The Fifth Plague: Livestock Diseased

Exodus 9:1-7

Summary

This section recounts God’s warning to Pharaoh through Moses: if Pharaoh refuses to free the Israelites, God will bring a devastating plague upon Egyptian livestock. The passage emphasizes that while all the Egyptian animals will be struck by a severe disease—a pestilence affecting horses, donkeys, cattle, and more—the livestock of the Israelites will be spared. This selective judgment underscores God’s power and the special protection granted to His people, serving as a clear sign of His authority over Egypt.

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1. Historically livestock was a crucial part of life in Egypt. They depended on their animals for transportation, agriculture, military and religious practices. Some animals were worshiped such as bulls, cows and rams so this plague would not only strike their economy but religious practice.
2. As this is the fifth and progressively worst so far of the plagues, it is demonstrating more of God’s power with each new plague.
3. And as with the last plague, again this one will be on Egypt but will not affect Israel’s livestock proving Gods divine protection of his people.

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¹ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

• God identifies Himself absolutely, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews,’ giving no doubt whatever about his deity.
• On the first occasion that Moses spoke to Pharaoh in God’s name he was rebuffed (Ex 5:1-9) and later God demonstrated power to Pharaoh in (Ex 6:2-8; 7:16)
• “The God of the Hebrews” (אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִים – Elohei Ha-Ivrim) → This title highlights Israel’s identity as God’s chosen people, distinct from Egypt.
• “That they may serve Me” (יַעַבְדֻנִי – ya‘avduni) → The verb עָבַד (avad) means both to serve and to worship. True worship of God required Israel’s freedom from Egyptian bondage.

² For if you refuse to let them go, and still hold them, ³ behold, the hand of the LORD will be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep—a very severe pestilence.

• “The hand of the Lord” (יַד־יְהוָה – yad-YHWH) → This phrase symbolizes divine power and direct intervention. God’s hand was now directly against Egypt.“A very severe plague” (דֶּבֶר כָּבֵד מְאֹד – dever kaved me’od)
• דֶּבֶר (dever) → Typically means pestilence or plague, often a deadly disease affecting animals or people.
• כָּבֵד (kaved) → Means heavy, grievous, severe.
• This trusting in the worldly strength that Pharaoh has put in so many false gods will lead to ruin and destruction of wealth, health, military and religion.

⁴ And the LORD will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.” ’ ”

• “Distinction” (וְהִפְלָה – vehiflah) → From the root פָּלָה (palah), meaning to separate, to set apart.
• The clear representation of God’s covenant with Israel to protect them.

⁵ Then the LORD appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land.”

• Pharaoh had time allotted to him to think it over before the plague was started. He could have repented and let the people go. He did not!

⁶ So the LORD did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died.

• ALL the livestock of Egypt died… God is always true to his word and follows through completely.
• Again, Pharaoh had time to prevent it. He had multiple chances ahead of this tremendous loss to prevent the damage.

⁷ Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.

• After personally checking that Israel had no losses, “The heart of Pharaoh was hardened” (וַיִּכְבַּד לֵב פַּרְעֹה – vayyikbad lev Par‘oh) He was even more resistant even with all the proof before him.

Citations

Cole, R. Alan. Exodus. InterVarsity Press, 1973.

Enns, Peter. Exodus. Zondervan, 2000.

Keil, Carl Friedrich, and Franz Delitzsch. Commentary on the Old Testament: Exodus. Hendrickson Publishers, 1996.

Stuart, Douglas K. Exodus. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2006.

Brown, Francis, et al. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Hendrickson Publishers, 1906.

The Holy Bible, King James Version. Thomas Nelson, 1611.