And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.

EXODUS 8:11KJV
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Exodus 8:11 (KJV)

What does Exodus 8:11 mean?

Exodus 8:11 says that the frogs, which had been a plague in Egypt, would leave Pharaoh, his houses, his servants, and his people, and would only remain in the river. This verse describes the end of the frog plague everywhere except in the Nile, where frogs naturally belonged.

Moses is speaking to Pharaoh in Egypt during the time of the plagues. Pharaoh had asked for relief from the frogs, and God, through Moses, promises that the frogs will depart from the people and their homes. The verse makes clear that the frogs will not disappear entirely but will return to their normal place in the river, restoring the natural order.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 8:11

  • "frogs" (צְפַרְדֵּעַ, tsefardea): This word refers specifically to frogs, highlighting the unusual and overwhelming presence of these creatures as a sign of judgment.
  • "depart" (סוּר, sur): This word means to turn aside or remove, emphasizing that the frogs will be actively taken away from the people and their homes.
  • "remain" (שָׁאַר, sha'ar): This word means to be left or to remain, showing that the frogs are not destroyed but simply returned to their proper place in the river.
  • "river" (יְאֹר, ye'or): This is the word for the Nile, the main river of Egypt, which was central to Egyptian life and worship, making the return of the frogs to the river especially significant.

Why Exodus 8:11 matters

  • Exodus 8:11 clarifies that the plague was not just a natural event but a controlled act, with God deciding exactly where the frogs would stay and where they would leave.
  • The verse shows a return to order after chaos, as the frogs are not wiped out but restored to their natural habitat, underlining the idea of restoration rather than total destruction.
  • This verse connects to the larger story of the plagues by showing Pharaoh’s repeated requests for relief and God’s power to both send and remove the plagues at specific times and places.

Where else these words appear

“frogs” Hebrew H6854 · used in 13 verses

  • Exodus 8:2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:
  • Exodus 8:6 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
  • Exodus 8:12 And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.

“river” Hebrew H2975 · used in 48 verses

  • Genesis 41:1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.
  • Exodus 7:24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
  • Isaiah 37:25 I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.

“remain” Hebrew H7604 · used in 123 verses

  • Genesis 7:23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
  • Joshua 13:2 This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,
  • Nehemiah 1:2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.