FROG—(Heb. tsephardeʾa, meaning a “marsh-leaper”). This reptile is mentioned in the Old Testament only in connection with one of the plagues which fell on the land of Egypt (Ex. 8:2–14; Ps. 78:45; 105:30).
In the New Testament this word occurs only in Rev. 16:13, where it is referred to as a symbol of uncleanness. The only species of frog existing in Palestine is the green frog (Rana esculenta), the well-known edible frog of the Continent.
Easton, M. G. (1893). In Easton’s Bible dictionary. New York: Harper & Brothers.
FROG (צְפַרְדֵּעַ, tsephardea'; βάτραχος, batrachos). Reptiles are associated in the Bible with uncleanness and judgment (Exod 8:2–14; Psa 78:45, 105:30; Rev 16:13).
Major Contributors and Editors. (2016). Frog. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
frog. Although frogs were common in the lands of the Bible, they are only mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in one particular context: as a plague upon the Egyptians. God sent hoards of frogs out of the water and into their homes, even into Pharaoh’s bedroom (Exod. 8:1–15; alluded to in Pss. 78:45; 105:30). Pharaoh appealed to Moses and Aaron and promised to let the Israelite slaves go if the frogs were removed. However, after the frogs died, Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites leave. In the NT, frogs are mentioned in the book of Revelation: John sees “three foul spirits like frogs coming from the mouth of the dragon, from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophet” (16:13). See also plagues.
Powell, M. A. (Ed.). (2011). frog. In The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated) (Third Edition., p. 301). New York: HarperCollins.
FROG Amphibious animal specifically used by God as a plague against Pharaoh and his people. When the Lord sent Moses to free the Israelites, Pharaoh’s heart was hard. Moses told Pharaoh that frogs would come into the palace and to the houses of his officials and his people. Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters, and frogs covered the land. The court magicians also did the same, and more frogs came on the land. Pharaoh called on Moses to pray to the Lord to take the frogs away and he would let the people go. Moses prayed, the frogs died, but Pharaoh still refused to let the Israelites go free (Exod. 8:2–15). See Animals.
Brand, C., Draper, C., England, A., Bond, S., Clendenen, E. R., & Butler, T. C. (Eds.). (2003). Frog. In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (pp. 602–603). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.