Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.
EXODUS 7:15KJVWhat does Exodus 7:15 mean?
Exodus 7:15 tells Moses to go meet Pharaoh in the morning by the river, bringing the staff that turned into a serpent. God instructs Moses to confront Pharaoh at a specific place and time, setting the stage for the first plague.
In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, giving him clear directions about where and when to approach Pharaoh. The setting is Egypt, where Pharaoh is expected to go out to the water—likely the Nile River, which was central to Egyptian life. Moses is to stand at the riverbank with the same rod that became a serpent earlier, signaling that another miraculous sign is about to happen.
The Hebrew behind Exodus 7:15
- "River's" (יַאֹר, ya'or): This word specifically refers to the Nile, not just any river. The Nile was seen as sacred and essential in Egypt, so meeting Pharaoh there is significant.
- "Brink" (שָׂפָה, saphah): This means the edge or lip of the river, emphasizing that Moses is to stand right at the water’s edge, not far away. It highlights the confrontation as direct and unavoidable.
- "Rod" (מַטֶּה, matteh): The same staff Moses used before, which turned into a serpent, is to be used again. This connects the coming sign to the earlier miracle, reinforcing Moses’ authority.
Why Exodus 7:15 matters
- This verse shows that God is orchestrating the encounter, not leaving it to chance—He chooses the time and place, demonstrating control over the situation.
- The instruction to bring the rod that became a serpent links this event to earlier signs, reminding Pharaoh and the reader of God’s power and consistency.
- Meeting Pharaoh at the Nile, a symbol of Egypt’s strength and life, sets up a direct challenge to Egypt’s gods and Pharaoh’s authority, making the coming plague even more significant.