Focused Passage

Exodus 4:1-9

Signs, Reluctance, Covenant Blood, and Return to Egypt

The LORD answers Moses' objections with signs and provision, sends him back to Egypt with Aaron, confronts covenant disobedience in Moses' household, and brings Israel's elders to believe and worship.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1Then Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”

2And the LORD asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.

3“Throw it on the ground,” said the LORD. So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a snake, and he ran from it.

4“Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail,” the LORD said to Moses, who reached out his hand and caught the snake, and it turned back into a staff in his hand.

5“This is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”

6Furthermore, the LORD said to Moses, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, white as snow.

7“Put your hand back inside your cloak,” said the LORD. So Moses put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his skin.

8And the LORD said, “If they refuse to believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe that of the second.

9But if they do not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. Then the water you take from the Nile will become blood on the ground.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Then Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙H4872Noun - proper - masculine singularansweredוַיַּ֤עַןH6030Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-וַיֹּ֔אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularWhat ifוְהֵן֙H2005Conjunctive waw | Interjectionthey do notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlebelieveיַאֲמִ֣ינוּH539Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralmeלִ֔יPreposition | first person common singularorוְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlelistenיִשְׁמְע֖וּH8085Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralto my voiceבְּקֹלִ֑יH6963Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularForכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionthey may sayיֹֽאמְר֔וּH559Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralThe LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhas notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleappearedנִרְאָ֥הH7200Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto youאֵלֶ֖יךָH413Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 2

Original words

And the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularaskedוַיֹּ֧אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularhimאֵלָ֛יוH413Preposition | third person masculine singularWhat is thatמַזֶּהH4100Interrogativein your handבְיָדֶ֑ךָH3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularA staffמַטֶּֽה׃H4294Noun - masculine singularhe repliedוַיֹּ֖אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 3

Original words

Throwהַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּH7993Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singularit on the groundאַ֔רְצָהH776Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singularsaid [the LORD]וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularSo [Moses] threwוַיַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥הוּH7993Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularit on the groundאַ֖רְצָהH776Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singularand it becameוַיְהִ֣יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulara snakeלְנָחָ֑שׁH5175Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularand [he]מֹשֶׁ֖הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularranוַיָּ֥נָסH5127Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularfrom itמִפָּנָֽיו׃H6440Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew nachash, in contrast to Aaron’s staff, which became a tannin in Exodus 7:10
Verse 4

Original words

Stretch outשְׁלַח֙H7971Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularyour handיָֽדְךָ֔H3027Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularand grab itוֶאֱחֹ֖זH270Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularby the tailבִּזְנָב֑וֹH2180Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularthe LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionMosesמֹשֶׁ֔הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singular[who] reached outוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חH7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularhis handיָדוֹ֙H3027Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularand caughtוַיַּ֣חֲזֶקH2388Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular[the snake]בּ֔וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularand it turned backוַיְהִ֥יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularinto a staffלְמַטֶּ֖הH4294Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularin his handבְּכַפּֽוֹ׃H3709Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

This is so thatלְמַ֣עַןH4616Conjunctionthey may believeיַאֲמִ֔ינוּH539Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralthatכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthe LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Godאֱלֹהֵ֣יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof their fathersאֲבֹתָ֑םH1Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralthe Godאֱלֹהֵ֧יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֛םH85Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Godאֱלֹהֵ֥יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof Isaacיִצְחָ֖קH3327Noun - proper - masculine singularand the Godוֵאלֹהֵ֥יH430Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructof Jacobיַעֲקֹֽב׃H3290Noun - proper - masculine singularhas appearedנִרְאָ֥הH7200Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto youאֵלֶ֛יךָH413Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 6

Original words

Furthermoreע֗וֹדH5750Adverbthe LORDיְהוָ֨הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּאמֶר֩H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto [Moses]ל֜וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularPutהָֽבֵא־H935Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular. . .נָ֤אH4994Interjectionyour handיָֽדְךָ֙H3027Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularinside your cloakבְּחֵיקֶ֔ךָH2436Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularSo he putוַיָּבֵ֥אH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularhis handיָד֖וֹH3027Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularinside his cloakבְּחֵיק֑וֹH2436Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularand when he took it outוַיּ֣וֹצִאָ֔הּH3318Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular. . .וְהִנֵּ֥הH2009Conjunctive waw | Interjectionhis handיָד֖וֹH3027Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular[was] leprousמְצֹרַ֥עַתH6879Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singular constructwhite as snowכַּשָּֽׁלֶג׃H7950Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew into your bosom; twice in this verse and twice in verse 7
  • The Hebrew word traditionally translated as leprous was used for various skin diseases; see Leviticus 13.
Verse 7

Original words

Put your handיָֽדְךָ֙H3027Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularbackהָשֵׁ֤בH7725Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularinsideאֶל־H413Prepositionyour cloakחֵיקֶ֔ךָH2436Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularsaid [the LORD]וַיֹּ֗אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularSo [Moses] put his handיָד֖וֹH3027Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularbackוַיָּ֥שֶׁבH7725Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularinsideאֶל־H413Prepositionhis cloakחֵיק֑וֹH2436Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularand when he took it outוַיּֽוֹצִאָהּ֙H3318Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular. . .מֵֽחֵיק֔וֹH2436Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular. . .וְהִנֵּה־H2009Conjunctive waw | Interjectionit was restoredשָׁ֖בָהH7725Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularlike the rest of his skinכִּבְשָׂרֽוֹ׃H1320Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

[And the LORD said,]וְהָיָה֙H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularIfאִם־H518Conjunctionthey refuseלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleto believeיַאֲמִ֣ינוּH539Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralyouלָ֔ךְPreposition | second person masculine singularorוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleheedיִשְׁמְע֔וּH8085Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralthe witnessלְקֹ֖לH6963Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructof the firstהָרִאשׁ֑וֹןH7223Article | Adjective - masculine singularsignהָאֹ֣תH226Article | Noun - common singularthey may believeוְהֶֽאֱמִ֔ינוּH539Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural[that]לְקֹ֖לH6963Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructof the secondהָאַחֲרֽוֹן׃H314Article | Adjective - masculine singular. . .הָאֹ֥תH226Article | Noun - common singular
Verse 9

Original words

Butוְהָיָ֡הH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularifאִם־H518Conjunctionthey do notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlebelieveיַאֲמִ֡ינוּH539Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralevenגַּם֩H1571Conjunctiontheseהָאֵ֗לֶּהH428Article | Pronoun - common plural. . .וְלֹ֤אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particletwoלִשְׁנֵ֨יH8147Preposition-l | Number - masculine dual constructsignsהָאֹת֜וֹתH226Article | Noun - common pluralor listenיִשְׁמְעוּן֙H8085Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nunto your voiceלְקֹלֶ֔ךָH6963Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singulartakeוְלָקַחְתָּ֙H3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularsome waterמִמֵּימֵ֣יH4325Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural constructfrom the Nileהַיְאֹ֔רH2975Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularand pourוְשָׁפַכְתָּ֖H8210Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularit on the dry groundהַיַּבָּשָׁ֑הH3004Article | Noun - feminine singularThenוְהָי֤וּH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralthe waterהַמַּ֙יִם֙H4325Article | Noun - masculine plural-אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeyou takeתִּקַּ֣חH3947Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularfromמִן־H4480Prepositionthe Nileהַיְאֹ֔רH2975Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularwill becomeוְהָי֥וּH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralbloodלְדָ֖םH1818Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularon the groundבַּיַּבָּֽשֶׁת׃H3006Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.