Exodus 9:15

For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people, with pestilence, and thou shalt be cut off from the earth. Exodus 9:15 (KJV)

The book of Exodus recounts the story of the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt. This verse is presented as part of the narrative where God threatens Pharaoh with pestilence and judgment for his refusal to let the people go. The specific plague mentioned here is linked to the broader series of plagues that demonstrate God’s power over Egypt.

In this verse God declares His intention to smite Pharaoh and his people with pestilence and to cut them off from the earth. The statement highlights God’s supreme authority over all creation and underscores the purpose of the plagues: to demonstrate God’s supremacy, to punish the Egyptians for their oppression of the Israelites, and to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage.

By saying, “I will stretch out my hand,” God proclaims His direct involvement in the events unfolding in Egypt. The phrase appears elsewhere in Exodus (for example, in reference to the plague of darkness in Exodus 9:13) and signifies that God’s hand is not short of power to save His people. It shows that He is actively working to fulfill His purposes and can bring swift and decisive judgment upon the oppressors.

The warning “thou shalt be cut off from the earth” underscores the severity of the coming judgment. It serves as a stark reminder that disobedience and oppression lead to destruction. This warning reinforces the overall message of the Exodus plagues: that persistent rebellion against God’s will results in severe consequences.

While the language reflects themes found throughout the plague narratives, the exact combination of “stretch out my hand,” “pestilence,” and “cut off from the earth” does not appear verbatim in any standard translation of Exodus. It is a paraphrase that captures the essence of the biblical themes concerning divine judgment, intervention, and the consequences of disobedience.