And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

EXODUS 9:8KJV
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Exodus 9:8 (KJV)

What does Exodus 9:8 mean?

Exodus 9:8 describes God instructing Moses and Aaron to take handfuls of ashes from a furnace and have Moses throw them into the air while Pharaoh watches. This act is a specific command that sets up the next plague in Egypt, showing that what follows is a direct result of God’s will.

In this verse, the LORD (God) speaks directly to Moses and Aaron, telling them exactly what to do as Pharaoh looks on. The ashes from the furnace are to be tossed toward the sky, a public act meant to get Pharaoh’s attention and signal the start of another miraculous sign. This moment is part of the ongoing confrontation between God and Pharaoh, where each plague demonstrates God’s power and challenges Pharaoh’s stubbornness.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 9:8

  • "Ashes" (פֵּחַם, peḥam): This word refers specifically to fine soot or ashes, likely from a kiln or furnace, which would have been a common sight in Egypt. Using ashes from a furnace may hint at the suffering of the Hebrew slaves, who worked in such places.
  • "Sprinkle" (זָרַק, zaraq): This verb means to scatter or toss, often in a ritual or symbolic way. Here, Moses is to throw the ashes toward heaven, making the act visible and dramatic.
  • "Heaven" (שָׁמַיִם, shamayim): This word means "sky" or "heavens." Tossing the ashes upward shows that the coming plague is not just a natural event but something coming from above, from God.

Why Exodus 9:8 matters

  • Exodus 9:8 highlights that the plagues are not random disasters but direct actions commanded by God, carried out in a way that Pharaoh and his court cannot ignore.
  • The use of furnace ashes may remind readers of the Israelites’ harsh labor, connecting the plagues to the suffering Pharaoh has caused.
  • This verse marks the beginning of the sixth plague (boils), showing a shift from plagues that affect property and land to those that directly harm people, raising the stakes in the conflict between God and Pharaoh.

Where else these words appear

“ashes” Hebrew H6368 · used in 2 verses

  • Exodus 9:10 And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.

“furnace” Hebrew H3536 · used in 4 verses

  • Genesis 19:28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.
  • Exodus 9:10 And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.
  • Exodus 19:18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

“handfuls” Hebrew H2651 · used in 6 verses

  • Leviticus 16:12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:
  • Proverbs 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
  • Ezekiel 10:2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.

“sprinkle” Hebrew H2236 · used in 33 verses

  • Exodus 9:10 And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.
  • Leviticus 7:2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar.
  • 2 Kings 16:15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.