Exodus 10:19 (KJV)

What does Exodus 10:19 mean?

Exodus 10:19 describes how the LORD caused a powerful west wind to blow, which swept away all the locusts from Egypt and threw them into the Red Sea, leaving not a single locust anywhere in Egypt. This verse shows the complete removal of the locust plague by divine action.

In this part of the story, God is responding to Pharaoh’s plea after the devastating locust plague. The verse highlights God’s control over nature, using a strong wind to clear the locusts entirely from Egypt. The mention of the Red Sea as the locusts’ destination underlines the totality of their removal, emphasizing that Egypt was left completely free of the plague.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 10:19

• The word for “west” is יָם (yam), which literally means “sea” but is often used to refer to the west because the Mediterranean Sea lies to the west of Israel. Here, it points to the direction of the wind that carried away the locusts.
• The word for “wind” is רוּחַ (ruach), meaning wind, breath, or spirit. In this context, it refers to a physical wind, but the term can also carry the sense of God’s active force.
• The phrase “cast them into the Red sea” uses the word סוּף (suph) for “Red,” which can also mean “reed,” suggesting the “Sea of Reeds.” This gives some background to the body of water mentioned, which is significant elsewhere in Exodus.

Why Exodus 10:19 matters

• This verse clarifies that the removal of the locusts was as miraculous as their arrival, both controlled by God, not by chance or natural cycles.
• The complete absence of locusts (“there remained not one locust”) emphasizes the thoroughness of God’s intervention and the relief given to Egypt after the plague.
• The verse connects to the larger narrative of the plagues, showing a pattern: Pharaoh asks for relief, God acts, but Pharaoh’s heart remains unchanged, setting up the next stage of the story.