Exodus 8:16

Stretch: Exodus 8:5, Exodus 8:17

lice: The word kinnim is rendered by the LXX &ףךיצוע ףךינוע, or ףךםחצוע, and by the Vulgate sciniphes, Gnats; and Mr. Harmer supposes he has found out the true meaning in the word tarrentes, a species of worm. Bochart, however, seems to have proved that lice, and not gnats, are meant; because:

1. They sprang from the dust, and not from the waters;

2. They were on both man and beast, which cannot be said of gnats;

3. Their name is derived from koon, to make firm, fix, establish, which cannot agree with gnats, flies, etc., which are ever changing place, and almost constantly on the wing;

4. The term kinnah is used by the Talmudists to express the louse.

This insect must have been a very dreadful and afflicting plague to the Egyptians, and especially to the priests, who were obliged to shave all their hair off, and to wear a single linen tunic, to prevent vermin harbouring about them.

Reciprocal: Exodus 7:19 - stretch Exodus 9:8 - Take to Exodus 9:22 - General Psalms 105:31 - and lice