarás del río, se volverán sangre en la tierra.
E se ainda não crerem nestes dois sinais, nem ouvirem tua voz, tomarás das águas do rio, e as derramará em terra; e se tornarão aquelas águas que tomarás do rio, se tornarão sangue na terra.
S’ ils ne croient pas même à ces deux signes, et n’ écoutent pas ta voix, tu prendras de l’ eau du fleuve, tu la répandras sur la terre, et l’ eau que tu auras prise du fleuve deviendra du sang sur la terre.
Wenn sie aber diesen zwei Zeichen nicht glauben werden noch deine Stimme hören, so nimm Wasser aus dem Strom und gieß es auf das trockene Land, so wird das Wasser, das du aus dem Strom genommen hast, Blut werden auf dem trockenen Lande.
En het zal geschieden, zo zij ook deze twee tekenen niet geloven, noch naar uw stem horen, zo neem van de wateren der rivier, en giet ze op het droge; zo zullen de wateren, die gij uit de rivier zult nemen, diezelve zullen tot bloed worden op het droge.
e se avverrà che non credano neppure a questi due segni e non ubbidiscano alla tua voce, tu prenderai dell’acqua del fiume, e la verserai sull’asciutto; e l’acqua che avrai presa dal fiume, diventerà sangue sull’asciutto”.
I stanie się, jeźli nie uwierzą ani tym dwom znakom, i nie usłuchają głosu twego, weźmiesz wody rzecznej, i wylejesz ją na ziemię; tedy się przemieni woda ona, którą weźmiesz z rzeki, a obróci się w krew na ziemi.
если же не поверят и двум сим знамениям и не послушают голоса твоего, то возьми воды из реки и вылей на сушу; и вода, взятая из реки, сделается кровью на суше.
這 兩 個神蹟 若 都 不 信，也不 聽 你的話，你就從河 裡取 些水，倒 在旱地上， 你從 河 裡取 的水 必在旱地 上變作 血。」
And if they have no faith even in these two signs and will not give ear to your voice, then you are to take the water of the Nile and put it on the dry land: and the water you take out of the river will become blood on the dry land.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 4:9
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this third sign given to Moses serves as both a credential of his divine calling and a direct anticipation of the first plague. Keil and Delitzsch highlight that the Nile was worshipped by Egyptians as the source of all fertility, so turning its water to blood constitutes a judgment on Egypt's false gods. Gill connects the sign to Exodus 1:22, noting that the river where Hebrew infants were drowned will itself become an instrument of divine vengeance. The sign is not performed in Midian but intended for use in Egypt (Gill corrects Josephus on this point). Matthew Henry and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown emphasize that these miracles were designed to confirm Moses' embassy to Israel and to encourage him in light of his own reluctance. The theological centre is clear: God's power over creation will be wielded for the deliverance of His people and the judgment of their oppressors.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The sign of taking Nile water and turning it to blood is given to authenticate Moses' divine commission and points forward to the judgment of Egypt through the first plague.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose and timing of the sign | The sign of water turning to blood is given to authenticate Moses' divine mission and anticipates the first plague of blood. | Some earlier sources (Josephus) implied the sign was performed in Midian at the same time as the other two signs. Gill and other commentators argue this sign was only to be done upon arriving in Egypt. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The Nile was the lifeblood of Egypt. The river's annual floods deposited fertile silt, making agriculture possible in an otherwise arid land. Egyptians revered the Nile as a god under names like Hapi, Osiris, and the source of all prosperity. To threaten the Nile was to attack Egypt itself.
Moses is told to draw water from the Nile and pour it on dry ground, where it becomes blood. The verb 'pour' (H8210, shaphakh) often describes shedding blood in violence. This word choice, combined with the connection to Exodus 1:22 (Pharaoh commanding infants cast into the Nile), creates a picture of divine retribution: the river used for genocide will itself become a symbol of judgment. Blood was taboo to Egyptians; the sign would horrify and convict them.
The sign also echoes the broader narrative of Exodus. In the first plague (Exodus 7:19), Aaron stretches his rod over the waters of Egypt, and the Nile turns to blood. Verses 21-25 describe the fish dying, the river stinking, and the Egyptians unable to drink. The sign in Exodus 4:9 is a preview of that event, given first to Moses to carry conviction to Israel and to strengthen his own faith. As Keil and Delitzsch observe, these signs authenticate Moses as the servant of Yahweh, equipped with divine power to confront Pharaoh.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Exodus 4:9. The Hebrew text is stable across major manuscript traditions, and the verse appears in all ancient witnesses without difficulty.
Reception History
This verse has been read as a sign of divine judgment on Egypt's religious and political pride. Jewish interpreters understood it as a credential of Moses' prophetic office. Christian commentators such as Edersheim saw the Nile's transformation as a blow against Egyptian idolatry, highlighting that the river worshipped as a god becomes a instrument of judgment. The sign also has been linked to the 'measure for measure' principle: the water that drowned Hebrew infants becomes blood, echoing the retribution theme seen later in Scripture (Matthew 7:2).
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God equips His messengers with credible signs. Moses was afraid the Israelites would not believe him (Exodus 4:1). God responds with concrete demonstrations of power, showing that He supplies what His servants lack.
- God targets the heart of Egypt's pride. The Nile, worshipped as a god and source of life, becomes a vessel of judgment. The sign declares that Yahweh, not the Nile, is sovereign.
- God's judgment mirrors the sin. The blood in the water answers the blood of the Hebrew infants thrown into the Nile (Exodus 1:22). This is not random violence but a measured response to oppression.
Five-point outline
- Moses' third objection: 'They will not believe me.' God does not rebuke him but provides a tool for belief.
- The gradual escalation of signs: from a staff to a leprous hand to the Nile turning to blood, each sign intensifies in gravity and scope.
- The Nile is both a natural resource and a religious symbol. By striking it, God claims authority over Egypt's economy and pantheon.
- The sign points forward to the first plague, establishing a pattern of judgment that leads to deliverance.
- For the congregation: when we face overwhelming opposition, God often gives small signs of His power before the great breakthrough.
Illustration hooks
- Credentials: Think of a diplomat who presents official papers before being received. The signs are Moses' credentials, proving his authority comes from a higher power.
- The inconvenient miracle: A friend who doubts your story asks for proof, God sometimes provides evidence in forms that affront our natural assumptions, much like turning clean water into blood.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know if God is truly calling me to a difficult task?
- Why does God sometimes use dramatic signs and other times work quietly?
- Did the Israelites actually see all three signs, and how did they respond?
Leading a Discussion
Moses is still arguing with God. He fears the people will not believe him, so God gives him three signs. The third sign, water from the Nile turning to blood, carries particular weight. It reaches into Egypt's pride and addresses the suffering of Israel. As you read Exodus 4:9 together, consider how God prepares and confirms His servants.
Discussion questions
- What does Moses' repeated reluctance tell us about his character and about God's patience?
- Why do you think God chose the Nile for this sign? What did the Nile represent to the Egyptians?
- Read Exodus 1:22 alongside this verse. How do these passages speak to each other?
- The sign was to 'become blood on the dry land.' Blood in the Old Testament often signifies life, death, or covenant. What does its use here communicate?
- How does this sign prepare the Israelite slaves for what God is about to do through Moses?
- This sign was given before Moses left Midian but intended for use in Egypt. What does that timing tell us about God's plan?
- In what areas of your life do you need a 'sign' to trust God's direction? How can you distinguish between a demand for proof and a desire to be sure of God's will?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 1:22 | Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.” |
| Exodus 7:19 | Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your rod, and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood. There will be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’” |
| Exodus 7:25 | Seven days were fulfilled, after Yahweh had struck the river. |
| Matthew 7:2 | For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that this third sign is a contingency measure, to be used only if the previous two fail to convince. It highlights the specific power over the Nile, the source of Egypt's life, turning its water into blood when poured on dry ground.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note emphasizes the conditional nature of the third sign: it is given only if the people refuse to believe the first two. Taking water from the Nile and pouring it on dry land will turn it to blood, showing that even the river is under God's power if they remain stubborn.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill corrects Josephus by insisting the water-into-blood sign was performed later in Egypt, not alongside the other two signs. He sees it as a preview of the coming plague: God showing His power to destroy Egypt's river-dependent fertility and avenging the Hebrew babies drowned there.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that the miracles performed with the Nile water served a dual purpose. They were first given to encourage Moses himself as convincing proof of his divine commission, and later intended to be repeated as official confirmation of his mission before the Israelites.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch reads each of the three signs as a purposeful lesson for Moses and Israel. The staff becoming a serpent showed Moses' calling transformed into power to overcome Egypt's serpent-like hostility. The leprous hand taught that God could cleanse Israel from its spiritual defilement through Moses. The Nile turned to blood demonstrated authority over Egypt's life-giving gods.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees Moses' reluctance not as distrust of God but as genuine humility. He notes that those God calls to great service are often the least eager, because God clothes them with humility before raising them up. The most fit for service are the least forward.