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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 8:18 The magicians tried to produce gnats using their magic arts, but they could not. And the gnats remained on man and beast.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/8-18.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/02_Exo_08_18.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 8:18 - The Third Plague: Gnats" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The magicians tried to produce gnats using their magic arts, but they could not. 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Since the gnats were on people and animals everywhere,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/8.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Pharaoh’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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/8.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The magicians tried to produce gnats using their magic arts, but they could not. And the gnats remained on man and beast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/8.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/8.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The soothsayer priests tried with their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not; so there were gnats on <i>every</i> person and animal.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/8.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The magicians tried with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not; so there were gnats on man and beast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And the magicians tried with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not; so there were gnats on man and beast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then the magicians did the same with their secret arts in order to bring forth gnats, but they could not; so there were gnats on man and beast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The magicians (soothsayer-priests) tried by their secret arts <i>and</i> enchantments to create gnats, but they could not; and there were gnats on man and animal.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The magicians tried to produce gnats using their occult practices, but they could not. The gnats remained on people and animals.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The magicians tried to produce gnats using their occult practices, but they could not. The gnats remained on man and beast.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/8.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: and there were lice upon man, and upon beast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />When the magicians tried to use their secret powers to do this, they failed, and gnats stayed on people and animals. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/8.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: and there were lice upon man, and upon beast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The magicians also tried to produce gnats using their magic spells, but they couldn't do it. The gnats bit people and animals.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/8.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The magicians tried to use their magic to make gnats appear, but they failed. There were gnats everywhere, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/8.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but they were unable to bring out the gnats. The gnats were on the people and the animals.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The magicians tried to produce gnats using their magic arts, but they could not. And the gnats remained on man and beast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/8.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />When the magicians attempted to bring forth gnats by their secret arts, they could not. So there were gnats on people and on animals.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The magicians tried with their secret arts to bring forth lice, but they couldn't. There were lice on man, and on animal.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the magicians did so with their inchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man and upon beast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/8.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The magicians tried with their enchantments to produce lice, but they couldn’t. There were lice on man, and on animal. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And the enchanters do so with their secrets, to bring out the gnats, and they have not been able, and the gnats are on man and on beast;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And the scribes do so with their flashings, to bring out the gnats, and they have not been able, and the gnats are on man and on beast;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br /><RF q=*><font color=#808080><i>The original Julia E. Smith Bible records the following as a verse reference for </i></font><i><font color=#0000FF> <a href=#>Exodus 8:14</a></i></font><Rf>And they will do so; and Aaron will stretch forth his hand with his rod, and will smite the dust of the earth, and it will be gnats upon man and in quadrupeds: all the dust of the earth was gnats upon all the land of Egypt.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the magicians with their enchantments practiced in like manner, to bring forth sciniphs, and they could not and there were sciniphs as well on men as on beasts. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And the sorcerers, with their incantations, did similarly, in order to bring forth stinging insects, but they were not able. And there were stinging insects, as much on men as on beasts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/8.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Though the magicians did the same thing to produce gnats by their magic arts, they could not do so. The gnats were on human being and beast alike,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, but they could not. There were gnats on both humans and animals.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the magicians did the same by means of their magic to bring forth lice, but they could not get rid of the lice; so there were lice on men and on cattle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/8.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the Sorcerers did in this way also by their sorceries and they were not capable of removal of the lice, and there were lice on the children of men and on the animals.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/8.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the magicians did so with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not; and there were gnats upon man, and upon beast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the charmers also did so with their sorceries, to bring forth the louse, and they could not. And the lice were both on the men and on the quadrupeds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/8-18.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=1785" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/8.htm">The Third Plague: Gnats</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">17</span>This they did, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, gnats came upon man and beast. All the dust of the earth turned into gnats throughout the land of Egypt. <span class="reftext">18</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2748.htm" title="2748: ha·ḥar·ṭum·mîm (Art:: N-mp) -- An engraver, writer. From the same as cheret; a horoscopist.">The magicians</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: way·ya·‘ă·śū- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">tried</a> <a href="/hebrew/3651.htm" title="3651: ḵên (Adv) -- So, thus. From kuwn; properly, set upright; hence just; but usually rightly or so."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3318.htm" title="3318: lə·hō·w·ṣî (Prep-l:: V-Hifil-Inf) -- A primitive root; to go out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.">to produce</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3654.htm" title="3654: hak·kin·nîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Gnat, gnats, a gnat swarm. From kanan in the sense of fastening; a gnat (and irreg. In Exod. 8:17, Exod. 8:18; Heb. 13:14).">gnats</a> <a href="/hebrew/3909.htm" title="3909: bə·lā·ṭê·hem (Prep-b:: N-mpc:: 3mp) -- A form of la't or else participle from luwt; properly, covered, i.e. Secret; by implication, incantation; also secrecy or covertly.">using their magic arts,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3201.htm" title="3201: yā·ḵō·lū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To be able, have power. Or yakowl; a primitive root; to be able, literally or morally.">but they could</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">not.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3654.htm" title="3654: hak·kin·nām (Art:: N-ms) -- Gnat, gnats, a gnat swarm. From kanan in the sense of fastening; a gnat (and irreg. In Exod. 8:17, Exod. 8:18; Heb. 13:14).">And the gnats</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: wat·tə·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">remained</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: bā·’ā·ḏām (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">on man</a> <a href="/hebrew/929.htm" title="929: ū·ḇab·bə·hê·māh (Conj-w, Prep-b, Art:: N-fs) -- A beast, animal, cattle. From an unused root; properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal.">and beast.</a> </span><span class="reftext">19</span>“This is the finger of God,” the magicians said to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/7-11.htm">Exodus 7:11-12</a></span><br />But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts. / Each one threw down his staff, and it became a serpent. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up the other staffs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/9-11.htm">Exodus 9:11</a></span><br />The magicians could not stand before Moses, because the boils had broken out on them and on all the Egyptians.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_timothy/3-8.htm">2 Timothy 3:8-9</a></span><br />Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith. / But they will not advance much further. For just like Jannes and Jambres, their folly will be plain to everyone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/16-13.htm">Revelation 16:13-14</a></span><br />And I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. / These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/12-24.htm">Matthew 12:24-28</a></span><br />But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.” / Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. / If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/8-9.htm">Acts 8:9-11</a></span><br />Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, / and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” / They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_thessalonians/2-9.htm">2 Thessalonians 2:9-10</a></span><br />The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, / and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/13-1.htm">Deuteronomy 13:1-3</a></span><br />If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, / and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” / you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/18-36.htm">1 Kings 18:36-39</a></span><br />At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command. / Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.” / Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/2-10.htm">Daniel 2:10-11</a></span><br />The astrologers answered the king, “No one on earth can do what the king requests! No king, however great and powerful, has ever asked anything like this of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer. / What the king requests is so difficult that no one can tell it to him except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-25.htm">Isaiah 44:25</a></span><br />who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/10-11.htm">Jeremiah 10:11-15</a></span><br />Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.” / The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. / When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/13-6.htm">Ezekiel 13:6-9</a></span><br />They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. / Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken? / Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/1-19.htm">1 Corinthians 1:19-20</a></span><br />For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” / Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-19.htm">Galatians 5:19-21</a></span><br />The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice on man, and on beast.</p><p class="hdg">the magicians</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/7-11.htm">Exodus 7:11</a></b></br> Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.</p><p class="hdg">they could</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/9-11.htm">Exodus 9:11</a></b></br> And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/41-8.htm">Genesis 41:8</a></b></br> And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but <i>there was</i> none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/19-12.htm">Isaiah 19:12</a></b></br> Where <i>are</i> they? where <i>are</i> thy wise <i>men</i>? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/7-24.htm">Able</a> <a href="/exodus/8-17.htm">Animal</a> <a href="/genesis/45-17.htm">Animals</a> <a href="/exodus/8-7.htm">Arts</a> <a href="/exodus/4-19.htm">Attempting</a> <a href="/exodus/8-17.htm">Beast</a> <a href="/exodus/7-24.htm">Couldn't</a> <a href="/exodus/8-7.htm">Enchantments</a> <a href="/exodus/8-7.htm">Flashings</a> <a href="/exodus/8-5.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/exodus/8-17.htm">Gnats</a> <a href="/exodus/8-16.htm">Insects</a> <a href="/exodus/8-17.htm">Lice</a> <a href="/exodus/8-7.htm">Magicians</a> <a href="/exodus/5-18.htm">Produce</a> <a href="/exodus/8-7.htm">Scribes</a> <a href="/exodus/8-7.htm">Secret</a> <a href="/exodus/8-7.htm">Sorceries</a> <a href="/exodus/2-15.htm">Tried</a> <a href="/genesis/48-10.htm">Unable</a> <a href="/exodus/8-7.htm">Wonder-Workers</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/9-11.htm">Able</a> <a href="/exodus/9-4.htm">Animal</a> <a href="/exodus/9-7.htm">Animals</a> <a href="/exodus/22-18.htm">Arts</a> <a href="/esther/9-24.htm">Attempting</a> <a href="/exodus/9-9.htm">Beast</a> <a href="/exodus/9-11.htm">Couldn't</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-26.htm">Enchantments</a> <a href="/psalms/76-3.htm">Flashings</a> <a href="/exodus/8-20.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/psalms/105-31.htm">Gnats</a> <a href="/exodus/8-21.htm">Insects</a> <a href="/psalms/105-31.htm">Lice</a> <a href="/exodus/8-19.htm">Magicians</a> <a href="/exodus/22-5.htm">Produce</a> <a href="/exodus/8-19.htm">Scribes</a> <a href="/exodus/22-18.htm">Secret</a> <a href="/2_kings/9-22.htm">Sorceries</a> <a href="/exodus/17-7.htm">Tried</a> <a href="/exodus/19-23.htm">Unable</a> <a href="/exodus/8-19.htm">Wonder-Workers</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 8</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/8-1.htm">Frogs are sent</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/8-8.htm">Pharaoh complains to Moses, who by prayer removes them</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/8-16.htm">The dust is turned into lice, which the magicians could not do</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/8-20.htm">The plague of flies</a></span><br><span class="reftext">25. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/8-25.htm">Pharaoh inclines to let the people go, but yet is hardened</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/8.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/exodus/8.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>The magicians tried to produce gnats using their magic arts</b><br>In the context of the plagues of Egypt, the magicians represent the spiritual and occult practices prevalent in ancient Egypt. These magicians had previously replicated some of the earlier signs, such as turning staffs into serpents and water into blood, using their secret arts. This phrase highlights the limitations of human and demonic power when confronted with the divine power of God. The inability of the magicians to replicate this plague signifies a turning point, demonstrating that the power of God surpasses all earthly and spiritual forces. This event foreshadows the ultimate defeat of evil powers, as seen in the New Testament, where Jesus Christ triumphs over sin and death.<p><b>but they could not</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the sovereignty and supremacy of God over all creation. The magicians' failure to produce gnats marks the first time they are unable to mimic a plague, indicating that God's power is unmatched. This inability serves as a testament to the authenticity of Moses and Aaron as God's chosen messengers. It also prefigures the ultimate victory of God over false gods and idols, as seen throughout the Bible, including the defeat of Baal's prophets by Elijah in <a href="/1_kings/18.htm">1 Kings 18</a>. The phrase underscores the futility of relying on human wisdom and power in opposition to God's will.<p><b>And the gnats remained on man and beast</b><br>The presence of gnats on both humans and animals signifies the pervasive nature of this plague, affecting all aspects of Egyptian life. This infestation would have caused significant discomfort and disruption, highlighting the severity of God's judgment. The mention of both man and beast reflects the comprehensive impact of sin and the need for divine intervention. This phrase can be seen as a type of the pervasive nature of sin, which affects all of creation, and the need for redemption through Jesus Christ, who restores and reconciles all things to God. The gnats' persistence serves as a reminder of the consequences of hardening one's heart against God's commands, as Pharaoh did.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The prophet and leader chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. He is the central human figure in the Exodus account.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/p/pharaoh.htm">Pharaoh</a></b><br>The ruler of Egypt who stubbornly refuses to let the Israelites go, despite the plagues sent by God.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/m/magicians_of_egypt.htm">Magicians of Egypt</a></b><br>These are the wise men and sorcerers who serve Pharaoh, attempting to replicate the miracles performed by Moses and Aaron through their secret arts.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/gnats.htm">Gnats</a></b><br>The third plague sent by God upon Egypt. The Hebrew word for gnats, (kinim), can also be translated as lice or mosquitoes, indicating a small, irritating insect.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt</a></b><br>The land where the Israelites are enslaved and where God demonstrates His power through the plagues.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_limitations_of_human_power.htm">The Limitations of Human Power</a></b><br>The magicians' inability to replicate the plague of gnats underscores the limitations of human power and wisdom compared to God's omnipotence.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_creation.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Creation</a></b><br>The plague of gnats demonstrates God's control over all creation, emphasizing that even the smallest creatures are under His command.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_futility_of_opposing_god.htm">The Futility of Opposing God</a></b><br>Pharaoh's magicians serve as a reminder that opposing God's will is ultimately futile. God's purposes will prevail despite human resistance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_recognize_god's_authority.htm">The Call to Recognize God's Authority</a></b><br>This passage challenges believers to recognize and submit to God's authority in their lives, trusting in His power and wisdom.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_faithfulness.htm">The Importance of Faithfulness</a></b><br>Moses and Aaron's faithfulness in delivering God's message, despite opposition, serves as an example for believers to remain steadfast in their faith.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_exodus_8.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 8</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_don't_egyptian_records_note_this.htm">Exodus 8:18–19: Why do Egyptian records not mention their magicians failing before a Hebrew prophet? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_'regeneration_before_faith'.htm">What does 'Finger of God' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_false_prophets_perform_miracles.htm">How can signs and wonders performed by false prophets (Deuteronomy 13:1–2) align with the belief that only God can grant miracles? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/where_does_god_foil_false_prophets.htm">Where in documented history is there solid evidence that God “foils the signs of false prophets” (Isaiah 44:25) in the direct, miraculous manner described?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(18) <span class= "bld">The</span> <span class= "bld">magicians</span> <span class= "bld">did</span> <span class= "ital"><span class= "bld">so</span>--i.e.,</span> tried to do so--took moist earth, and dried it, and pulverised it, and tried the effect of their magic charms upon it, but. failed to produce mosquitoes, as Aaron had done. Mosquitoes were things too delicate to be caught, and manipulated, and produced at a given moment by sleight-of-hand. The magicians tried to produce a counterfeit of the miracle, but could not. Then they excused themselves to their master with the words, "This is the finger of a god."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 18.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The magicians did so with their enchantments</span>. The magicians stretched out their rods over certain collections of dust, but no gnats were produced; which would be the natural result, if they had made no secret arrangements. No reason can be assigned why they should not have seemed to produce gnats, as easily as frogs, if they had employed all the arts of which they were masters in so doing. But events had convinced them that they could not cope with Moses and Aaron; and it would seem that they therefore declined further contest, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/8-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">The magicians</span><br /><span class="heb">הַחַרְטֻמִּ֧ים</span> <span class="translit">(ha·ḥar·ṭum·mîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2748.htm">Strong's 2748: </a> </span><span class="str2">An engraver, writer</span><br /><br /><span class="word">tried</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־</span> <span class="translit">(way·ya·‘ă·śū-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to produce</span><br /><span class="heb">לְהוֹצִ֥יא</span> <span class="translit">(lə·hō·w·ṣî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3318.htm">Strong's 3318: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, bring, out, direct and proxim</span><br /><br /><span class="word">gnats</span><br /><span class="heb">הַכִּנִּ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(hak·kin·nîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3654.htm">Strong's 3654: </a> </span><span class="str2">Gnat, gnats, a gnat swarm</span><br /><br /><span class="word">using their magic arts,</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּלָטֵיהֶ֛ם</span> <span class="translit">(bə·lā·ṭê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3909.htm">Strong's 3909: </a> </span><span class="str2">Covered, secret, incantation, secrecy, covertly</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but they could</span><br /><span class="heb">יָכֹ֑לוּ</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḵō·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3201.htm">Strong's 3201: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be able, have power</span><br /><br /><span class="word">not.</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">And the gnats</span><br /><span class="heb">הַכִּנָּ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(hak·kin·nām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3654.htm">Strong's 3654: </a> </span><span class="str2">Gnat, gnats, a gnat swarm</span><br /><br /><span class="word">remained</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתְּהִי֙</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tə·hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on man</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּאָדָ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(bā·’ā·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ruddy, a human being</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and beast.</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבַבְּהֵמָֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇab·bə·hê·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_929.htm">Strong's 929: </a> </span><span class="str2">A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/8-18.htm">Exodus 8:18 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/8-18.htm">Exodus 8:18 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/8-18.htm">Exodus 8:18 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/8-18.htm">Exodus 8:18 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/8-18.htm">Exodus 8:18 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/8-18.htm">Exodus 8:18 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/8-18.htm">Exodus 8:18 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/8-18.htm">Exodus 8:18 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/8-18.htm">Exodus 8:18 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/8-18.htm">Exodus 8:18 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/8-18.htm">OT Law: Exodus 8:18 The magicians tried with their enchantments (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/8-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 8:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 8:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/8-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 8:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 8:19" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>