Exodus 9:32 (KJV)

What does Exodus 9:32 mean?

Exodus 9:32 states that the wheat and the rye were not destroyed during the plague because they had not yet grown up. This means that, unlike other crops, these grains were still young and had not reached a stage where the hail could damage them.

In this verse, the speaker is describing the aftermath of the seventh plague—hail—that God sent upon Egypt. The context is Moses relaying what happened to Pharaoh and his officials. The verse highlights that while most crops were ruined, some (specifically wheat and rye) survived because they were not mature, showing the selective nature of the disaster.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 9:32

• wheat (חִטָּה, chittah): This word refers to wheat, a staple grain. Its mention shows that not all food sources were lost, which would affect how the Egyptians experienced the famine.
• rie (כֻּסֶּמֶת, kussemet): This term is often understood as a type of grain, likely emmer or spelt, not modern rye. Knowing this helps clarify what crops were actually spared.
• smitten (נָכָה, nakah): This word means to strike or destroy. Its use here emphasizes that the hail was powerful enough to ruin mature crops but not those that were still young.
• up (אָפִיל, aphil): This word suggests something not yet grown or late in development. It explains why these particular crops escaped damage—they were still in an early stage.

Why Exodus 9:32 matters

• Exodus 9:32 clarifies that the plague did not completely wipe out Egypt’s food supply, which helps explain how the Egyptians survived the later plagues.
• The verse shows the precision of the disaster, suggesting that not all suffering was random—some crops were spared for a reason.
• Understanding which crops were affected gives insight into the agricultural cycle in ancient Egypt and the timing of the plagues.