Exodus 4:7

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his [other] flesh.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then God said, "Now put your hand back in your coat." He put his hand back in his coat; and when he took it out, it was as healthy as the rest of his body.

Berean Standard Bible:

“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.

American Standard Version:

And he said, Put thy hand into thy bosom again. (And he put his hand into his bosom again; and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.)

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he said^{H559}, Put^{H7725} thine hand^{H3027} into thy bosom^{H2436} again^{H7725}. And he put^{H7725} his hand^{H3027} into his bosom^{H2436} again^{H7725}; and plucked^{H3318} it out of his bosom^{H2436}, and, behold, it was turned again^{H7725} as his other flesh^{H1320}.

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Commentary for Exodus 4:7

**Themes:**
Exodus 4:7 is part of the narrative where God is commissioning Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The verse highlights several key themes:

1. **Divine Power:** It demonstrates God's power to perform miracles, reinforcing His ability to overcome natural limitations and to transform something as intrinsic as a person's flesh.
2. **Signs of Authority:** The transformation of Moses' hand serves as a sign to authenticate Moses' role as God's chosen leader and to confirm the divine source of his mission.
3. **Faith and Doubt:** Moses' initial hesitation and request for a sign reflect a common human struggle between doubt and belief, and God's response addresses this by providing tangible proof of His presence and support.
4. **Preparation for Mission:** This event is part of God's preparation of Moses for the daunting task ahead, equipping him with the confidence and evidence needed to confront Pharaoh and persuade the Israelites.

**Historical Context:**
The Book of Exodus is set in the period following the death of Joseph and the rise of a new Pharaoh "who did not know Joseph" (Exodus 1:8). The Israelites, once favored in Egypt, have become enslaved and oppressed. Exodus 4:7 occurs during Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush, where God reveals His plan to deliver the Israelites from slavery.

Moses, having been raised in Pharaoh's court but now a fugitive and shepherd in Midian, is initially reluctant to accept the leadership role God offers him. He questions his own adequacy and the likelihood of the Israelites believing his message. In response, God provides Moses with three signs to confirm His power and Moses' authority: the staff turning into a snake, the leprous hand, and the water turning into blood. These signs are meant to bolster Moses' credibility and to foreshadow the plagues that will later afflict Egypt.

The historical context of this verse is therefore one of divine intervention in human affairs, with God actively working to liberate His people from oppression and to establish a covenant relationship with them. This event marks the beginning of Moses' journey as the lawgiver and leader who will play a pivotal role in the formation of the Israelite nation.

*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: H7725
   There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׁוּב
   Transliteration: shûwb
   Pronunciation: shoob
   Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
   
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: H2436
   There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֵיק
   Transliteration: chêyq
   Pronunciation: khake
   Description: or חֵק; and חוֹק; from an unused root, apparently meaning to inclose; the bosom (literally or figuratively); bosom, bottom, lap, midst, within.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3318
   There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָצָא
   Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1320
   There are 241 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּשָׂר
   Transliteration: bâsâr
   Pronunciation: baw-sawr'
   Description: from בָּשַׂר; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman; body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin.