God’s Word Translation
Exodus 7:12
12Each of them threw his staff down, and they all became large snakes. But Aaron’s staff swallowed theirs.
Exodus 7:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
- New International Version (NIV)Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
Context of Exodus 7:12
10Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the Lord had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a large snake. 11Then Pharaoh sent for his wise men and sorcerers. These Egyptian magicians did the same thing using their magic spells. Each of them threw his staff down, and they all became large snakes. But Aaron’s staff swallowed theirs. 13Yet, Pharaoh continued to be stubborn and would not listen to them, as the Lord had predicted. 14Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh is being stubborn. He refuses to let my people go.
Read all of Exodus 7Exodus 7:12 word by word
וַיַּשְׁלִ֙יכוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ מַטֵּ֔הוּ וַיִּהְי֖וּ לְתַנִּינִ֑ם וַיִּבְלַ֥ע מַטֵּֽה־אַהֲרֹ֖ן אֶת־מַטֹּתָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Exodus 7:12
- Exodus 8:18The magicians also tried to produce gnats using their magic spells, but they couldn’t do it. The gnats bit people and animals.
- Exodus 9:11The magicians couldn’t compete with Moses because they had boils like all the other Egyptians.
- Acts 8:9A man named Simon lived in that city. He amazed the people of Samaria with his practice of magic. He claimed that he was great.
- Acts 13:8Elymas, whose name means astrologer, opposed them and tried to distort the meaning of the faith so that the governor wouldn’t believe.
- Acts 19:19Many of those who were involved in the occult gathered their books and burned them in front of everyone. They added up the cost of these books and found that they were worth 50,000 silver coins.
- 1 John 4:4Dear children, you belong to God. So you have won the victory over these people, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Commentaries on Exodus 7:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods - As Egypt was remarkably addicted to magic, sorcery, etc., it was necessary that God should permit Pharaoh's wise men to act to the utmost of their skill in order to imitate the work of God, that his superiority might be clearly seen, and his powerful working incontestably ascertained; and this was fully done when Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. We have already seen that the names of two of the chief of these…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-13Verses 8-13 What men dislike, because it opposes their pride and lusts, they will not be convinced of; but it is easy to cause them to believe things they wish to be true. God always sends with his word full proofs of its Divine authority; but when men are bent to disobey, and willing to object, he often permits a snare to be laid wherein they are entangled. The magicians were cheats, trying to copy the real miracles of Moses by secret sleights or…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-13Through the plagues, God showed that the Egyptians’ gods were not true sources of life. People believed these gods gave life and protection, but they could not save anyone. Instead of bringing life, they were linked with death when compared to the Lord. Only the Lord has the power to give life (see 12:12; 18:11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods--This was what they could not be prepared for, and the discomfiture appeared in the loss of their rods, which were probably real serpents.Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 7:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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