Exodus 8:31 tells us that God did exactly what Moses asked, removing the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, his officials, and the people, so that not a single fly was left. The verse shows God answering a specific prayer in a specific way, and it is a turning point in the plague story. It is spoken by the narrator of Exodus, describing what happened after Moses prayed on Pharaoh’s behalf and the plague ended.
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.
Exodus 8:31 (WEB)
What Exodus 8:31 Means
The verse opens with “The LORD did according to the word of Moses.” The key idea is that God acts in response to the request of his servant. Moses had said he would pray that the flies would leave the next day, and the verse records that God honored the timing and the request exactly. The phrase tells you that God listens to human prayer and responds in ways that are precise and reliable, not vague or random.
The rest of the verse says the flies were removed from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, and then it adds the short sentence, “There remained not one.” That emphasis is deliberate. The plague was not eased or reduced; it was completely taken away. The verse shows God’s power to act decisively, but it does not promise that every prayer will be answered in the same visible way, nor that a person’s heart will automatically respond with gratitude.
The Context of Exodus 8:31
Exodus is traditionally attributed to Moses, and it was written for the people of Israel as they remembered their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The book tells the story of how God rescued his people, gave them the law at Sinai, and set up the worship of the tabernacle. The plagues are the means by which God confronts Pharaoh and shows that the LORD, not the gods of Egypt, is in control of creation.
The verses just before this one, Exodus 8:28-30, show Pharaoh asking Moses to pray and promising to let the people go to sacrifice. Verse 32, which comes just after, reveals that Pharaoh hardened his heart again and refused. Read together, the passage shows that God answered Moses’ prayer fully while Pharaoh’s stubbornness remained, which helps explain why the verse emphasizes God’s faithfulness rather than Pharaoh’s cooperation.
Key Phrases in Exodus 8:31
James 5:16
Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.
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James links the power of prayer to the faithful intercession of a righteous person, much like Moses interceding for Pharaoh. Reading it alongside Exodus 8:31 helps you see that God answers the prayers of his people in ways that show his power and righteousness.
Exodus 9:29
Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands to the LORD. The thunders shall cease, and there will not be any more hail; that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s.
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Later in the same story, Moses tells Pharaoh that the thunder and hail will stop so that he may know the earth belongs to the LORD. This verse continues the theme that God’s acts are meant to make his power known, even when human hearts remain unchanged.
A Short Prayer From Exodus 8:31
Lord, you hear the prayers of those who call on you and you act with faithfulness and power. Thank you that you responded to Moses and removed the plague completely, showing that your answers are never half-hearted. Help me bring my requests to you with honesty and trust, even when I cannot see the result I want. Soften my heart so that I respond to your mercy with obedience and thanks. Amen.
