Bible Commentaries
Go deeper in Scripture
Browse trusted public-domain commentary alongside DiscipleDeck Bible study. References inside each commentary open Bible previews in place.
3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
The Plagues of Egypt. (b. c. 1491.)
THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT. (B. C. 1491.) Pharaoh is here first threatened and then plagued with frogs, as afterwards, in this chapter, with lice and flies, little despicable inconsiderable animals, and yet by their vast numb…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 8:16-19
Here is a short account of the plague of lice. It does not appear that any warning was given of it before. Pharaoh's abuse of the respite granted to him might have been a sufficient warning to him to expect another plag…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 8:20-32
Here is the story of the plague of flies, in which we are told, I. How it was threatened, like that of frogs, before it was inflicted. Moses is directed (Exodus 8:20) to rise early in the morning, to meet Pharaoh when h…
The Plagues of Egypt. (b. c. 1491.)
THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT. (B. C. 1491.) Here is, I. Warning given of another plague, namely, the murrain of beasts. When Pharaoh's heart was hardened, after he had seemed to relent under the former plague, then Moses is sen…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 9:8-12
Observe here, concerning the plague of boils and blains, I. When they were not wrought upon by the death of their cattle, God sent a plague that seized their own bodies, and touched them to the quick. If less judgments…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 9:13-21
Here is, I. A general declaration of the wrath of God against Pharaoh for his obstinacy. Though God has hardened his heart (Exodus 9:12), yet Moses must repeat his applications to him; God suspends his grace and yet dem…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 9:22-35
The threatened plague of hail is here summoned by the powerful hand and rod of Moses (Exodus 9:22-23), and it obeys the summons, or rather the divine command; for fire and hail fulfil God's word, Psalm 148:8. And here w…
The Plagues of Egypt. (b. c. 1491.)
THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT. (B. C. 1491.) Here, I. Moses is instructed. We may well suppose that he, for his part, was much astonished both at Pharaoh's obstinacy and at God's severity, and could not but be compassionately co…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 10:12-20
Here is, I. The invasion of the land by the locusts—God's great army, Joel 2:11. God bids Moses stretch out his hand (Exodus 10:12), to beckon them, as it were (for they came at a call), and he stretched forth his rod,…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 10:21-29
Here is, I. The plague of darkness brought upon Egypt, and a most dreadful plague it was, and therefore is put first of the ten in Psalm 105:28, though it was one of the last; and in the destruction of the spiritual Egy…
The Plagues of Egypt. (b. c. 1491.)
THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT. (B. C. 1491.) Here is, I. The high favour Moses and Israel were in with God. 1. Moses was a favourite of Heaven, for God will not hide from him the thing he will do. God not only makes him his mess…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 11:4-10
Warning is here given to Pharaoh of the last and conquering plague which was now to be inflicted. This was the death of all the first-born in Egypt at once, which had been first threatened (Exodus 4:23, I will slay thy…
The Appointment of the Passover; the Feast of Unleavened Bread. (b. c. 1491.)
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE PASSOVER; THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD. (B. C. 1491.) Moses and Aaron here receive of the Lord what they were afterwards to deliver to the people concerning the ordinance of the passover, to whic…
The Passover. (b. c. 1491.)
THE PASSOVER. (B. C. 1491.) I. Moses is here, as a faithful steward in God's house, teaching the children of Israel to observe all things which God had commanded him; and no doubt he gave the instructions as largely as…
The Death of the Firstborn. (b. c. 1491.)
THE DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN. (B. C. 1491.) Here we have, I. The Egyptians' sons, even their first-born, slain, Exodus 12:29-30. If Pharaoh would have taken the warning which was given him of this plague, and would thereu…
Departure of the Israelites. (b. c. 1491.)
DEPARTURE OF THE ISRAELITES. (B. C. 1491.) Here is the departure of the children of Israel out of Egypt; having obtained their dismission, they set forward without delay, and did not defer to a more convenient season. P…
Directions Concerning the Passover. (b. c. 1491.)
DIRECTIONS CONCERNING THE PASSOVER. (B. C. 1491.) Some further precepts are here given concerning the passover, as it should be observed in times to come. I. All the congregation of Israel must keep it, Exodus 12:47. Al…
The Sanctification of the Firstborn. (b. c. 1491.)
THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE FIRSTBORN. (B. C. 1491.) Care is here taken to perpetuate the remembrance, I. Of the preservation of Israel's firstborn, when the firstborn of the Egyptians were slain. In memory of that distin…
God's Claim upon the Firstborn. (b. c. 1491.)
GOD'S CLAIM UPON THE FIRSTBORN. (B. C. 1491.) Here we have, I. Further directions concerning the dedicating of their firstborn to God. 1. The firstlings of their cattle were to be dedicated to God, as part of their poss…
The Pillar of Fire and Fire. (b. c. 1491.)
THE PILLAR OF FIRE AND FIRE. (B. C. 1491.) Here is, I. The choice God made of their way, Exodus 13:17-18. He was their guide. Moses gave them direction but as he received it from the Lord. Note, The way of man is not in…
The Israelites Pursued by Pharaoh. (b. c. 1491.)
THE ISRAELITES PURSUED BY PHARAOH. (B. C. 1491.) We have here, I. Instructions given to Moses concerning Israel's motions and encampments, which were so very surprising that if Moses had not express orders about them be…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 14:10-14
We have here, I. The fright that the children of Israel were in when they perceived that Pharaoh pursued them, Exodus 14:10. They knew very well the strength and rage of the enemy, and their own weakness; numerous indee…
The Pillar of Cloud. (b. c. 1491.)
THE PILLAR OF CLOUD. (B. C. 1491.) We have here, I. Direction given to Israel's leader. 1. What he must do himself. He must, for the present, leave off praying, and apply himself to his business (Exodus 14:15): Wherefor…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 14:21-31
We have here the history of that work of wonder which is so often mentioned both in the Old and New Testament, the dividing of the Red Sea before the children of Israel. It was the terror of the Canaanites (Joshua 2:9-1…