lectionary.com

Lent · The Third Sunday in Lent (Oculi)

Exodus 8:16-24

The Plague of Gnats

March 8, 2026

The Seventh Plague of Egypt, John Martin
The Seventh Plague of Egypt, John Martin, 1823Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Martin's hail and fire: a black storm over colossal Egyptian architecture with Moses tiny on a ledge and the whole city about to go.The reading is the plague of flies, and Martin is the painter who gave the plagues the scale Exodus claims for them.John MartinAn English painter of catastrophes on an enormous scale, hugely popular with the public and despised by Ruskin, whose shows toured for decades.Museum of Fine Arts, BostonOne of the oldest American museums, founded in 1870, with a collection that runs from Egyptian to contemporary and a famous Japanese holding.Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 11:14-28Lk 11:14-28
EpistleEph. 5:1-9Eph 5:1-9
Old TestamentExod. 8:16-24Ex 8:16-24Alt. OTJer. 26:1-15Jer 26:1-15
PsalterPs. 136:1-16Ps 136:1-16Alt. PsalmPs. 4Ps 4

Overview & Insights

“Then you shall know that I am the Lord.” (Exodus 8:22)

The third plague was gnats, that came from the dust. “Gnats” is the traditional interpretation, but the word can mean “mosquitoes.” The word kinnam (translated “gnats”) is used only in reference to this plague. Other suggestions are “ticks” and “lice” or, generally, “vermin.” Both gnats and mosquitoes were indigenous to Egypt, but the latter were much more personally invasive. This third plague, like the sixth (boils), is in a short form concluding its cycle of three. Although the account is short, the rhetorical effect is striking. The word “gnats” occurs five times in three verses. The Lord told Moses to tell Aaron, “Stretch out your staff” for the third and final time. The chords of the theme of creation are struck again, for when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats came upon men and animals.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: Exodus 8:16-24

Commentary

Enduring Word Commentary, Exodus 8Enduring Word Commentary, Ex 8 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik walks the plagues of gnats and flies and the magicians' confession that this is the finger of God.

Exodus 8:16 CommentariesEx 8:16 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators on the third and fourth plagues and the distinction God draws over Goshen.

Exodus 8 Commentary | Precept AustinEx 8 Commentary | Precept Austin Precept Austin

Verse notes, cross references, and study helps on the escalating signs against Pharaoh.

Background & Word Study

Exodus 8 with Commentaries (Sefaria)Ex 8 with Commentaries (Sefaria) Sefaria

Hebrew and English side by side with Rashi and Jewish commentators on the plagues.

Exodus 8:16 InterlinearEx 8:16 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew text with Strong's numbers and parsing for the plague of gnats.

Overview: Exodus 1-18Overview: Ex 1-18 BibleProject

Animated overview of the exodus story through the plagues and deliverance from Egypt.

The Church Fathers

Church Fathers on Exodus 8 (Catena Bible)Church Fathers on Ex 8 (Catena Bible) Catena

Early Christian readings of the plagues gathered verse by verse.

Questions preachers ask

What are the plagues of Egypt about?

Through the plagues God presses Pharaoh to let his people go, distinguishing Israel from Egypt so that all may know the Lord is God.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Luke 11:14-28
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.