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Exodus 7:21

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 7:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians could not drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians could not drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt.
Exodus 7:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18And the fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall become foul; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink water from the river.
19And Jehovah said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.
20And Moses and Aaron did so, as Jehovah commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
21And the fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians could not drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt.
22And the magicians of Egypt did in like manner with their enchantments: and Pharaoh`s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as Jehovah had spoken.
23And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he lay even this to heart.
24And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
← Exodus 7:20Exodus 7:22 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the fish that was in the river died, etc.] Which was a full proof that the conversion of it into blood was real; for had it been only in appearance, or the water of the river had only the colour of blood, and looked like it, but was not really so, it would not have affected the fishes, they would have lived as well as before; and this plague was the greater affliction to the Egyptians, not as it affected their drink but their food, fish (<041105>Numbers 11:5) being what the common people chiefly lived upon, ((see Gill on “<231908>Isaiah 19:8”)) and the river stunk; the blood into which it was turned being corrupted through the heat of the sun, and the dead fishes swimming upon it being…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The fish ... - The Egyptians subsisted to a great extent on the fish of the Nile, though salt-water fish were regarded as impure. A mortality among the fish was a plague that was much dreaded. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Exo 7:18; Rev 8:9; The first miracle of Christ turned water into wine, the first plague upon Egypt turned all their water into blood. Exodus 7:22”
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Related study paths

Read Exodus 7 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification