plagues of Egypt

Cultural  

1. The traditional name for the set of disasters that God inflicted on Egypt (see also Egypt) before the pharaoh let Moses lead the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land. The plagues, as recorded in the Book of Exodus, included swarms of locusts, hordes of frogs, and a scourge of boils. After the tenth and most horrible plague, in which the angel of Death killed every Egyptian firstborn male child, including the pharaoh's son, the pharaoh finally freed the Israelites. (See Passover (see also Passover).)

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Example Sentences

Which of these biblical "plagues of Egypt" from the Book of Exodus is currently plaguing modern-day Egypt as well?

From Slate • Mar. 8, 2013

It is thought by some to have affected the Exodus and caused the ten plagues of Egypt 450 miles to the southeast.

From Time Magazine Archive

“Y’all are having a regular ten plagues of Egypt over here, aren’t you?”

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor

She told the inspector in the most unblushing manner that during the plagues of Egypt the children of Israel suffered from fleas, and had rice in all their four quarters.

From The New Mistress A Tale by Fenn, George Manville

The plagues of Egypt scarcely symbolize the number and clamorousness of the mendicants.

From The Galaxy, June 1877 Vol. XXIII.—June, 1877.—No. 6. by Various