Tanach
Shemot 7:26-8:11 שמות ז׳:כ״ו-ח׳:י״א
Part of: VaeraVaera, Aliyah 4Vaera, Aliyah 5Chapter 7Chapter 8
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה בֹּא אֶל־פַּרְעֹה וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו כֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה שַׁלַּח אֶת־עַמִּי וְיַֽעַבְדֻֽנִי׃
Adonoy said to Moshe, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what Adonoy has said, “Send out my people so they may worship Me.
Adonoy said to Moshe, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what Adonoy has said, “Send out my people so they may worship Me.
וְאִם־מָאֵן אַתָּה לְשַׁלֵּחַ הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי נֹגֵף אֶת־כׇּל־גְּבוּלְךָ בַּֽצְפַרְדְּעִֽים׃
If you refuse to send [them,] behold I will plague all your borders [territories] with frogs.
If you refuse to send [them,] behold I will plague all your borders [territories] with frogs.
Rashi
נגף את כל גבולך. מכה, וכן כל לשון מגפה אינו לשון מיתה אלא לשון מכה, וכן וְנָגְפוּ אִשָּׁה הָרָה (שמות כא, כב) אינו לשון מיתה, וכן וּבְטֶרֶם יִתְנַגְּפוּ רגליכם (ירמי' יג, טז), פֶּן תִּגֹּף בָּאֶבֶן רַגְלֶךָ (תהלים צא, יב), וּלְאֶבֶן נֶגֶף (ישעי' ח, יד):
I will plague all of your borders. [נֹגֵף means] striking a blow. Similarly, every form of the word מַגֵּפָה does not [necessarily] refer to killing, but, rather, refers to striking. Similarly, “They will strike (וְנָגְפוּ) a pregnant woman” does not refer to killing. Similarly, “Before your feet (יִתְנַגְּפוּ) strike against something,” [or] “Lest your feet (תִּגּוֹף) strike a stone,” [or] “And as a stumbling stone.”
וְשָׁרַץ הַיְאֹר צְפַרְדְּעִים וְעָלוּ וּבָאוּ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבַחֲדַר מִשְׁכָּבְךָ וְעַל־מִטָּתֶךָ וּבְבֵית עֲבָדֶיךָ וּבְעַמֶּךָ וּבְתַנּוּרֶיךָ וּבְמִשְׁאֲרוֹתֶֽיךָ׃
The river will swarm with frogs. They will emerge and come into your house, into your bedroom, and on your bed, into the houses of your servants and your people, into your ovens and into your kneading bowls.
The river will swarm with frogs. They will emerge and come into your house, into your bedroom, and on your bed, into the houses of your servants and your people, into your ovens and into your kneading bowls.
Rashi
ועלו. מן היאור:
They will emerge — from the river.
בביתך. ואחר כך בבתי עבדיך, הוא התחיל בעצה תחלה, ויאמר אל עמו, וממנו התחילה הפורענות (סוטה יא. — שמו"ר י, ד):
Into your house — and afterwards in your servants’ houses. [Since] he initiated the plan at the beginning: “He said to his nation” (1, 9), therefore the punishment began with him.
וּבְכָה וּֽבְעַמְּךָ וּבְכׇל־עֲבָדֶיךָ יַעֲלוּ הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִֽים׃
Upon you and upon your people and upon all your servants the frogs will emerge.
Upon you and upon your people and upon all your servants the frogs will emerge.
Rashi
ובכה ובעמך. בתוך מעיהם נכנסים ומקרקרין:
Upon you and upon your people. They would enter their intestines and croak.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה אֱמֹר אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן נְטֵה אֶת־יָדְךָ בְּמַטֶּךָ עַל־הַנְּהָרֹת עַל־הַיְאֹרִים וְעַל־הָאֲגַמִּים וְהַעַל אֶת־הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִים עַל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
Adonoy said to Moshe, “Say to Aharon, ‘Extend your hand with your rod over the rivers, over the streams and over the lakes, and bring up the frogs upon the land of Egypt.’”
Adonoy said to Moshe, “Say to Aharon, ‘Extend your hand with your rod over the rivers, over the streams and over the lakes, and bring up the frogs upon the land of Egypt.’”
וַיֵּט אַהֲרֹן אֶת־יָדוֹ עַל מֵימֵי מִצְרָיִם וַתַּעַל הַצְּפַרְדֵּעַ וַתְּכַס אֶת־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
Aharon extended his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frog emerged and covered the land of Egypt.
Aharon extended his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frog emerged and covered the land of Egypt.
Rashi
ותעל הצפרדע. צפרדע אחת היתה, והיו מַכִּין אותה והיא מתזת נחילים נחילים, זהו מדרשו (שמו"ר י, ה). ופשוטו יש לומר, שרוץ הצפרדעים קורא לשון יחידות, וכן ותהי הכנם, הרחישה גדוליר"א בלע"ז, ואף ותעל הצפרדע גרינולי"רא בלע"ז
And the frog emerged. There was [only] one frog and [when] they struck at it it would split apart into various teeming swarms. That is its midrashic explanation. But as to its plain meaning, it may be said [that] the swarming of the frogs is referred to in the singular. Similarly וַתְּהִי הַכִּנָּם — [lit.] “There was lice” [referring to] the swarming. Pedoliere, in Old French — swarming lice, so, too וַתַּעַל הַצְּפַרְדֵּעַ [is translated as] grenoilliere in Old French — a swarm of frogs.
וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן הַֽחַרְטֻמִּים בְּלָטֵיהֶם וַיַּעֲלוּ אֶת־הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִים עַל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
The sorcerers did likewise with their magic art, and made the frogs emerge upon the land of Egypt.
The sorcerers did likewise with their magic art, and made the frogs emerge upon the land of Egypt.
וַיִּקְרָא פַרְעֹה לְמֹשֶׁה וּֽלְאַהֲרֹן וַיֹּאמֶר הַעְתִּירוּ אֶל־יְהֹוָה וְיָסֵר הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִים מִמֶּנִּי וּמֵֽעַמִּי וַאֲשַׁלְּחָה אֶת־הָעָם וְיִזְבְּחוּ לַיהֹוָֽה׃
Pharaoh called for Moshe and Aharon and said, “Pray to Adonoy, and let Him remove the frogs from me and from my people, and I will send the people to sacrifice to Adonoy.”
Pharaoh called for Moshe and Aharon and said, “Pray to Adonoy, and let Him remove the frogs from me and from my people, and I will send the people to sacrifice to Adonoy.”
וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה לְפַרְעֹה הִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי לְמָתַי ׀ אַעְתִּיר לְךָ וְלַעֲבָדֶיךָ וּֽלְעַמְּךָ לְהַכְרִית הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִים מִמְּךָ וּמִבָּתֶּיךָ רַק בַּיְאֹר תִּשָּׁאַֽרְנָה׃
Moshe said to Pharaoh, “Glorify yourself at my expense. [Exactly for] when shall I pray for you, and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be destroyed from you and from your houses, remaining only in the river.”
Moshe said to Pharaoh, “Glorify yourself at my expense. [Exactly for] when shall I pray for you, and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be destroyed from you and from your houses, remaining only in the river.”
Rashi
התפאר עלי. כמו הֲיִתְפָּאֵר הַגַרְזֶן עַל הַחֹצֵב בֹּו (ישעי' י, טו), משתבח לומר אני גדול ממך ונטי"ר בלע"ז, וכן התפאר עלי, השתבח להתחכם ולשאול דבר גדול ולומר שלא אוכל לעשותו:
Glorify yourself at my expense. As in: (הֲיִתְפָּאֵר) “Should the axe boast to the one who chops with it?” [הֲיִתְפָּאֵר meaning:] boasting by saying, “I am greater than you.” Wanter in Old French — to boast. This, too, is the meaning of הִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי: “You boast of your cleverness by asking [me to perform] something difficult and then saying that I will be unable to do it.”
למתי אעתיר לך. את אשר אעתיר לך היום על הכרתת הצפרדעים, למתי תרצה שיכרתו, ותראה אם אשלים דברי למועד שתקבע לי. אלו נאמר מתי אעתיר, היה משמע מתי אתפלל, עכשיו שנאמר למתי, משמע אני היום אתפלל עליך שיכרתו הצפרדעים לזמן שתקבע עלי, אמור לאיזה יום תרצה שיכרתו. אעתיר העתירו והעתרתי, ולא נאמר אעתר עתרו ועתרתי, מפני שכל לשון עתר הרבות פלל הוא, וכאשר יאמר הרבו ארבה והרביתי לשון הפעיל, כך יאמר, אעתיר העתירו והעתרתי דברים, ואב לכולם וְהַעְתַּרְתֶּם עָלַי דִּבְרֵיכֶם (יחזקאל לה, יג), הרביתם:
[Exactly for] when shall I pray for you. I will pray for you today for the destruction of the frogs — by when do you wish them destroyed so that you may see whether I will fulfill my promise at the appointed time you will set for me.” Had it said: מָתַי אַעְתִּיר [without the ל' prefix], it would have meant: “When shall I pray?” But, now that it says לְמָתַי [with the ל' prefix], it means: “I shall pray for you today that the frogs be destroyed by whatever time you may set for me. Just say by which day you want them destroyed.” The words אַעְתִּיר (this verse), הַעְתִּירוּ (v. 4) and וְהַעְתַּרְתִּי (v. 25) [are in the הִפְעִיל form] and not: אֶעְתַּר, עִתְרוּ, וְעָתַרְתִּי [in the קַל form], because wherever a form of עָתֹר appears it denotes a great deal of praying. And just as it says: אַרְבֶּה, הַרְבּוּ, וְהִרְבֵּיתִי terms denoting to cause to do, so, too, does it say אַעְתִּיר, הַעְתִּירוּ, וְהַעְתַּרְתִּי [referring to an increase of] words. The main proof of all this is [the verse:] “וְהַעְתַּרְתֶּם your words about me,” [וְהַעְתַּרְתֶּם meaning] you have increased.
וַיֹּאמֶר לְמָחָר וַיֹּאמֶר כִּדְבָרְךָ לְמַעַן תֵּדַע כִּי־אֵין כַּיהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
[Pharaoh] said, “By tomorrow.” [Moshe] said, “As you say. You will then know that there is none like Adonoy, our God.
[Pharaoh] said, “By tomorrow.” [Moshe] said, “As you say. You will then know that there is none like Adonoy, our God.
Rashi
ויאמר למחר. התפלל היום שיכרתו למחר:
He [Pharaoh] said by tomorrow. [I.e.] “Pray today that they be destroyed by tomorrow.”
וְסָרוּ הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִים מִמְּךָ וּמִבָּתֶּיךָ וּמֵעֲבָדֶיךָ וּמֵעַמֶּךָ רַק בַּיְאֹר תִּשָּׁאַֽרְנָה׃
The frogs will be removed from you, from your houses, from your servants and from your people. They will remain only in the river.
The frogs will be removed from you, from your houses, from your servants and from your people. They will remain only in the river.
וַיֵּצֵא מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן מֵעִם פַּרְעֹה וַיִּצְעַק מֹשֶׁה אֶל־יְהֹוָה עַל־דְּבַר הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִים אֲשֶׁר־שָׂם לְפַרְעֹֽה׃
Moshe and Aharon left Pharaoh, and Moshe cried out to Adonoy concerning the frogs that He had set upon Pharaoh.
Moshe and Aharon left Pharaoh, and Moshe cried out to Adonoy concerning the frogs that He had set upon Pharaoh.
Rashi
ויצא. ויצעק. מיד, שיכרתו למחר:
They left — [and Moshe] cried out. [He cried out] immediately that they be destroyed by tomorrow.
וַיַּעַשׂ יְהֹוָה כִּדְבַר מֹשֶׁה וַיָּמֻתוּ הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִים מִן־הַבָּתִּים מִן־הַחֲצֵרֹת וּמִן־הַשָּׂדֹֽת׃
Adonoy did as Moshe said, the frogs died, [those that were in] the houses, the courtyards, and the fields.
Adonoy did as Moshe said, the frogs died, [those that were in] the houses, the courtyards, and the fields.
וַיִּצְבְּרוּ אֹתָם חֳמָרִם חֳמָרִם וַתִּבְאַשׁ הָאָֽרֶץ׃
They gathered them into [many] heaps, and the land was polluted.
They gathered them into [many] heaps, and the land was polluted.
Rashi
חמרם חמרם. צְבוּרִים צְבוּרִים, כתרגומו דְּגוֹרִין, גַּלִּין:
Many heaps. [חֳמָרִים חֳמָרִים means] heaps [or mounds], as Onkelos translates it דְגוֹרִין which means heaps.
וַיַּרְא פַּרְעֹה כִּי הָֽיְתָה הָֽרְוָחָה וְהַכְבֵּד אֶת־לִבּוֹ וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֲלֵהֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}
[When] Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, just as Adonoy had spoken.
[When] Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, just as Adonoy had spoken.
Rashi
והכבד את לבו. לשון פעול הוא, כמו הָלֹוךְ וְנָסֹועַ (בראשית יב, ט), וכן וְהַכֹּות אֶת מֹואָב (מלכים־ב ג, כד), וְשָׁאֹול לֹו בֵּאלֹהִים (שמואל־א כב, יג), הַכֵּה וּפָצֹעַ (מלכים־א כ, לז):
He hardened his heart. [The word הַכְבֵּד] is in the infinitive form the same as הָלוֹךְ וְנָסוֹעַ “going and travelling,” and similarly “וְהַכּוֹת (striking) the Moabites,” [or:] “וְשָׁאוֹל (and asking) Hashem for him” [or:] “הַכֵּה וּפָצֹעַ striking and wounding.”
כאשר דבר ה'. והיכן דבר, ולא ישמע אליכם פרעה:
Just as Adonoy had spoken. And where had He said this? When He said, “Pharaoh will not listen to you.”
ואם מאן אתה. ואם סרבן אתה. מאן כמו ממאן, מסרב, אלא כינה האדם על שם המפעל, כמו שָׁלֵו (איוב טז, יב) וְשֹׁקֵט (ירמיה מח, יא), סַר וְזָעֵף (מלכים ־א כ, מג):
If you refuse. [וְאִם מָאֵן אַתָּה means:] If you are a refuser מָאֵן meaning the same as מְמָאֵן “one who refuses”) or מְסָרֵב — “one who refuses.” [The difference being] only that it is describing a person based on an ongoing action, similar to שָׁלֵו — “a person at ease,” [or] שָׁקֵט — “a person serene” [or] סַר וְזָעֵף — “a person with anger.”