Exodus 9:31

(Now the ¹  flax and the barley were struck ²  by the hail, ³  for the barley had ripened ⁴  and the flax ⁵  was in bud.

(The flax and barley were destroyed, since the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bloom.

(Now the flax and the barley were ruined, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud.

All the flax and barley were destroyed because the barley was ripe and the flax was in bloom.

(The flax and the barley were ruined, for they were just ripening,

And the flax and the barley were damaged, for the barley was almost ready to be cut and the flax was in flower.

(Now the flax and the barley were ruined, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud.

Now the flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud.

(Now the ¹  flax and the barley were struck ²  by the hail, ³  for the barley had ripened ⁴  and the flax ⁵  was in bud.

¹ tn A disjunctive vav introduces the two verses that provide parenthetical information to the reader. Gesenius notes that the boldness of such clauses is often indicated by the repetition of nouns at the beginning (see GKC 452 §141.d). Some have concluded that because they have been put here rather than back after v. 25 or 26, they form part of Moses’ speech to Pharaoh, explaining that the crops that were necessary for humans were spared, but those for other things were destroyed. This would also mean that Moses was saying there is more that God can destroy (see B. Jacob, Exodus, 279).

² tn The unusual forms נֻכָּתָה (nukkatah) in v. 31 and נֻכּוּ (nukku) in v. 32 are probably to be taken as old Qal passives. There are no attested Piel uses of the root.

³ tn The words “by the hail” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied from context.

⁴ tn Heb “was in the ear” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NRSV); NIV “had headed.”

⁵ sn Flax was used for making linen, and the area around Tanis was ideal for producing flax. Barley was used for bread for the poor people, as well as beer and animal feed.