Psalms 104:31
He spoke, and there came divers sorts of flies and sciniphs in all their coasts.
The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Dixit, et venit cœnomyia et ciniphes in omnibus finibus eorum.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- εἶπεν, καὶ ἦλθεν κυνόμυια καὶ σκνῖπες ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτῶν.
- Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 105:31
- אָ֭מַר וַיָּבֹ֣א עָרֹ֑ב כִּ֝נִּ֗ים בְּכָל גְּבוּלָֽם
Haydock's commentary
Flies. This was revealed to David, or known by tradition, as it is not recorded by Moses. (Worthington)
Some copies of the Septuagint have, "the dog-fly," cinifes (Exodus viii. 16.) gnats, (Haydock) which are very common and tormenting in Egypt. The Jews understand lice. (Joseph and the Chaldean) (Calmet)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
St Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Psalm CV
21. “He spake the word, and there came all manner of flies, and lice in all their quarters” ( ver. 31 ). If it be asked when He spake, it was in His Word before it took place; and there it was, without time, at what time it should take place: although even then He commanded it to be done, when it was to be done, through Angels, and through his servants Moses and Aaron.