Exodus 9:18 (KJV)

What does Exodus 9:18 mean?

Exodus 9:18 records God’s warning that, starting the next day, He will send an extremely severe hailstorm on Egypt—one worse than any in the nation’s history. This is a direct message about an extraordinary disaster that will soon strike, unlike anything the Egyptians have ever experienced.

In this verse, God is speaking through Moses to Pharaoh, announcing the seventh plague. The situation is tense: Pharaoh has refused to let the Israelites go, and God is escalating the consequences. The verse emphasizes the timing (“to morrow about this time”) and the unmatched severity of the coming hail, making it clear that this is not a normal storm but a unique act of judgment.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 9:18

• “morrow” (מָחָר, machar): This word means “tomorrow,” highlighting that the event is set for a specific, imminent time, not some vague future.
• “very” (מְאֹד, me’od) and “grievous” (כָּבֵד, kaved): Together, these words stress the extraordinary intensity of the hailstorm. “Kaved” often means “heavy” or “severe,” so the phrase signals something far beyond ordinary bad weather.
• “foundation” (יָסַד, yasad): The phrase “since the foundation thereof” refers to the very beginning of Egypt as a nation, underlining that nothing like this has happened since Egypt existed.

Why Exodus 9:18 matters

• This verse clears up that the hailstorm is not just another natural disaster but is described as unprecedented in Egypt’s entire history, showing the seriousness of God’s warning.
• The focus on timing (“to morrow about this time”) shows that God is in control of the events and gives Pharaoh a clear opportunity to respond before the plague begins.
• The verse connects to the larger story of the plagues, showing how each one increases in intensity as Pharaoh continues to resist, and how God’s power is being made unmistakably clear to both Egypt and Israel.