Exodus4

Moses expresses doubt about Israel's belief, so the LORD grants him three miraculous signs: a rod turning into a serpent, a hand becoming leprous and then healed, and water turning to blood. When Moses further objects to his lack of eloquence, God appoints Aaron as his spokesman. Moses then departs for Egypt, where he and Aaron gather the elders of Israel, perform the signs, and the people believe and worship the LORD.

Moses' First Objection: The Signs of Authority

1
Moses answered, “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice; for they will say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’” ​
2
The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.”
3
He said, “Throw it on the ground.” He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses ran away from it. ​
4
The LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand, and take it by the tail.” He stretched out his hand, and took hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand.
5
“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
The LORD said furthermore to him, “Now put your hand inside your cloak.” He put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, as white as snow. ​
7
He said, “Put your hand inside your cloak again.” He put his hand inside his cloak again, and when he took it out of his cloak, behold, it had turned again as his other flesh.
8
“It will happen, if they will neither believe you nor listen to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
9
It will happen, if they will not believe even these two signs, neither listen to your voice, that you shall take of the water of the river, and pour it on the dry land. The water which you take out of the river will become blood on the dry land.” ​

Moses' Second Objection: Aaron Appointed Spokesman

10
Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” ​
11
The LORD said to him, “Who made man’s mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Isn’t it I, the LORD? ​
12
Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak.”
13
He said, “Oh, Lord, please send someone else.” ​
14
the LORD’s anger was kindled against Moses, and he said, “What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold, he comes out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. ​
15
You shall speak to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do.
16
He will be your spokesman to the people; and it will happen, that he will be to you a mouth, and you will be to him as God. ​
17
You shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.” ​

The Return to Egypt

18
Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go and return to my brothers who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.” Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” ​
19
The LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return into Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.” ​
20
Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. Moses took God’s rod in his hand. ​
21
The LORD said to Moses, “When you go back into Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your hand, but I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go. ​
22
You shall tell Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my son, my firstborn, ​
23
and I have said to you, “Let my son go, that he may serve me”; and you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.’” ​

The Circumcision Crisis

24
On the way at a lodging place, the LORD met Moses and wanted to kill him. ​
25
Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.” ​
26
So he let him alone. Then she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.

The Leaders Meet and the People Believe

27
The LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” He went, and met him on God’s mountain, and kissed him. ​
28
Moses told Aaron all the LORD’s words with which he had sent him, and all the signs with which he had instructed him.
29
Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel.
30
Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. ​
31
The people believed, and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped. ​

Study Notes for Exodus 4

Verse 1

Moses voices his fear that the enslaved Israelites, having endured decades of silence, will not believe that Yahweh has truly appeared to him. This objection prompts God to provide tangible proof.

Verse 3

The transformation of the rod into a serpent (Hebrew: *nāḥāš*) and back demonstrates God’s power over life and creation, establishing the first sign of Moses' divine authority.

Verse 5

The purpose of the signs is specifically tied to the covenant identity of God, assuring the people that the God of the Patriarchs is indeed the one commissioning Moses.

Verse 6

The second sign involves leprosy, a severe ritual impurity and physical affliction. This demonstrates God’s control over health, disease, and the ability to restore life and purity.

Verse 9

The third sign, turning water to blood, foreshadows the first plague in Egypt (Exodus 7:19-21) and demonstrates God's power over the Nile, the source of Egypt's life and a revered deity.

Verse 10

Moses raises his second, more personal objection, citing a genuine struggle with public speaking or a speech impediment, highlighting his profound sense of inadequacy for the mission.

Verse 11

God counters Moses’ lack of confidence by asserting divine sovereignty over all human abilities, reminding Moses that the Creator controls whether a person speaks, hears, or sees.

Verse 13

Moses makes a final, desperate refusal, asking God to send anyone else. This rejection of the divine call provokes God's anger (v. 14).

Verse 14

God, while angered by Moses’ lack of faith, accommodates his weakness by appointing Aaron. Aaron, a Levite, will serve as Moses' prophet and official spokesman.

Verse 16

This verse defines the relationship: Aaron will be Moses' 'mouth' (spokesman/prophet), and Moses will function 'instead of God' (transmitting the divine word directly) to Aaron.

Verse 17

The rod, now termed 'this rod,' becomes the designated instrument of divine power, symbolizing Moses' authority to perform the wonders.

Verse 18

Moses secures Jethro's blessing for his departure, maintaining the appearance of a simple family visit rather than revealing the full scope of his divine mission.

Verse 19

God assures Moses that the men who sought his life (likely agents of the previous Pharaoh, cf. Ex. 2:15) are dead, clearing the way for his safe return to Egypt.

Verse 20

Taking the 'rod of God' emphasizes that Moses is not merely a traveler but a divinely commissioned agent carrying the instrument of Yahweh’s power.

Verse 21

This verse introduces the central theological conflict: God will actively harden Pharaoh’s heart. This action is not arbitrary, but ensures that the resulting display of divine power will be magnified for all nations to witness.

Verse 22

The declaration that Israel is God's 'firstborn son' establishes a unique, privileged covenant relationship, justifying God's demand for their release and framing Pharaoh's refusal as an act of cosmic rebellion.

Verse 23

The threat against Pharaoh’s firstborn is announced here, setting up the tenth and final plague as a direct, reciprocal judgment for holding captive God’s 'firstborn.'

Verse 24

This mysterious passage shows that God initiates judgment against Moses for neglecting the covenant sign of circumcision for his son, stressing that obedience must precede the ministry.

Verse 25

Zipporah acts quickly, performing the required circumcision to avert divine wrath. Her dramatic action and words ("a bloody husband") likely reflect the intensity and gravity of the covenant demand.

Verse 27

Aaron, instructed by God, meets Moses at the 'mount of God' (Horeb/Sinai), confirming the unified divine origin of their mission before they enter Egypt.

Verse 30

Aaron, utilizing his eloquence, delivers the message, while Moses provides the necessary authentication by performing the commanded signs before the people.

Verse 31

The immediate belief and worship show that the signs, combined with the message that God had 'visited' their affliction, successfully convinced the elders and people of Israel.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options