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Exodus Chapter Study

Moses Confronts Pharaoh and the First Plague Begins

Exodus 7 (KJV)

Exodus 7 shows God confirming Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh, displaying His power through Aaron's rod, and beginning the plagues by turning the Nile River into blood.

What You'll Learn

• How God reassured Moses before sending him back to Pharaoh
• Why Aaron served as Moses' spokesman
• What it means that God hardened Pharaoh's heart
• Why God performed signs and wonders in Egypt
• How Aaron's rod becoming a serpent displayed God's power
• Why Aaron's rod swallowing the magicians' rods mattered
• What the first plague teaches about God's authority
• Why the Nile turning to blood was such a serious judgment
• How Pharaoh's stubbornness reveals the danger of pride
• How to obey God even when people resist His Word

Exodus 7 teaches that God's power is greater than every earthly ruler, false god, and hardened heart.

Bible Translation Note Scripture Verse-by-Verse Study Chapter Synopsis Prayer Personal Application Weekly Actions Chapter Summary

Bible Translation Note: All Scripture on this page is quoted from the King James Version (KJV) and presented in full without alteration.

Exodus 7:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

Exodus 7:2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

Exodus 7:3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 7:4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

Exodus 7:5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

Exodus 7:6 And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.

Exodus 7:7 And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.

Exodus 7:8 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

Exodus 7:9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.

Exodus 7:10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

Exodus 7:11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

Exodus 7:12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

Exodus 7:13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

Exodus 7:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.

Exodus 7:15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.

Exodus 7:16 And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

Exodus 7:17 Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

Exodus 7:18 And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.

Exodus 7:19 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.

Exodus 7:20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.

Exodus 7:21 And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

Exodus 7:22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.

Exodus 7:23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.

Exodus 7:24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.

Exodus 7:25 And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.

Exodus 7:1

And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

Study: God gives Moses authority before Pharaoh. Moses is not divine, but he stands as God's representative, while Aaron speaks as his prophet before Egypt's king.

Exodus 7:2

Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

Study: Moses is commanded to speak only what God commands. The message has not changed: Pharaoh must let the children of Israel go.

Exodus 7:3

And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

Study: Pharaoh's resistance will become the setting for God's signs and wonders. God will use Pharaoh's hardened heart to reveal His power throughout Egypt.

Exodus 7:4

But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

Study: God already knows Pharaoh will not listen. The deliverance of Israel will come through great judgments that show Egypt and Israel that the Lord is in control.

Exodus 7:5

And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

Study: God's purpose is revelation. Egypt will know that the Lord is God when He stretches out His hand and brings His people out from bondage.

Exodus 7:6

And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.

Study: Moses and Aaron obey. Their faithfulness is shown not by Pharaoh's response, but by their willingness to do exactly what God commanded.

Exodus 7:7

And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.

Study: Moses is eighty and Aaron is eighty-three when they confront Pharaoh. God's calling is not limited by age, season, or human expectations.

Exodus 7:8

And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

Study: God continues giving clear instruction to both Moses and Aaron. The mission moves forward under the direction of the Lord.

Exodus 7:9

When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.

Study: God prepares them for Pharaoh's demand for a sign. Aaron's rod becoming a serpent will demonstrate that the message comes with divine authority.

Exodus 7:10

And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

Study: Moses and Aaron obey in Pharaoh's presence. Aaron's rod becomes a serpent before the king and his servants, proving that God's power is present.

Exodus 7:11

Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

Study: Pharaoh turns to Egypt's wise men, sorcerers, and magicians. Instead of humbling himself before God, he looks for counterfeit power to resist the truth.

Exodus 7:12

For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

Study: The magicians imitate the sign, but Aaron's rod swallows theirs. God's power does not merely compete with Egypt's power; it overcomes it completely.

Exodus 7:13

And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

Study: Pharaoh refuses to listen, just as God said. A miracle can be witnessed and still rejected by a hardened heart.

Exodus 7:14

And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.

Study: God names Pharaoh's condition clearly. His heart is hardened, and his refusal to let Israel go will bring judgment upon Egypt.

Exodus 7:15

Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.

Study: God sends Moses to meet Pharaoh at the river. The same rod that became a serpent will now be used in the first plague.

Exodus 7:16

And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

Study: The message remains direct. Israel belongs to the Lord, and their freedom is tied to worship and service in the wilderness.

Exodus 7:17

Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

Study: God declares the purpose of the plague: Pharaoh will know that He is the Lord. The Nile, Egypt's source of life, will be turned to blood.

Exodus 7:18

And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.

Study: The judgment will affect daily life throughout Egypt. Fish will die, the river will stink, and the water will become undrinkable.

Exodus 7:19

And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.

Study: The plague reaches beyond the Nile to streams, rivers, ponds, pools, and stored water. God's judgment touches the entire water supply of Egypt.

Exodus 7:20

And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.

Study: Moses and Aaron obey publicly before Pharaoh and his servants. The waters turn to blood exactly as God declared.

Exodus 7:21

And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

Study: The consequences are immediate and severe. Egypt's water becomes unusable, and the plague spreads throughout the land.

Exodus 7:22

And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.

Study: The magicians imitate the plague, but they cannot reverse it. Pharaoh uses their imitation as an excuse to remain hardened.

Exodus 7:23

And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.

Study: Pharaoh walks away unmoved. His refusal to set his heart on the judgment shows how deeply pride can blind a person to God's warning.

Exodus 7:24

And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.

Study: The Egyptians are forced to dig for drinkable water. The plague disrupts the entire nation, showing that Pharaoh's rebellion brings suffering on his people.

Exodus 7:25

And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.

Study: The first plague lasts seven days. God's judgment is not a momentary display, but a sustained warning to Pharaoh and Egypt.

Exodus 7 begins with God strengthening Moses for the confrontation with Pharaoh. The Lord tells Moses that he will stand as God's representative before Pharaoh, while Aaron will serve as his spokesman.

God tells Moses that Pharaoh's heart will be hardened and that His signs and wonders will be multiplied in Egypt. Pharaoh's resistance will not stop God's plan; instead, it will become the setting where God's power and judgment are revealed.

Moses and Aaron obey the Lord. When Pharaoh demands a miracle, Aaron casts down his rod and it becomes a serpent. Pharaoh's magicians imitate the sign, but Aaron's rod swallows their rods, showing that God's power is greater than Egypt's counterfeit power.

Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, and he refuses to let the people go. The Lord then sends Moses to meet Pharaoh by the river and announces the first plague. The waters of the Nile will be turned to blood so that Pharaoh will know that the Lord is God.

Aaron stretches out his rod over the waters of Egypt, and the Nile is turned to blood. The fish die, the river stinks, and the Egyptians cannot drink the water. Blood is found throughout the land, even in vessels of wood and stone.

Pharaoh's magicians imitate the plague, but they cannot remove it. Pharaoh turns away and refuses to set his heart on what God has done. The Egyptians dig for water, and the plague continues for seven days.

Heavenly Father, thank You for showing that Your power is greater than every earthly ruler, false god, and hardened heart. Help me obey You even when others resist Your Word. Guard my heart from pride, and teach me to respond humbly when You speak. Give me faith to trust Your authority, Your timing, and Your purpose. In Jesus' name, Amen.

• Read Exodus 7 again and underline every reference to Pharaoh's heart
• Memorize Exodus 7:5
• Write down one area where God is asking you to obey even without visible results
• Pray for a humble heart that responds quickly to God's Word
• Identify anything you may be trusting in more than God's authority
• Thank God for being greater than every false power
• Encourage someone who is facing resistance while trying to obey God

Exodus 7 records Moses and Aaron standing before Pharaoh with God's command to let Israel go. God confirms Moses as His representative and Aaron as his spokesman. Aaron's rod becomes a serpent, and when Pharaoh's magicians imitate the sign, Aaron's rod swallows their rods. Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, and he refuses to listen. God then begins the first plague by turning the waters of Egypt into blood. The Nile becomes foul, the fish die, and the Egyptians cannot drink the water. Even though the plague lasts seven days, Pharaoh remains unmoved, showing the danger of a hardened heart and setting the stage for the judgments that will follow.

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