Exodus 8:19

“Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of Elohim.” But the heart of Pharaoh became obstinate, and he did not listen to them, as YHWH had said.”
Exodus 8:19 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

Then the magiciansוַ הַחַרְטֻמִּיםsaidיֹּאמְרוּtoאֶלPharaoh,פַּרְעֹה“Thisהִואis the fingerאֶצְבַּעof Elohim.”אֱלֹהִיםBut the heartוַ לֵבof Pharaohפַּרְעֹהbecame obstinate,יֶּחֱזַקand he did notוְלֹאlistenשָׁמַעto them,אֲלֵהֶםasכַּאֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהhad said.דִּבֶּר

Allusion · Luke 11:20

Go to Luke 11:20

Both texts say “the finger of God”: in Exodus 8:19, the magicians of Egypt before the plague; in Luke 11:20, Jesus, of the demons he casts out.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

אֶצְבַּעetsbaH676δακτύλῳdaktylōiG1147“finger”
אֱלֹהִיםelohimH430θεοῦtheouG2316“Elohim: God; gods”

Exodus 8:19, word by word

Then the magiciansחַרְטֻמִּיםchartumim

magicians

Magicians: Egyptian experts devoted to interpreting dreams and signs and to secret arts.

Where else “chartumim” appears

saidיֹּאמְרוּyomru

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “yomru” appears

Pharaohפַּרְעֹהparo

Pharaoh

Pharaoh: the title of the kings of Egypt, not a personal name.

Where else “paro” appears

is the fingerאֶצְבַּעetsba

finger

Finger; also toe.

Where else “etsba” appears

of Elohimאֱלֹהִיםelohim

Elohim

The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.

Where else “elohim” appears

But the heartלֵבlev

heart

The deepest part of a person: where they think, feel and decide.

Where else “lev” appears

became obstinateיֶּחֱזַקyechezak

be stubborn

To harden the heart, become stubborn.

Where else “yechezak” appears

listenשָׁמַעshama

listen

To pay close attention, or heed a plea.

Where else “shama” appears

YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears

had saidדִּבֶּרdiber

speak

To speak, say something; above all God to his people.

Where else “diber” appears

Translation note

The magicians themselves acknowledge that this is not their work but God’s. Jesus uses the same expression, “the finger of God,” in Luke 11:20.

The context

18The magicians did the same by their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not. And there were gnats on people and on animals.

19 · This verse (above)

20YHWH said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and station yourself before Pharaoh; look, he is going out to the water. And say to him, ‘Thus says YHWH: “Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Read all of Exodus 8

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