Exodus 4:3

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

Complete Jewish Bible:

He said, "Throw it on the ground!" and he threw it on the ground. It turned into a snake, and Moshe recoiled from it.

Berean Standard Bible:

“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.

American Standard Version:

And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he said^{H559}, Cast^{H7993} it on the ground^{H776}. And he cast^{H7993} it on the ground^{H776}, and it became a serpent^{H5175}; and Moses^{H4872} fled^{H5127} from before^{H6440} it.

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Commentary for Exodus 4:3

**Exodus 4:3 Summary:**
In Exodus 4:3, God is speaking to Moses, providing a sign to confirm His power and to reassure Moses of His presence. This event occurs during Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush, where God commissions Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The theme of this verse revolves around God's authority over nature and the supernatural, as well as the use of signs to authenticate His messengers.

**Historical Context:**
This event takes place in the broader historical context of the Israelites' slavery in Egypt. Moses, having fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian, is now being called by God to return and confront Pharaoh. The transformation of the staff into a serpent serves as a theophany, a divine manifestation, demonstrating God's control over life and death, and symbolizing His power over the Egyptian gods, which included animalistic deities like the serpent. The serpent, in particular, was a symbol of divine and royal authority in Egypt. This sign is meant to bolster Moses' faith and to provide tangible proof of God's presence with him when he faces Pharaoh. It also prefigures the confrontation between the God of Israel and the gods of Egypt, which will unfold through the plagues.

*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: 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7993
   There are 121 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁלַךְ
   Transliteration: shâlak
   Pronunciation: shaw-lak
   Description: a primitive root; to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively); adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off, out), hurl, pluck, throw.
   
3. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5175
   There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָחָשׁ
   Transliteration: nâchâsh
   Pronunciation: naw-khawsh'
   Description: from נָחַשׁ; a snake (from its hiss); serpent.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5127
   There are 143 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נוּס
   Transliteration: nûwç
   Pronunciation: noos
   Description: a primitive root; to flit, i.e. vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver); [idiom] abate, away, be displayed, (make to) flee (away, -ing), put to flight, [idiom] hide, lift up a standard.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.