Exodus 9:26 (KJV)

What does Exodus 9:26 mean?

Exodus 9:26 states that during the plague of hail in Egypt, the land of Goshen—where the Israelites lived—was the only place not struck by hail. This verse highlights that the Israelites were protected from the disaster affecting the rest of Egypt.

In the story, God is sending a series of plagues on Egypt because Pharaoh refuses to let the Israelites go. Moses is speaking to Pharaoh, and the plagues are signs of God's power and judgment. Exodus 9:26 draws attention to the clear distinction God made between the Egyptians and the Israelites, showing that the Israelites were spared from the destruction that fell everywhere else.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 9:26

• גּוֹשֶׁן (Goshen, transliterated "Goshen"): This is the specific region in Egypt where the Israelites lived. The verse emphasizes Goshen as a place of safety set apart from the rest of Egypt.
• בֵּן (ben, transliterated "children"): This word means "sons" or "children," referring to the descendants of Israel (Jacob). It makes clear that it was the people of Israel, not just the land, who were protected.
• יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el, transliterated "Israel"): This is the name for the people descended from Jacob, highlighting their identity as a distinct group within Egypt.
• בָּרָד (barad, transliterated "hail"): This word refers to the destructive hail sent as a plague. The verse underscores that this specific disaster did not touch Goshen.

Why Exodus 9:26 matters

• Exodus 9:26 clears up any idea that the plagues were simply natural disasters by showing that the hail avoided only the area where the Israelites lived, pointing to a purposeful act rather than random chance.
• The verse emphasizes God's ability to make distinctions between groups of people, reinforcing the special relationship between God and the Israelites.
• In the wider story, this detail prepares the reader for later events where the Israelites are repeatedly protected or set apart, building the theme of deliverance that runs through Exodus.