Exodus 4:2

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the LORD said unto him, What [is] that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

Complete Jewish Bible:

ADONAI answered him, "What is that in your hand?" and he said, "A staff."

Berean Standard Bible:

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

American Standard Version:

And Jehovah said unto him, What is that in thy hand? And he said, A rod.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the LORD^{H3068} said^{H559} unto him, What is that in thine hand^{H3027}? And he said^{H559}, A rod^{H4294}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Exodus 4:2

**Exodus 4:2 Summary:**

**Themes:**
- Divine Encounter: Moses' conversation with God emphasizes the theme of divine presence and communication.
- Calling and Commission: God questions Moses about the staff to prepare him for the role of leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
- Humility and Unworthiness: Moses' initial reluctance and surprise at God's interest in his simple shepherd's staff highlight his feelings of inadequacy.
- Transformation of the Ordinary: The staff, an ordinary object, is about to become a tool for miracles, symbolizing how God uses the common to achieve the extraordinary.

**Historical Context:**
- Enslavement in Egypt: The Israelites had been in Egypt for centuries, initially welcomed but eventually enslaved.
- Moses' Background: Moses, raised as an Egyptian prince but now a fugitive, is living as a shepherd in Midian after killing an Egyptian.
- God's Intervention: God appears to Moses in a burning bush, calling him to return to Egypt and demand the release of the Israelites from Pharaoh.
- Symbol of Authority: In the ancient Near East, a staff was a symbol of authority and power, often associated with leadership and divine endorsement.

In this verse, God is setting the stage for Moses to recognize that what seems mundane can be transformed by divine power to accomplish God's purposes. This encounter is part of the larger narrative of the Exodus, which recounts the liberation of the Israelites from slavery and their formation as a nation under God's guidance.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4294
   There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַטֶּה
   Transliteration: maṭṭeh
   Pronunciation: mat-teh'
   Description: or (feminine) מַטָּה; from נָטָה; a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread); rod, staff, tribe.