Exodus – Chapter 7

Old Testament25 Verses

Chapter Summary

Exodus 7 opens with the words: "And the Lord said to Moses: Behold, I have appointed thee the god of Pharao; and Aaron, thy brother, shall be thy prophet." The chapter centers on Pharaoh, Aaron and Moses. Across its 25 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and suffering and trial. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1And the Lord said to Moses: Behold, I have appointed thee the god of Pharao; and Aaron, thy brother, shall be thy prophet.

2Thou shalt speak to him all that I command thee; and he shall speak to Pharao, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.

3But I shall harden his heart, and shall multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.

4And he will not hear you: and I will lay my hand upon Egypt, and will bring forth my army and my people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt, by very great judgments.

5And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, who have stretched forth my hand upon Egypt, and have brought forth the children of Israel out of the midst of them.

6And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord had commanded; so did they.

7And Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three, when they spoke to Pharao.

8And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron:

9When Pharao shall say to you, Shew signs; thou shalt say to Aaron: Take thy rod, and cast it down before Pharao, and it shall be turned into a serpent.

10So Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharao, and did as the Lord had commanded. And Aaron took the rod before Pharao and his servants, and it was turned into a serpent.

11And Pharao called the wise men and the magicians; and they also by Egyptian enchantments and certain secrets, did in like manner.

12And they every one cast down their rods, and they were turned into serpents: but Aaron's rod devoured their rods.

13And Pharao's heart was hardened, and he did not hearken to them, as the Lord had commanded.

14And the Lord said to Moses: Pharao's heart is hardened, he will not let the people go.

15Go to him in the morning, behold he will go out to the waters: and thou shalt stand to meet him on the ' bank of the river: and thou shalt take in thy hand the rod that was turned into a serpent.

16And thou shalt say to him: The Lord God of the Hebrews sent me to thee, saying: Let my people go to sacrifice to me in the desert: and hitherto thou wouldst not hear.

17Thus therefore saith the Lord: In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold I will strike with the rod, that is in my hand, the water of the river, and it shall be turned into blood.

18And the fishes that are in the river, shall die, and the waters shall be corrupted, and the Egyptians shall be afflicted when they drink the water of the river.

19The Lord also said to Moses: Say to Aaron, Take thy rod; and stretch forth thy hand upon the waters of Egypt, and upon their rivers, and streams and pools, and all the ponds of waters, that they may be turned into blood: and let blood be in all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and of stone.

20And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord had commanded: and lifting up the rod, he struck the water of the river before Pharao and his servants: and it was turned into blood.

21And the fishes that were in the river died; and the river corrupted, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river, and there was blood in all the land of Egypt.

22And the magicians of the Egyptians with their enchantments did in like manner; and Pharao's heart was hardened, neither did he hear them, as the Lord had commanded.

23And he turned himself away, and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to it this time also.

24And all the Egyptians dug round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.

25And seven days were fully ended, after that the Lord struck the river.

Important Verses in Exodus 7

And the Lord said to Moses: Behold, I have appointed thee the god of Pharao; and Aaron, thy brother, shall be thy prophet.

Exodus 7:1

And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, who have stretched forth my hand upon Egypt, and have brought forth the children of Israel out of the midst of them.

Exodus 7:5

And Pharao's heart was hardened, and he did not hearken to them, as the Lord had commanded.

Exodus 7:13

And thou shalt say to him: The Lord God of the Hebrews sent me to thee, saying: Let my people go to sacrifice to me in the desert: and hitherto thou wouldst not hear.

Exodus 7:16

Historical Context

Exodus belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for israel in every generation, commanded to remember the Passover as a perpetual memorial. Chapter 7 of 40 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a legal and cultic instruction given to Israel regarding worship, holiness, and daily life with 25 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Pharaoh, Aaron and Moses, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. The passage starts with these words: "And the Lord said to Moses: Behold, I have appointed thee the god of Pharao; and Aaron, thy brother, shall be thy…" It concludes: "And seven days were fully ended, after that the Lord struck the river. " The wider setting of Exodus is this: Exodus recounts the defining event of the Old Testament: God's liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh, most likely Ramesses II. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Exodus around Describes events of the 13th century BC; reached final written form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

Who Wrote It

Traditionally attributed to Moses, with later inspired editing

When It Was Written

Describes events of the 13th century BC; reached final written form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC

Catholic Commentary

This chapter presents divine statutes and cultic norms that shaped Israel's worship and moral life. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And the Lord said to Moses: Behold, I have appointed thee the god of Pharao; and Aaron, thy brother, shall be thy prophet." The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

Catholic exegesis reads Exodus 7 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. the Church sees the Exodus as prefiguring Baptism and the Eucharist (CIC 1221, 1363). St. Augustine and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 2559).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God delivers His people from slavery. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Exodus 7 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • Suffering, united to Christ, becomes a path of purification and deeper trust in God.
  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.

People in This Chapter

Pharaoh12 mentionsAaron10 mentionsMoses8 mentions

Reflection for Today

Exodus Chapter 7, containing 25 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation, offers a distinct passage for prayer and meditation.

The Magisterium teaches that every biblical passage must be read in light of Christ, the center of Scripture (CIC 1324). Here the emphasis falls on courage in witness to the Gospel, which shapes how the Church understands liberation, law, and worship.

Entrust your meditation to Mary, who pondered God's Word in her heart. Through her intercession, may the message of courage in witness to the Gospel bear fruit in humility, courage, and charity this day.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Exodus Chapter 7 about?

Exodus 7 contains 25 verses. It opens with "And the Lord said to Moses: Behold, I have appointed thee the god of Pharao; and Aaron, thy brother, shall be thy…" and closes with "And seven days were fully ended, after that the Lord struck the river. ". The book as a whole is narrative, law, and liturgical instruction.

What is a key verse in Exodus 7?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And the Lord said to Moses: Behold, I have appointed thee the god of Pharao; and Aaron, thy brother, shall be thy prophet." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Exodus Chapter 7?

This chapter mentions Pharaoh, Aaron, Moses.

Who wrote Exodus and when?

Traditionally attributed to Moses, with later inspired editing. Describes events of the 13th century BC; reached final written form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

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