And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.

EXODUS 9:33KJV
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Exodus 9:33 (KJV)

What does Exodus 9:33 mean?

Exodus 9:33 describes Moses leaving Pharaoh’s city and praying to the LORD by stretching out his hands, after which the thunder, hail, and rain that had plagued Egypt immediately stopped. This verse shows that the end of the storm was a direct response to Moses’ prayer and God’s power, not a natural change in the weather.

In this scene, Moses is acting as a mediator between Pharaoh and God during the seventh plague. Pharaoh had asked Moses to pray for the storm to stop, promising to let the Israelites go. Moses leaves the city, lifts his hands in prayer, and God halts the destructive weather. The verse highlights both Moses’ role as an intercessor and the LORD’s control over nature.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 9:33

  • "Spread abroad" is פָּרַשׂ (paras), which means to stretch out or spread. Moses’ action of spreading his hands is a physical gesture of prayer or appeal, showing openness and earnestness before God.
  • "Thunders" is קוֹל (qol), which literally means "voice" or "sound." In this context, it refers to the loud, terrifying sounds accompanying the hailstorm, emphasizing the supernatural aspect of the plague.
  • "Ceased" is חָדַל (chadal), meaning to stop or come to an end. The use of this word stresses that the storm stopped completely and suddenly, not gradually, as a result of Moses’ prayer.

Why Exodus 9:33 matters

  • Exodus 9:33 clarifies that the plagues were not random natural disasters but direct acts of God, controlled and ended at His command through Moses’ intercession.
  • The verse emphasizes Moses’ unique relationship with God, showing that Pharaoh’s relief from suffering depended on Moses’ obedience and God’s willingness to listen.
  • This moment connects to the larger story by highlighting Pharaoh’s repeated pattern: asking for relief, receiving it through Moses’ prayer, but then hardening his heart again.

Where else these words appear

“poured” Hebrew H5413 · used in 19 verses

  • 2 Samuel 21:10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.
  • Job 3:24 For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.
  • Ezekiel 22:21 Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof.

“hail” Hebrew H1259 · used in 26 verses

  • Exodus 9:18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
  • Exodus 9:29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD'S.
  • Psalms 18:13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

“rain” Hebrew H4306 · used in 36 verses

  • Exodus 9:34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
  • 1 Kings 8:35 When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:
  • Job 38:28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

“ceased” Hebrew H2308 · used in 56 verses

  • Genesis 11:8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
  • 1 Samuel 2:5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
  • Job 19:14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.