Exodus 8

Jehovah

Jehovah — the covenant name of God, 'I AM', the premortal Christ

And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me. Exodus 8:1

The LORD (Jehovah) speaks and claims Israel as His own people. Latter-day Saints understand Jehovah to be Jesus Christ before His birth, so this is the Savior demanding His people's freedom.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · another scripture interprets it of Him

• the same title in Exodus 3:14-15 — Jehovah reveals His name (I AM; 'this is my name for ever') to Moses before sending him to Pharaoh.
• the same title in D&C 110:3-4 — The voice of Jehovah in the Kirtland Temple: 'I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain.'

Jehovah

And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God. Exodus 8:10

Moses tells Pharaoh the plague will end on his word so Pharaoh will know no god compares with Jehovah. The plagues show the power of the premortal Christ over the false gods of Egypt.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · a footnote points to Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

• alluded to by Exodus 15:11 — Israel's song echoes the same claim: 'Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods?'
• the same title in D&C 76:1 — Church footnote 10a: 'the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior.'

Jehovah — the finger of God

Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said. Exodus 8:19

Egypt's magicians admit the lice come from the power of God. Jesus later uses the same phrase for His own power over devils, showing the same divine power at work.

How we know: a footnote points to Him

• alluded to by Luke 11:20 — Jesus: 'if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.'

Jehovah

And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. Exodus 8:22–23

Jehovah speaks and promises to protect Goshen, where His covenant people live. The premortal Christ makes a visible difference between those who belong to Him and those who do not.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

• alluded to by Exodus 11:7 — The same promise returns before the last plague: 'the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.'