The Ten Plagues
A king says no, and God keeps his word
This story includes slavery, beatings, disasters, sickness, and the death of animals. It ends with a warning that Egypt's firstborn sons will die.
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Moses: The Israelite God sent to lead his people out of slavery in Egypt. He is 80 years old (7:7).
- Aaron: Moses's older brother. He is 83 years old (7:7). He speaks for Moses.
- The LORD: God. LORD in capital letters stands for God's personal name. Jewish readers traditionally don't say it aloud, out of respect.
- Pharaoh: The king of Egypt. He rules over the Israelites as slaves.
- Pharaoh's officials and magicians: The men who serve Pharaoh and advise him.
- The Israelites: Also called the Hebrews. The family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They are slaves in Egypt.
Setting
- Egypt. Pharaoh's palace, the banks of the Nile River, and the fields and brickyards where the slaves work. The Israelites live in an area called Goshen.
When
- More than 3,000 years ago. The Bible does not say exactly how long the plagues lasted.
Before the Story
God called Moses from a burning bush. God said, "I have heard them crying out" (3:7). He told Moses his name, the LORD, and sent him to Pharaoh. The story The Burning Bush tells what happened.
Moses did not want to go. He said, "Send someone else." God sent his brother Aaron to speak for him, and promised to be with them both (4:13-16).
The people believed. Aaron told the Israelites what God said. When they heard that God had seen their suffering, they bowed down and worshiped (4:31).
Here's what you know that almost nobody in this story knows: God already told Moses that Pharaoh would say no. "I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless a mighty hand compels him" (3:19).
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. "Who is the LORD?" | 5:1-5 | Pharaoh says no |
| 2. Bricks without straw | 5:6-21 | Pharaoh makes the slaves' work harder |
| 3. God promises again | 5:22-7:13 | God says he will rescue them |
| 4. Blood | 7:14-25 | The Nile River turns to blood |
| 5. Frogs and gnats | 8:1-19 | Frogs cover the land. Then tiny bugs |
| 6. Flies and livestock | 8:20-9:7 | Flies swarm. Egypt's animals die |
| 7. Boils and hail | 9:8-35 | Sores break out. Hail beats down the land |
| 8. Locusts | 10:1-20 | Locusts eat every green plant |
| 9. Darkness | 10:21-29 | Darkness covers Egypt for three days |
| 10. One more plague | 11:1-10 | God warns of the last and worst plague |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 10"Who Is the LORD?"
Moses and Aaron stood in front of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. They gave him a message from the LORD, the God of Israel. "Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness" (5:1).
Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go" (5:2).
Moses and Aaron asked again. They wanted to take a three-day trip into the desert to worship God.
Pharaoh said they were keeping the people from their work. "Get back to your labor," he told them.
Scene 2 of 10Bricks Without Straw
That same day, Pharaoh gave new orders to the slave drivers. The slaves made bricks from mud and straw. Until now, the Egyptians had given them the straw.
Now the slaves had to find their own straw. And they still had to make the same number of bricks. Pharaoh said the people were lazy. That was why they wanted to go and worship.
The people spread out all over Egypt, looking for straw. The slave drivers kept pushing them. The Israelite foremen, the slaves who led the work crews, were beaten.
The foremen went to Pharaoh. They said it was not their fault. Pharaoh called them lazy again and sent them back to work.
When they came out, they met Moses and Aaron. The foremen were angry. They said Moses and Aaron had made Pharaoh hate them. They asked God to judge Moses and Aaron.
Scene 3 of 10God Promises Again
Moses brought his complaint to God. "Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?" (5:22). God had not rescued them yet. Things had only gotten worse.
God answered, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh" (6:1).
God gave Moses a promise for the people. "I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians" (6:6). A yoke is a heavy wooden bar put on animals to make them work. This is a comparison for slavery. God said, "I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God" (6:7).
Moses told the people. But they did not listen. Their spirit was broken, and their work was too cruel.
God sent Moses and Aaron back to Pharaoh. Aaron threw down his staff, and it became a snake. Pharaoh's magicians did the same thing with their magic. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. Still, Pharaoh would not listen.
Scene 4 of 10Blood
Early in the morning, Pharaoh went down to the Nile River. Moses and Aaron were waiting for him on the bank. They told him again, "Let God's people go."
In front of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron raised his staff. He struck the water of the Nile. All the water turned to blood.
The fish died. The river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink from it. There was blood all over Egypt. A plague is a disaster that hurts a whole land. This was the first plague.
Pharaoh's magicians did the same thing with their magic. So Pharaoh's heart stayed hard. A hard heart is a comparison. It means Pharaoh was stubborn and would not change his mind. He went back into his palace and did not care.
The Egyptians dug holes near the river to find water to drink. Seven days went by.
Scene 5 of 10Frogs and Gnats
God sent Moses back with the same message. If Pharaoh would not let the people go, frogs would cover Egypt.
Aaron stretched his hand over the water. Frogs came up and covered the land. God had warned they would get into houses, bedrooms, beds, and even ovens.
Pharaoh's magicians did the same thing with their magic. They brought up frogs too.
Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron. "Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away," he said. "Then I will let your people go."
Moses prayed. The frogs died. People piled them up in heaps, and the land stank.
But when Pharaoh saw that the trouble was over, he hardened his heart. He would not listen.
Next, with no warning, Aaron struck the dust with his staff. The dust turned into gnats, tiny bugs, all over Egypt. This time the magicians could not copy it. They told Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God" (8:19). This is a comparison. They meant God was doing this. But Pharaoh still would not listen.
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Scene 6 of 10Flies and Livestock
Then God warned Pharaoh that flies would come the next day. Thick swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh's palace and his officials' houses. The flies ruined the land. But there were no flies in Goshen, where the Israelites lived. God said this showed that he was the LORD, even in Egypt.
Pharaoh called Moses. "Go and worship your God," he said. "But do it here in Egypt."
Moses said no. They needed to go three days into the desert, as God had said.
"All right, you may go," Pharaoh said. "But not very far. Now pray for me."
Moses agreed. But he warned Pharaoh not to lie to them again.
Moses prayed, and God took the flies away. Not one fly was left. But Pharaoh hardened his heart again. He would not let the people go.
Next, God warned that a terrible sickness would hit Egypt's animals. The next day it came. The horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, and sheep in the fields died. But not one animal of the Israelites died. Pharaoh sent men to check. It was true. Still, his heart was hard.
Scene 7 of 10Boils and Hail
Then, with no warning, Moses threw handfuls of soot into the air. Soot is black dust from a fire. It spread over Egypt. Painful boils, which are sores full of pus, broke out on people and animals. The magicians had boils too. They could not even stand in front of Moses.
This time the Bible says, "But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart" (9:12).
Then God warned Pharaoh about a huge hailstorm. Some of Pharaoh's officials believed the warning. They brought their servants and animals inside. Others did not listen.
Moses stretched his staff toward the sky. Thunder crashed. Lightning flashed through the falling hail. It was the worst storm Egypt had ever seen. It struck down people and animals left outside. It beat down the plants and stripped the trees.
But in Goshen, there was no hail.
Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron. "This time I have sinned," he said (9:27). He promised to let them go. Moses said he would pray. But he told Pharaoh, "I know you still do not fear the LORD."
Moses prayed, and the storm stopped. Then Pharaoh sinned again. He and his officials hardened their hearts.
Scene 8 of 10Locusts
Moses and Aaron went back to Pharaoh. They brought him God's question. "How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me?" (10:3). If Pharaoh refused, locusts would come the next day. Locusts are a type of grasshopper that fly in huge swarms.
Pharaoh's own officials spoke up. "Do you not yet realize that Egypt is in ruins?" (10:7). They told Pharaoh to let the people go.
So Pharaoh called Moses back. He asked who would go to worship. Moses said everyone, young and old, and all their animals. Pharaoh said only the men could go. Then he had Moses and Aaron thrown out.
Moses stretched his staff over Egypt. God sent an east wind all day and all night. By morning, the wind had brought the locusts. They covered the ground until it was black. They ate every plant and every fruit the hail had left. Nothing green was left in Egypt.
Pharaoh quickly called Moses and Aaron. "I have sinned," he said. "Please forgive me once more, and pray."
Moses prayed. God sent a strong west wind. It blew every locust into the Red Sea. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart. He would not let the people go.
Scene 9 of 10Darkness
Then, with no warning, Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky. Total darkness covered Egypt for three days. No one could see anyone else. No one left home. But all the Israelites had light where they lived.
Pharaoh called Moses. "Go and worship," he said. "Take your children too. But leave your animals behind."
Moses said no. They needed the animals to worship God. "Not a hoof will be left behind" (10:26).
The LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart. Pharaoh told Moses to get out. He said if Moses ever saw his face again, Moses would die.
"As you say," Moses answered. "I will never see your face again."
Scene 10 of 10One More Plague
God told Moses, "I will bring upon Pharaoh and Egypt one more plague" (11:1). After that, Pharaoh would let them go. He would even drive them out.
God told the people to ask their Egyptian neighbors for silver and gold. God made the Egyptians kind toward the Israelites. Pharaoh's officials and the people of Egypt respected Moses.
Moses gave Pharaoh the LORD's warning. About midnight, God would go through Egypt. Every firstborn son, the oldest son in each family, would die. It would happen in every family, from Pharaoh's family to the family of the servant girl grinding grain. The firstborn animals would die too.
People all over Egypt would cry out loudly in grief. But among the Israelites, not even a dog would snarl. This means the Israelites would be safe and calm. Pharaoh's own officials would bow to Moses and beg the Israelites to go.
Moses was very angry, and he left Pharaoh. And still, the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart. He would not let the Israelites go.
The last plague was coming.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Let My people go" (5:1) | God claims the slaves as his own people. Pharaoh does not own them. |
| "Who is the LORD?" (5:2) | Pharaoh did not know God, and he did not think he had to obey him. The plagues answer his question: "By this you will know that I am the LORD" (7:17). |
| "I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God" (6:7) | God says who they are before they are free. They belong to him. |
| "This is the finger of God" (8:19) | Even Pharaoh's magicians saw that God was at work. |
| "I will make a distinction between My people and your people" (8:23) | God protected Goshen. He showed that he was taking care of his people in the middle of the trouble. |
| "How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me?" (10:3) | God kept giving Pharaoh a chance to stop. Pharaoh kept saying no. |
Back Then
Bricks were made of Nile mud mixed with straw. The straw kept the bricks from cracking. (Smith's Bible Dictionary) Making bricks was the main work of the Israelite slaves. (Easton's Bible Dictionary)
Egypt depended on the Nile River. An old saying calls Egypt "the gift of the Nile." (Smith's Bible Dictionary)
Goshen was the part of Egypt where Jacob's family settled. They stayed there until the Exodus. It was good land for flocks. (Easton's Bible Dictionary)
Locust swarms could cover the ground and strip every green plant from a land. (Easton's Bible Dictionary)
Literal Reader Alert
Did God make Pharaoh say no? The Bible says it both ways. Some verses say Pharaoh hardened his own heart (8:15, 8:32). Other verses say God hardened it (9:12, 10:20). One way to understand it: Pharaoh chose to say no again and again. God then made that choice firm, as his judgment on Pharaoh. God said this would happen even before the plagues began (4:21). Pharaoh was still responsible for what he did. It's okay to notice things like this. Careful readers have asked about it for centuries.
Why did God keep sending plagues? God said he wanted the Egyptians to know that he is the LORD (7:5). He also wanted Israel to tell their children and grandchildren what he did (10:2). Most times, God warned Pharaoh first. The gnats, the boils, and the darkness came with no warning (8:16, 9:8, 10:21). Again and again, Pharaoh heard what God wanted: "Let My people go" (8:1).
Did the plagues hurt ordinary Egyptians? Yes. The people lost their water, their animals, and their crops. Christians have struggled with this passage for a long time. The Bible does not say the Egyptian people deserved it. Before the hail, God told Pharaoh to bring people and animals inside, and the officials who listened did (9:19-20). Pharaoh's own officials told him to let the people go (10:7). When God seems frightening in a story like this, look to Jesus, the clearest picture of who God is.
Can I pray and still have a hard heart? Pharaoh asked Moses to pray for him four times (8:8, 8:28, 9:28, 10:17). Three times he promised to let the people go (8:8, 8:28, 9:28). Each time the trouble stopped, he went back on his word. Moses told him, "I know you still do not fear the LORD" (9:30). The Bible shows that saying sorry to make trouble stop is not the same as turning to God. If you worry about your own heart, remember God's promise: "I will give you a new heart" (Ezekiel 36:26).
Wait, didn't Moses say he would never see Pharaoh again? Yes (10:29). But in chapter 11, Moses gives Pharaoh one more warning, then leaves him (11:8). Many readers think Moses gave the warning in 11:4-8 during that same last meeting, before he left. It's okay to notice things like this. Careful readers have asked about it for centuries.
Why does the story end with a warning about firstborn sons? This is one of the hardest parts of the Bible. It's okay to feel sad or upset about it. Before the plagues began, God told Pharaoh, "Israel is My firstborn son" (4:22). He warned Pharaoh to let his son go (4:23). Pharaoh refused again and again. Christians have struggled with this passage for a long time. The story The Passover tells what happened next. If this story brings up big feelings, talk with a parent, pastor, or trusted adult.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pharaoh | Proud | He would not humble himself before God (10:3) |
| The foremen | Angry | They were beaten, and they blamed Moses and Aaron (5:14, 5:21) |
| Moses | Confused and upset | He had done what God said, and things got worse (5:22-23) |
| The Israelites | Crushed | Their spirit was broken, so they could not listen (6:9) |
| Pharaoh's officials | Worried | They saw that Egypt was in ruins (10:7) |
| Moses | Very angry | He had just given Pharaoh God's last warning (11:4-8). The Bible does not say more about why |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
Where are you in this story today? Tap one.
Things got worse
Moses did what God asked, and everything got harder. He told God exactly how he felt. God did not punish him for asking. He answered with a promise.
Too worn out to listen
The slaves were too crushed to listen to good news (6:9). God rescued them anyway. He hears you when you can't find the words.
Stubborn, like Pharaoh
If you notice yourself getting stubborn toward God, that noticing is a gift. You can ask God to change you. God promised, "I will give you a new heart" (Ezekiel 36:26).
Waiting for God to act
The rescue did not come all at once. It came one plague after another. God kept every promise. He did it in his own time. If waiting feels too heavy, talk with a parent, pastor, or trusted adult.
You Might Have Heard
"The lesson is: don't be stubborn like Pharaoh."
What's true: Pharaoh's pride hurt him and his whole land. It is good to listen when God speaks.
What the story is mainly about: God keeping his promise. God said, "I will take you as My own people" (6:7). A king said no again and again. Slaves were too crushed to listen. Moses complained. God kept going until his people were free.
Where Jesus is: Jesus read these words from the prophet Isaiah about himself. "He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives" (Luke 4:18). Liberty means freedom. The God who freed slaves in Egypt is the same God we meet in Jesus.
Good News
God did not wait for the slaves to have strong faith. They were too crushed to listen (6:9). God rescued them anyway.
When things got worse, God did not give up. When Pharaoh broke his promises, God kept his. Faith is not something the Israelites made on their own. God kept speaking until they could hear.
Jesus said, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).
God keeps his promises even when a whole kingdom says no.
Big Idea
God heard his crushed people and kept his promise to free them, even when a proud king said no again and again.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
In the Large Catechism (1529), Luther explains the First Commandment. He says your god is whatever you trust most and run to when you are in trouble. Pharaoh said, "I do not know the LORD" (5:2). Pharaoh is a picture of trusting something other than God. Luther's Small Catechism says we should fear, love, and trust God above all things.
In Church
Exodus 5 to 11 is not read on any Sunday in the Revised Common Lectionary. Parts of it are in the lectionary's weekday readings, such as the blood (7:14-25) and the last warning (11:1-10) in Year A. The Sunday readings pick up the story at the Passover, on Maundy Thursday (Exodus 12:1-14).
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God.
How did that feel?