Exodus 4:4

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then ADONAI said to Moshe, "Put your hand out and take it by the tail." He reached out with his hand and took hold of it, and it became a staff in his hand.

Berean Standard Bible:

“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.

American Standard Version:

And Jehovah said unto Moses, Put forth thy hand, and take it by the tail: (and he put forth his hand, and laid hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand);

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the LORD^{H3068} said^{H559} unto Moses^{H4872}, Put forth^{H7971} thine hand^{H3027}, and take^{H270} it by the tail^{H2180}. And he put forth^{H7971} his hand^{H3027}, and caught^{H2388} it, and it became a rod^{H4294} in his hand^{H3709}:

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Exodus 4:4

**Themes:**
Exodus 4:4 showcases several key themes:

1. **Divine Authority and Power:** The transformation of Moses' staff into a serpent and back again demonstrates God's control over nature and serves as a sign of divine authority given to Moses.
2. **Obedience and Faith:** Moses' willingness to follow God's command, even with something as unusual as grabbing a serpent by the tail, illustrates obedience and the importance of trust in God's instructions.
3. **Signs and Wonders:** The miracle of the staff is one of several signs God provides to Moses to confirm his mission and to convince the Israelites and Pharaoh of God's power.
4. **Leadership and Calling:** This event is part of Moses' calling to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, emphasizing the theme of reluctant leadership and God's role in empowering leaders.

**Historical Context:**
The verse is set in the context of the Exodus narrative, where Moses, having fled Egypt, encounters God in the form of a burning bush. God commands Moses to return to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of slavery. Moses doubts his ability to convince the Israelites and Pharaoh, so God provides him with signs, including the miraculous transformation of his shepherd's staff.

During this time (around the 13th century BCE), the Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt for several generations. The staff-to-serpent sign would have been particularly meaningful in the Egyptian context, where serpents were significant in their religion and iconography. The ability to turn a staff into a serpent would have been seen as a direct challenge to the Egyptian gods and Pharaoh's claim to divine authority.

This event occurs at the beginning of Moses' mission, setting the stage for the subsequent plagues and the eventual liberation of the Israelites, which are central to the Jewish and Christian understanding of God's redemptive history.

*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: 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.
   
4. Strong's Number: H7971
   There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁלַח
   Transliteration: shâlach
   Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out).
   
5. 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.
   
6. Strong's Number: H270
   There are 305 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָחַז
   Transliteration: ʼâchaz
   Pronunciation: aw-khaz'
   Description: a primitive root; to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession); [phrase] be affrighted, bar, (catch, lay, take) hold (back), come upon, fasten, handle, portion, (get, have or take) possess(-ion).
   
7. Strong's Number: H2180
   There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָנָב
   Transliteration: zânâb
   Pronunciation: zaw-nawb'
   Description: from זָנַב (in the original sense of flapping); the tail (literally or figuratively); tail.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2388
   There are 266 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָזַק
   Transliteration: châzaq
   Pronunciation: khaw-zak'
   Description: a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer; aid, amend, [idiom] calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.
   
9. 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.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3709
    There are 180 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: כַּף
    Transliteration: kaph
    Pronunciation: kaf
    Description: from כָּפַף; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power; branch, [phrase] foot, hand((-ful), -dle, (-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.