Definition: Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that [is] in mine hand upon the waters which [are] in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Exodus 7:17. It’s a really powerful and dramatic passage about God’s power and judgment. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: God is declaring that He has the power to control water – specifically, the river. And he’s going to use this power to force the river to change its course. Let's unpack each part: "Thus saith the LORD..." : This is God speaking directly to us. It’s a formal declaration of something significant. "...In this thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD..." : This confirms who God is – He’s the Lord, and he's in charge. "Behold, I will smite with the rod that [is] in mine hand upon the waters which [are] in the river..." : This is the core of the verse. “Smite” means to punish or strike something with force. God is using a rod – a long stick – as his weapon. He’s striking this rod down into the water of the river. "...they shall be turned to blood." : This is the consequence of his punishment. The water will change its course and become "blood" - meaning it will flow rapidly and violently, possibly causing devastation. What's the Big Picture? This verse describes a dramatic event in ancient Israel’s history: God sending a locust plague – a massive swarm of insects – to destroy crops and livestock. The reason for this is that the Israelites were refusing to let God use the river as a place for sacrifice, and because of their refusal, God decided to punish them with a devastating flood. Important Note: This verse doesn’t explain why the locusts are coming. It simply describes the action – God's power to control the water. In short, this verse is a powerful reminder that God has absolute authority over creation and can use his power to bring about significant change. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this passage? Discuss the context of this story in more detail?