When Moses asked Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, Pharaoh replied, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD" (Exodus 5:2, KJV). The ten plagues that followed, described in Exodus 7–12, were God's answer to that question. Through them, both Egypt and Israel would learn who the Lord truly is.
The ten plagues at a glance
| # | Plague | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Water turned to blood | 7:14–25 | The Nile, Egypt's source of life, becomes undrinkable |
| 2 | Frogs | 8:1–15 | Frogs fill houses, beds and ovens |
| 3 | Lice (gnats) | 8:16–19 | Egypt's magicians admit, "This is the finger of God" |
| 4 | Flies | 8:20–32 | Goshen, where Israel lived, is spared |
| 5 | Death of livestock | 9:1–7 | Egypt's animals die; Israel's are protected |
| 6 | Boils | 9:8–12 | Painful sores on people and animals |
| 7 | Hail | 9:13–35 | The worst hailstorm in Egypt's history |
| 8 | Locusts | 10:1–20 | Locusts eat everything the hail left |
| 9 | Darkness | 10:21–29 | Three days of thick darkness; light in Israel's homes |
| 10 | Death of the firstborn | 11:1 – 12:30 | The final plague, and the first Passover |
Why did God send the plagues?
The book of Exodus gives several reasons.
1. To rescue his people
God had heard Israel's cry and promised to deliver them "with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments" (Exodus 6:6). The plagues broke Pharaoh's grip on the nation.
2. To reveal who he is
The phrase "that ye may know that I am the LORD" (or similar) appears repeatedly (for example 7:5, 7:17, 8:22, 10:2). The plagues showed Egypt, Israel and the surrounding nations that the God of Israel is the true and living God.
3. To judge the gods of Egypt
Egypt worshipped many gods connected with the Nile, the sun, fertility and animals. God said, "against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD" (12:12). Turning the Nile to blood, darkening the sun and striking the animals showed that these gods were powerless before the Lord.
4. To judge oppression and injustice
Egypt had enslaved Israel and killed its baby boys (Exodus 1). The plagues were a judgement on a nation that had committed great cruelty.
Pharaoh's hard heart
A theme that puzzles many readers is the "hardening" of Pharaoh's heart. Exodus describes it in three ways:
- Pharaoh hardened his own heart (for example 8:15, 8:32).
- His heart was hardened (for example 7:13).
- God hardened Pharaoh's heart (for example 9:12, 10:20).
In the early plagues, the emphasis is on Pharaoh's own stubbornness. Later, God confirms the choice Pharaoh has repeatedly made. The lesson is sobering: persistent rebellion against God can lead to a heart that no longer responds.
Distinction between Egypt and Israel
From the fourth plague onward, God made a clear distinction: the land of Goshen, where Israel lived, was protected (8:22–23; 9:4, 26; 10:23). God was showing that he knows and cares for his people.
The final plague and the Passover
The tenth plague — the death of the firstborn — was the most terrible. But God provided a way of escape. Each Israelite household was to sacrifice a lamb without blemish and put its blood on the doorposts. "When I see the blood, I will pass over you" (12:13). That night Pharaoh finally let the people go. Read more in the Passover explained.
Can the plagues be explained naturally?
Some writers have suggested natural explanations for certain plagues, such as algae colouring the river or insects following dead frogs. Whatever natural processes may have been involved, Exodus presents the plagues as acts of God: they came and went at Moses' word, they increased in severity, they spared Israel, and they ended with an event — the death of the firstborn — that no natural chain explains.
Lessons for today
- God hears the cry of the oppressed and acts for justice.
- No power is greater than God's — not empires, rulers or false gods.
- Hardening our hearts is dangerous; God calls us to respond when he speaks (Hebrews 3:15).
- God protects and provides for his people.
- Salvation comes through the blood of the lamb, pointing forward to Jesus.
Continue with the Passover, or go back to the Exodus overview.