Lice
Summary
The Hebrew word 'kinnim' refers to the creatures that formed the third plague upon Egypt, though scholars debate whether these were lice, gnats, mosquitoes, or sand-flies.
☩The Third Plague
The third plague brought upon Egypt was produced miraculously from the dust of the land when Aaron struck the ground with his rod (Exodus 8:16-18). Unlike the previous plagues, the Egyptian magicians could not replicate this one, acknowledging: 'This is the finger of God' (Exodus 8:19). The creatures afflicted 'both man and beast' throughout the land of Egypt. The Psalmist recalls this plague: 'He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts' (Psalm 105:31).
☩Identification Debates
The exact creature intended by the Hebrew 'kinnim' has been much disputed. The Septuagint renders it as 'skniphes,' a word used by ancient Greek naturalists for small flying insects—possibly gnats, mosquitoes, or sand-flies. Philo and Origen, both residents of Egypt, described them in terms suitable to gnats or mosquitoes. The Revised Version margin suggests 'fleas' or 'sandflies.' The difficulty in identification partly arises because the Hebrew word appears only in connection with this plague. If the plague were gnats or mosquitoes appearing at an unusual time (February rather than after the Nile's rise in summer), this would explain why the magicians could not reproduce it—it was a supernatural disruption of Egypt's natural order.
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Lice," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Lice," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).