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Exodus 8 · a question people ask

What was "the abomination of the Egyptians"?

In the text

Moses says, "we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God. Behold, if we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, won’t they stone us?" (8:26). The chapter doesn't say what the abomination is. Genesis uses the same Hebrew word twice about the Egyptians: "the Egyptians don’t eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians" (Genesis 43:32), and "every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians" (Genesis 46:34). When Moses later says what they will sacrifice, it comes from their flocks and herds: "Our livestock also shall go with us. Not a hoof shall be left behind, for of it we must take to serve the LORD our God" (10:26).

The verses

“Moses said, “It isn’t appropriate to do so; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God. Behold, if we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, won’t they stone us?”
Exodus 8:26 · World English Bible
“They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians don’t eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
Genesis 43:32 · World English Bible
“that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers:’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.””
Genesis 46:34 · World English Bible
“Moses said, “You must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. Our livestock also shall go with us. Not a hoof shall be left behind, for of it we must take to serve the LORD our God; and we don’t know with what we must serve the LORD, until we come there.””
Exodus 10:25-26 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Exodus 8

Exodus 8: God's finger

Pharaoh's magicians could bring up more frogs, but it was Moses whom Pharaoh asked to take them away, and when they couldn't make lice they said, "This is God’s finger" (8:19), words the World English Bible gives again only for the stone tablets and on Jesus' lips (Luke 11:20). With the flies, the LORD began to set his people's land apart.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions