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What the Bible Says About Flies

Overview

The Bible addresses flies across 11 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in Exodus. Closely related themes include Miracles Wrought Through Servants of God and Miracles. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Moses and Aaron.

Key Bible verses about flies

Old Testament

Exodus

Exodus 8:21

Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are. swarms: or, a mixture of noisome beasts, etc

Exodus 8:22

And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.

Exodus 8:23

And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be. a division: Heb. a redemption to morrow: or, by to morrow

Exodus 8:24

And the LORD did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies. corrupted: or, destroyed

Exodus 8:25

And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.

Exodus 8:26

And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?

Exodus 8:27

We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us.

Exodus 8:28

And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.

Exodus 8:29

And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intreat the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.

Exodus 8:30

And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the LORD.

Exodus 8:31

And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.

People in the Bible and flies

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying flies for yourself

  • Begin with Exodus 8:21, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Consider the lives of Moses and Aaron and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Miracles Wrought Through Servants of God and Miracles.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about flies?

The Bible addresses flies across 11 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in Exodus. Closely related themes include Miracles Wrought Through Servants of God and Miracles. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Moses and Aaron.

How many Bible verses are about flies?

The Bible references flies in 11 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention flies?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Exodus 8:21: “Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are. swarms: or, a mixture of noisome beasts, etc”

Which people in the Bible are associated with flies?

Moses and Aaron.

Preach & teach

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