God Commands Moses and Aaron

1  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses), רְאֵ֛ה (See), נְתַתִּ֥יךָ (I have made you) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) לְפַרְעֹ֑ה (to Pharaoh), וְאַהֲרֹ֥ן (and Aaron) אָחִ֖יךָ (your brother) יִהְיֶ֥ה (shall be) נְבִיאֶֽךָ׃ (your prophet). 2  אַתָּ֣ה (You) תְדַבֵּ֔ר (shall speak) אֵ֖ת (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) אֲצַוֶּ֑ךָּ (I command you), וְאַהֲרֹ֤ן (and Aaron) אָחִ֙יךָ֙ (your brother) יְדַבֵּ֣ר (shall speak) אֶל־ (to) פַּרְעֹ֔ה (Pharaoh), וְשִׁלַּ֥ח (that he may send out) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) מֵאַרְצֽוֹ׃ (from his land).

3  וַאֲנִ֥י (And I) אַקְשֶׁ֖ה (will harden) אֶת־ (-) לֵ֣ב (the heart) פַּרְעֹ֑ה (of Pharaoh) וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֧י (and I will multiply) אֶת־ (-) אֹתֹתַ֛י (My signs) וְאֶת־ (and) מוֹפְתַ֖י (My wonders) בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (in the land) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt). 4  וְלֹֽא־ (Not) יִשְׁמַ֤ע (will listen) אֲלֵכֶם֙ (to you⁺) פַּרְעֹ֔ה (Pharaoh),

וְנָתַתִּ֥י (and I will put) אֶת־ (-) יָדִ֖י (My hand) בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם (on Egypt) וְהוֹצֵאתִ֨י (and I will bring out) אֶת־ (-) צִבְאֹתַ֜י (My armies), אֶת־ (-) עַמִּ֤י (My people) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel), מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (out of the land) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt) בִּשְׁפָטִ֖ים (by judgments) גְּדֹלִֽים׃ (great). 5  וְיָדְע֤וּ (And shall know) מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ (the Egyptians) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֣י (I) יְהוָ֔ה (am YHWH), בִּנְטֹתִ֥י (when I stretch out) אֶת־ (My) יָדִ֖י (hand) עַל־ (against) מִצְרָ֑יִם (Egypt) וְהוֹצֵאתִ֥י (and bring out) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) מִתּוֹכָֽם׃ (from their midst).

6  וַיַּ֥עַשׂ (And did) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) וְאַהֲרֹ֑ן (and Aaron) כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר (as) צִוָּ֧ה (commanded) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) אֹתָ֖ם (them), כֵּ֥ן (so) עָשֽׂוּ׃ (they did). 7  וּמֹשֶׁה֙ (And Moses) בֶּן־ (was a son) שְׁמֹנִ֣ים (of eighty) שָׁנָ֔ה (years), וְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ן (and Aaron) בֶּן־ (was a son of) שָׁלֹ֥שׁ (three) וּשְׁמֹנִ֖ים (and eighty) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), בְּדַבְּרָ֖ם (when they spoke) אֶל־ (to) פַּרְעֹֽה׃פ (Pharaoh).

Aaron’s Staff

8  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And spoke) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֥ה (Moses) וְאֶֽל־ (and to) אַהֲרֹ֖ן (Aaron), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 9  כִּי֩ (When) יְדַבֵּ֨ר (speaks) אֲלֵכֶ֤ם (to you⁺) פַּרְעֹה֙ (Pharaoh), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), תְּנ֥וּ (Give) לָכֶ֖ם (for yourselves) מוֹפֵ֑ת (a wonder), וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (and you shall say) אֶֽל־ (to) אַהֲרֹ֗ן (Aaron), קַ֧ח (Take) אֶֽת־ (-) מַטְּךָ֛ (your staff) וְהַשְׁלֵ֥ךְ (and cast it down) לִפְנֵֽי־ (before the face of) פַרְעֹ֖ה (Pharaoh). יְהִ֥י (Let it become) לְתַנִּֽין׃ (a monster).

10  וַיָּבֹ֨א (And went in) מֹשֶׁ֤ה (Moses) וְאַהֲרֹן֙ (and Aaron) אֶל־ (to) פַּרְעֹ֔ה (Pharaoh), וַיַּ֣עַשׂוּ (and they did) כֵ֔ן (so) כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (as) צִוָּ֣ה (had commanded) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH). וַיַּשְׁלֵ֨ךְ (And cast down) אַהֲרֹ֜ן (Aaron) אֶת־ (-) מַטֵּ֗הוּ (his staff) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) פַרְעֹ֛ה (Pharaoh) וְלִפְנֵ֥י (and before the face) עֲבָדָ֖יו (of his servants), וַיְהִ֥י (and it became) לְתַנִּֽין׃ (a monster).

11  וַיִּקְרָא֙ (And called) גַּם־ (also) פַּרְעֹ֔ה (Pharaoh) לַֽחֲכָמִ֖ים (for the wise men) וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִ֑ים (and for the sorcerers); וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֨וּ (and they did) גַם־ (also) הֵ֜ם (they), חַרְטֻמֵּ֥י (the magicians) מִצְרַ֛יִם (of Egypt), בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶ֖ם (with their secret arts) כֵּֽן׃ (so). 12  וַיַּשְׁלִ֙יכוּ֙ (And they cast down) אִ֣ישׁ (each man) מַטֵּ֔הוּ (his staff), וַיִּהְי֖וּ (and they became) לְתַנִּינִ֑ם (monsters). וַיִּבְלַ֥ע (And swallowed up) מַטֵּֽה־ (the staff) אַהֲרֹ֖ן (of Aaron) אֶת־ (-) מַטֹּתָֽם׃ (their staffs).

13  וַיֶּחֱזַק֙ (And was strengthened) לֵ֣ב (the heart) פַּרְעֹ֔ה (of Pharaoh), וְלֹ֥א (and not) שָׁמַ֖ע (he did listen) אֲלֵהֶ֑ם (to them), כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (as) דִּבֶּ֥ר (had spoken) יְהוָֽה׃פ (YHWH).

The First Plague: Blood

14  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses), כָּבֵ֖ד (Is heavy) לֵ֣ב (the heart) פַּרְעֹ֑ה (of Pharaoh); מֵאֵ֖ן (he has refused) לְשַׁלַּ֥ח (to send out) הָעָֽם׃ (the people). 15  לֵ֣ךְ (Go) אֶל־ (to) פַּרְעֹ֞ה (Pharaoh) בַּבֹּ֗קֶר (in the morning). הִנֵּה֙ (Behold), יֹצֵ֣א (he goes out) הַמַּ֔יְמָה (to the water), וְנִצַּבְתָּ֥ (and you shall stand) לִקְרָאת֖וֹ (to meet him) עַל־ (by) שְׂפַ֣ת (the edge) הַיְאֹ֑ר (of the River). וְהַמַּטֶּ֛ה (And the staff) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ (was turned) לְנָחָ֖שׁ (into a serpent), תִּקַּ֥ח (you shall take) בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃ (in your hand). 16  וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (And you shall say) אֵלָ֗יו (to him), יְהוָ֞ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֤י (God) הָעִבְרִים֙ (of the Hebrews) שְׁלָחַ֤נִי (has sent me) אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ (to you), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), שַׁלַּח֙ (Send out) אֶת־ (-) עַמִּ֔י (My people) וְיַֽעַבְדֻ֖נִי (that they may serve Me) בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר (in the wilderness). וְהִנֵּ֥ה (And behold), לֹא־ (not) שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ (you would listen) עַד־ (until) כֹּֽה׃ (now). 17  כֹּ֚ה (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH): בְּזֹ֣את (By this) תֵּדַ֔ע (you shall know) כִּ֖י (that) אֲנִ֣י (I) יְהוָ֑ה (am YHWH). הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), אָנֹכִ֜י (I) מַכֶּ֣ה׀ (am striking) בַּמַּטֶּ֣ה (with the staff) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) בְּיָדִ֗י (is in my hand) עַל־ (upon) הַמַּ֛יִם (the waters) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) בַּיְאֹ֖ר (are in the River), וְנֶהֶפְכ֥וּ (and they shall be turned) לְדָֽם׃ (to blood). 18  וְהַדָּגָ֧ה (And the fish) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) בַּיְאֹ֛ר (are in the River) תָּמ֖וּת (shall die), וּבָאַ֣שׁ (shall stink) הַיְאֹ֑ר (and the River). וְנִלְא֣וּ (And shall be weary) מִצְרַ֔יִם (the Egyptians) לִשְׁתּ֥וֹת (to drink) מַ֖יִם (water) מִן־ (from) הַיְאֹֽר׃ס (the River).

19  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֗ה (Moses), אֱמֹ֣ר (Say) אֶֽל־ (to) אַהֲרֹ֡ן (Aaron), קַ֣ח (Take) מַטְּךָ֣ (your staff) וּנְטֵֽה־ (and stretch out) יָדְךָ֩ (your hand) עַל־ (over) מֵימֵ֨י (the waters) מִצְרַ֜יִם (of Egypt), עַֽל־ (over) נַהֲרֹתָ֣ם׀ (their streams), עַל־ (over) יְאֹרֵיהֶ֣ם (their rivers), וְעַל־ (and over) אַגְמֵיהֶ֗ם (their ponds), וְעַ֛ל (and over) כָּל־ (all) מִקְוֵ֥ה (their pools) מֵימֵיהֶ֖ם (of water), וְיִֽהְיוּ־ (and they shall become) דָ֑ם (blood). וְהָ֤יָה (And there shall be) דָם֙ (blood) בְּכָל־ (in all) אֶ֣רֶץ (the land) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt), וּבָעֵצִ֖ים (and even in the vessels of wood) וּבָאֲבָנִֽים׃ (and in the vessels of stone).

20  וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־ (And did) כֵן֩ (so) מֹשֶׁ֨ה (Moses) וְאַהֲרֹ֜ן (and Aaron) כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר׀ (as) צִוָּ֣ה (had commanded) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH); וַיָּ֤רֶם (and he lifted up) בַּמַּטֶּה֙ (the staff) וַיַּ֤ךְ (and struck) אֶת־ (-) הַמַּ֙יִם֙ (the waters) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) בַּיְאֹ֔ר (were in the River), לְעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) פַרְעֹ֔ה (of Pharaoh) וּלְעֵינֵ֖י (and in the eyes) עֲבָדָ֑יו (of his servants), וַיֵּהָֽפְכ֛וּ (and were turned) כָּל־ (all) הַמַּ֥יִם (the waters) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) בַּיְאֹ֖ר (were in the River) לְדָֽם׃ (to blood). 21  וְהַדָּגָ֨ה (And the fish) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) בַּיְאֹ֥ר (were in the River) מֵ֙תָה֙ (died). וַיִּבְאַ֣שׁ (And stank) הַיְאֹ֔ר (the River), וְלֹא־ (and not) יָכְל֣וּ (was able) מִצְרַ֔יִם (Egypt) לִשְׁתּ֥וֹת (to drink) מַ֖יִם (water) מִן־ (from) הַיְאֹ֑ר (the River); וַיְהִ֥י (and was) הַדָּ֖ם (the blood) בְּכָל־ (in all) אֶ֥רֶץ (the land) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt).

22  וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־ (And did) כֵ֛ן (so) חַרְטֻמֵּ֥י (the magicians) מִצְרַ֖יִם (of Egypt) בְּלָטֵיהֶ֑ם (with their secret arts). וַיֶּחֱזַ֤ק (And was strengthened) לֵב־ (heart) פַּרְעֹה֙ (of Pharaoh), וְלֹא־ (and not) שָׁמַ֣ע (he did listen) אֲלֵהֶ֔ם (to them), כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (as) דִּבֶּ֥ר (had spoken) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH). 23  וַיִּ֣פֶן (And turned) פַּרְעֹ֔ה (Pharaoh) וַיָּבֹ֖א (and went) אֶל־ (into) בֵּית֑וֹ (his house), וְלֹא־ (and not) שָׁ֥ת (he did set) לִבּ֖וֹ (his heart) גַּם־ (even) לָזֹֽאת׃ (to this). 24  וַיַּחְפְּר֧וּ (And dug) כָל־ (all) מִצְרַ֛יִם (Egypt) סְבִיבֹ֥ת (around) הַיְאֹ֖ר (the River) מַ֣יִם (for water) לִשְׁתּ֑וֹת (to drink), כִּ֣י (because) לֹ֤א (not) יָֽכְלוּ֙ (they were able) לִשְׁתֹּ֔ת (to drink) מִמֵּימֵ֖י (from the waters) הַיְאֹֽר׃ (of the River).

25  וַיִּמָּלֵ֖א (And passed) שִׁבְעַ֣ת (seven) יָמִ֑ים (days) אַחֲרֵ֥י (after) הַכּוֹת־ (struck) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) הַיְאֹֽר׃פ (the river).