And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.
EXODUS 8:31KJVWhat does Exodus 8:31 mean?
Exodus 8:31 describes how the LORD responded to Moses’ request by removing all the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people, so completely that not a single fly remained. This verse shows a direct answer to Moses’ plea and a total relief from the plague for the Egyptians.
In this setting, Moses had pleaded with the LORD (the God of Israel) on behalf of Pharaoh, who had been suffering from a devastating plague of flies. The verse highlights the LORD’s power to both send and remove plagues, and the thoroughness of the deliverance—every fly was gone, not just most of them. This moment is part of the larger story of the plagues in Egypt, where Moses acts as a mediator between God and Pharaoh.
The Hebrew behind Exodus 8:31
- LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of the God of Israel, emphasizing that it is Israel’s God who acts in this story, not a generic deity.
- removed (סוּר, sur): This word means to take away or turn aside. The sense here is of a complete removal, not just a lessening, which matches the statement that not one fly remained.
- remained (שָׁאַר, sha’ar): This word means to be left over or to remain. The verse uses it to stress the totality of the removal—there was not even a single fly left behind.
Why Exodus 8:31 matters
- This verse clears up any idea that the plague faded away naturally; it was a direct and immediate act of God in response to Moses’ prayer.
- The emphasis on “there remained not one” highlights the thoroughness of God’s action, showing His complete control over the situation.
- Exodus 8:31 connects to the wider narrative by showing Moses’ role as an intercessor and how God’s power is displayed to Pharaoh and all of Egypt.