So all the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink, because they could not drink from the water of the Nile.
Parallel translations
- WEB All the Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink; for they couldn’t drink the river water.
- KJV And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
- BSB So all the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink, because they could not drink the water from the river.
- NKJV So all the Egyptians dug all around the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the river.
- NLT Then all the Egyptians dug along the riverbank to find drinking water, for they couldn’t drink the water from the Nile.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Egyptians dig near the river for drinkable water. Even in judgment, common grace leaves a means of survival.
Overview
Unable to drink from the polluted Nile, the Egyptians dig along its banks seeking clean water. This detail shows both the severity of the plague and a measure of restraint, as the judgment does not yet take life directly. It illustrates God's patience even amid judgment, giving opportunity for repentance, a mercy that points to His desire that people turn and live rather than perish.
Cross-references & the web
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Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 7:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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