Then the LORD said to Moses and AaronThis phrase indicates direct divine communication, emphasizing the authority and command of God. Moses and Aaron are God's chosen leaders to confront Pharaoh, highlighting their roles as prophets and mediators. This reflects the consistent biblical theme of God using chosen individuals to fulfill His purposes, as seen with other prophets like Elijah and Jeremiah.
Take handfuls of soot from the furnace
The soot from the furnace symbolizes the oppression and labor of the Israelites in Egypt, as furnaces were used for brick-making, a task imposed on the Israelites. This act serves as a reminder of their suffering and God's awareness of their plight. The soot also foreshadows the coming plague, representing the transformation of oppression into judgment against Egypt.
in the sight of Pharaoh
Performing this act in Pharaoh's presence is significant as it serves as a direct challenge to his authority and a demonstration of God's power. It underscores the public nature of God's judgments and the opportunity for Pharaoh to witness and respond to God's signs, similar to the confrontations between Elijah and the prophets of Baal.
Moses is to toss it into the air
The act of tossing soot into the air symbolizes the spread and inevitability of the plague. It signifies the transition from a symbolic act to a tangible judgment, illustrating the power of God to transform the natural elements into instruments of His will. This action parallels other biblical instances where physical acts accompany divine intervention, such as the parting of the Red Sea or the fall of Jericho.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The LORDThe covenant name of God, Yahweh, who is orchestrating the events to demonstrate His power and sovereignty over Egypt and its gods.
2.
MosesThe prophet and leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egyptian bondage.
3.
AaronMoses' brother and spokesperson, who assists Moses in confronting Pharaoh and performing signs.
4.
PharaohThe ruler of Egypt, whose heart is hardened against letting the Israelites go, serving as an antagonist in the account.
5.
FurnaceA place where soot is collected, symbolizing the labor and oppression of the Israelites in Egypt, as well as a tool for God's judgment.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty and PowerThe act of taking soot and turning it into a plague demonstrates God's control over creation and His ability to use simple elements to fulfill His purposes.
Symbolism of Soot and FurnaceThe soot from the furnace represents the oppression of the Israelites and becomes a tool of judgment against Egypt, showing that God can turn the instruments of oppression into instruments of justice.
Obedience to God's CommandsMoses and Aaron's obedience in performing God's instructions serves as a model for believers to trust and obey God's commands, even when they seem unusual or challenging.
Hardened Hearts and Divine JudgmentPharaoh's hardened heart serves as a warning about the dangers of resisting God's will and the inevitable consequences of such resistance.
God's Deliverance and FaithfulnessThe plagues are part of God's plan to deliver His people, reminding believers of God's faithfulness to His promises and His power to save.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Exodus 9:8?
2.How does Exodus 9:8 demonstrate God's power over nature and human health?
3.What role does obedience play in Moses and Aaron's actions in Exodus 9:8?
4.How does Exodus 9:8 connect to God's covenant promises to Israel?
5.How can we trust God's sovereignty in difficult circumstances, as seen in Exodus 9:8?
6.What does Exodus 9:8 teach about God's response to Pharaoh's hardened heart?
7.How does Exodus 9:8 demonstrate God's power over nature and humanity?
8.What is the significance of Moses and Aaron using soot in Exodus 9:8?
9.How does Exodus 9:8 fit into the narrative of the ten plagues?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 9?
11.Why does God cause people's hearts to harden?
12.What were the Ten Plagues of Egypt in the Bible?
13.How do we reconcile Revelation 16’s imagery with the more symbolic or metaphorical interpretations found in other prophetic books?
14.What are the Seven Bowls of Revelation?What Does Exodus 9:8 Mean
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron• God Himself initiates the sixth plague, underscoring His absolute sovereignty (Exodus 6:2; 7:1–2).
• Both leaders are addressed, highlighting cooperative obedience—Aaron’s support of Moses mirrors earlier commands (Exodus 4:14–16).
• The sentence follows five previous plagues; Pharaoh’s hardened heart triggers further judgment (Exodus 8:32; 9:12).
• The wording reminds us that every plague answers Pharaoh’s question, “Who is the LORD?” (Exodus 5:2).
Take handfuls of soot from the furnace• “Soot” (fine black ash) comes from a brick-kiln furnace—symbolic of Israel’s bondage (Deuteronomy 4:20;Exodus 1:13–14).
• What once oppressed God’s people becomes a tool of divine justice; the furnace of suffering turns into a furnace of judgment (Genesis 15:13–14).
• Handfuls suggest an abundant supply—God’s judgment is not meager or accidental (Psalm 78:43–48).
• The action demonstrates that ordinary material, when commanded by God, becomes an instrument of miraculous power (2 Kings 2:21;John 9:6).
in the sight of Pharaoh• The plague’s preparation is public; Pharaoh cannot dismiss it as coincidence (Exodus 7:10; 8:20; 9:13).
• God confronts the king where he rules—invading his court with undeniable evidence (Romans 1:18–20).
• The magicians, once able to mimic signs, will now be incapacitated by boils (Exodus 9:11), proving the impotence of Egypt’s gods (Exodus 12:12).
Moses is to toss it into the air• The gesture scatters soot like dust, reaching both people and animals (Exodus 9:10).
• Boils erupt over Egypt, contrasting with earlier plagues confined to specific areas (Job 2:7;Revelation 16:2).
• Tossing upward signifies that judgment ultimately descends from heaven; Moses merely serves as God’s agent (Exodus 9:22-23).
• The act anticipates later rituals where material is cast or sprinkled to signify cleansing or condemnation (Leviticus 16:12-13;Numbers 19:17-19).
summaryExodus 9:8 shows God taking the very emblem of Israel’s oppression—soot from a slave furnace—and turning it into a weapon of judgment, publicly humbling Pharaoh. Every detail highlights divine initiative, total authority, and purposeful symbolism. The command prepares the sixth plague, revealing that the LORD’s power extends from the lowly ashes of human suffering to the highest throne in Egypt, and that His words, once spoken, unfailingly accomplish His righteous purposes.
THE SIXTH PLAGUE.
(8-10) Here, again, there is little question of what the plague was. Doubts may be entertained as to its exact character, and its proper medical designation, but all agree, and cannot but agree, that it was a visitation of the bodies of men with a severe cutaneous disorder, accompanied by pustules or ulcers. It was not announced beforehand to the Egyptians, nor were they allowed the opportunity of escaping it. Like the third plague, it was altogether of the nature of a judgment; and the judgment was a severe one. Now, for the first time, was acute suffering inflicted on the persons of men; now, for the first time, was it shown how Jehovah could smite with a terrible disease; and if with a disease, why not with death? No doubt those stricken suffered unequally; but with some the affliction may have resembled the final affliction of Job, when he was smitten with "sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown" (Job 2:7). Its severity is marked by the statement that "the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils" (Exodus 9:11). And it was universal, or quasi-universal (Exodus 9:11). Moreover, it was not confined to men; it was also "upon the beasts"--i.e., upon such of the domesticated animals as had escaped the preceding plague. It does not, however, seem to have been fatal; and it wrought no change upon the Pharaoh, whose heart God is now, for the first time, said to have hardened (Exodus 9:12), as He had declared to Moses (Exodus 4:21;Exodus 7:3). . . .
Verses 8-12. - THE SIXTH PLAGUE. The sixth plague was sent, like the third, without notice given. It was also, like the third, a plague which inflicted direct injury upon the person. There was a very solemn warning in it; for the same power that could afflict the body with "boils and blains,"
i.e., with a severe cutaneous disease accompanied by pustulous ulcers - could also (it must have been felt) smite it with death. It is uncertain what exactly the malady was. Some have supposed elephantiasis, some "black leprosy," some merely an eruptive disease such as is even now common m Egypt during the autumn. But it is, at any rate, evident that the malady was exceedingly severe - "the magicians could not stand before Moses" because of it (ver. 11). If it was "the botch of Egypt" (
Deuteronomy 28:27), as seems probable, since the name in the Hebrew is the same, it was incurable. Pharaoh and his people were warned by it that God's power would be shown on themselves, not in the way of mere annoyance - as with the earlier plagues - but of serious injury - and if
so, why not of death? Thus, the sixth plague heralded the tenth, and, except the tenth, was the most severe of all.
Verse 8. -
Ashes of the furnace. Rather "soot from the furnace." The word commonly used in Hebrew for "ashes" is different. Many recondite reasons have been brought forward for the directions here given. But perhaps the object was simply to show that as water, and earth (
Exodus 8:13) and air (
Exodus 10:13) could be turned into plagues, so fire could be. The "soot of the furnace" might well represent fire, and was peculiarly appropriate for the preduction of a disease which was in the main an "inflammation." It is not likely that Moses imitated any superstitious practice of the priests of Egypt.
Toward the heaven. The act indicated that the plague would come from heaven -
i.e. from God.
In the sight of Pharaoh. Compare
Exodus 7:20 It is probable that the symbolic act which brought the plague was performed "in the sight of Pharaoh" in every case, except where the plague was unannounced, though the fact is not always recorded.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Then the LORDיְהוָה֮(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelsaidוַיֹּ֣אמֶר(way·yō·mer)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559:To utter, saytoאֶל־(’el-)Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, toMosesמֹשֶׁ֣ה(mō·šeh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872:Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiverand Aaron,אַהֲרֹן֒(’a·hă·rōn)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175:Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses“Takeקְח֤וּ(qə·ḥū)Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3947:To takehandfulsמְלֹ֣א(mə·lō)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4393:Fullness, that which fillsof sootפִּ֖יחַ(pî·aḥ)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6368:A powder, ashes, dustfrom the furnace;כִּבְשָׁ֑ן(kiḇ·šān)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3536:A smelting furnacein the sightלְעֵינֵ֥י(lə·‘ê·nê)Preposition-l | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869:An eye, a fountainof Pharaoh,פַרְעֹֽה׃(p̄ar·‘ōh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547:Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kingsMosesמֹשֶׁ֛ה(mō·šeh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872:Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiveris to toss itוּזְרָק֥וֹ(ū·zə·rā·qōw)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2236:Be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strewinto the air.הַשָּׁמַ֖יְמָה(haš·šā·may·māh)Article | Noun - masculine plural | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8064:Heaven, sky
Links
Exodus 9:8 NIVExodus 9:8 NLTExodus 9:8 ESVExodus 9:8 NASBExodus 9:8 KJV
Exodus 9:8 BibleApps.comExodus 9:8 Biblia ParalelaExodus 9:8 Chinese BibleExodus 9:8 French BibleExodus 9:8 Catholic Bible
OT Law: Exodus 9:8 Yahweh said to Moses and to Aaron (Exo. Ex) 
