New Living Translation
Exodus 7:12
12They threw down their staffs, which also became serpents! But then Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.
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
10So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did what the Lord had commanded them. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent! 11Then Pharaoh called in his own wise men and sorcerers, and these Egyptian magicians did the same thing with their magic. They threw down their staffs, which also became serpents! But then Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 13Pharaoh’s heart, however, remained hard. He still refused to listen, just as the Lord had predicted. 14Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn, and he still refuses to let the 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 8:18Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered everyone, people and animals alike.
- Exodus 9:11Even the magicians were unable to stand before Moses, because the boils had broken out on them and all the Egyptians.
- Acts 8:9A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great.
- Acts 13:8But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing.
- Acts 19:19A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars.
- 1 John 4:4But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives 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
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