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

1 Then 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.’”

2 And 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.”

6 Furthermore, 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.

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

9 But 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 Moses מֹשֶׁה֙ H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular answered וַיַּ֤עַן H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - וַיֹּ֔אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular What if וְהֵן֙ H2005 Conjunctive waw | Interjection they do not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle believe יַאֲמִ֣ינוּ H539 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural me לִ֔י Preposition | first person common singular or וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle listen יִשְׁמְע֖וּ H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural to my voice בְּקֹלִ֑י H6963 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular For כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction they may say יֹֽאמְר֔וּ H559 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural The LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular has not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle appeared נִרְאָ֥ה H7200 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to you אֵלֶ֖יךָ H413 Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 2

Original words

And the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular asked וַיֹּ֧אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular him אֵלָ֛יו H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular What is that מַזֶּה H4100 Interrogative in your hand בְיָדֶ֑ךָ H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular A staff מַטֶּֽה׃ H4294 Noun - masculine singular he replied וַיֹּ֖אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 3

Original words

Throw הַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּ H7993 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singular it on the ground אַ֔רְצָה H776 Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular said [the LORD] וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular So [Moses] threw וַיַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥הוּ H7993 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular it on the ground אַ֖רְצָה H776 Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular and it became וַיְהִ֣י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular a snake לְנָחָ֑שׁ H5175 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular and [he] מֹשֶׁ֖ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular ran וַיָּ֥נָס H5127 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular from it מִפָּנָֽיו׃ H6440 Preposition-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 out שְׁלַח֙ H7971 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular your hand יָֽדְךָ֔ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular and grab it וֶאֱחֹ֖ז H270 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular by the tail בִּזְנָב֑וֹ H2180 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֔ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular [who] reached out וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular his hand יָדוֹ֙ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular and caught וַיַּ֣חֲזֶק H2388 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular [the snake] בּ֔וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular and it turned back וַיְהִ֥י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular into a staff לְמַטֶּ֖ה H4294 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular in his hand בְּכַפּֽוֹ׃ H3709 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

This is so that לְמַ֣עַן H4616 Conjunction they may believe יַאֲמִ֔ינוּ H539 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural that כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular the God אֱלֹהֵ֣י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of their fathers אֲבֹתָ֑ם H1 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural the God אֱלֹהֵ֧י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Abraham אַבְרָהָ֛ם H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular the God אֱלֹהֵ֥י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Isaac יִצְחָ֖ק H3327 Noun - proper - masculine singular and the God וֵאלֹהֵ֥י H430 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct of Jacob יַעֲקֹֽב׃ H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular has appeared נִרְאָ֥ה H7200 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to you אֵלֶ֛יךָ H413 Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 6

Original words

Furthermore ע֗וֹד H5750 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֨ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּאמֶר֩ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to [Moses] ל֜וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular Put הָֽבֵא־ H935 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular . . . נָ֤א H4994 Interjection your hand יָֽדְךָ֙ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular inside your cloak בְּחֵיקֶ֔ךָ H2436 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular So he put וַיָּבֵ֥א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular his hand יָד֖וֹ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular inside his cloak בְּחֵיק֑וֹ H2436 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular and when he took it out וַיּ֣וֹצִאָ֔הּ H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular . . . וְהִנֵּ֥ה H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection his hand יָד֖וֹ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular [was] leprous מְצֹרַ֥עַת H6879 Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singular construct white as snow כַּשָּֽׁלֶג׃ H7950 Preposition-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 hand יָֽדְךָ֙ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular back הָשֵׁ֤ב H7725 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular inside אֶל־ H413 Preposition your cloak חֵיקֶ֔ךָ H2436 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular said [the LORD] וַיֹּ֗אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular So [Moses] put his hand יָד֖וֹ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular back וַיָּ֥שֶׁב H7725 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular inside אֶל־ H413 Preposition his cloak חֵיק֑וֹ H2436 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular and when he took it out וַיּֽוֹצִאָהּ֙ H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular . . . מֵֽחֵיק֔וֹ H2436 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular . . . וְהִנֵּה־ H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection it was restored שָׁ֖בָה H7725 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular like the rest of his skin כִּבְשָׂרֽוֹ׃ H1320 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

[And the LORD said,] וְהָיָה֙ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular If אִם־ H518 Conjunction they refuse לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle to believe יַאֲמִ֣ינוּ H539 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural you לָ֔ךְ Preposition | second person masculine singular or וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle heed יִשְׁמְע֔וּ H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural the witness לְקֹ֖ל H6963 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct of the first הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן H7223 Article | Adjective - masculine singular sign הָאֹ֣ת H226 Article | Noun - common singular they may believe וְהֶֽאֱמִ֔ינוּ H539 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural [that] לְקֹ֖ל H6963 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct of the second הָאַחֲרֽוֹן׃ H314 Article | Adjective - masculine singular . . . הָאֹ֥ת H226 Article | Noun - common singular
Verse 9

Original words

But וְהָיָ֡ה H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular if אִם־ H518 Conjunction they do not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle believe יַאֲמִ֡ינוּ H539 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural even גַּם֩ H1571 Conjunction these הָאֵ֗לֶּה H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural . . . וְלֹ֤א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle two לִשְׁנֵ֨י H8147 Preposition-l | Number - masculine dual construct signs הָאֹת֜וֹת H226 Article | Noun - common plural or listen יִשְׁמְעוּן֙ H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun to your voice לְקֹלֶ֔ךָ H6963 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular take וְלָקַחְתָּ֙ H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular some water מִמֵּימֵ֣י H4325 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct from the Nile הַיְאֹ֔ר H2975 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular and pour וְשָׁפַכְתָּ֖ H8210 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular it on the dry ground הַיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה H3004 Article | Noun - feminine singular Then וְהָי֤וּ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural the water הַמַּ֙יִם֙ H4325 Article | Noun - masculine plural - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative you take תִּקַּ֣ח H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular from מִן־ H4480 Preposition the Nile הַיְאֹ֔ר H2975 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular will become וְהָי֥וּ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural blood לְדָ֖ם H1818 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular on the ground בַּיַּבָּֽשֶׁת׃ H3006 Preposition-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.