Exodus 4:2

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 4:2 captures a pivotal moment in the divine encounter at the burning bush, where God, addressing Moses's hesitations about his mission, asks a seemingly simple question about the ordinary shepherd's staff in his hand. This inquiry is not born of ignorance but serves as a profound pedagogical and revelatory act, initiating a series of miraculous demonstrations that transform a common object into an instrument of divine power, thereby preparing Moses for the monumental task of delivering Israel from bondage.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a critical juncture in the narrative of Moses's call at Mount Horeb. Immediately preceding it, in [Exodus 4:1](/exodus/4-1 "Moses's First Objection"), Moses voices his primary objection to God's command to confront Pharaoh and lead Israel: "But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee." God's question in [Exodus 4:2](/exodus/4-2 "God's Question to Moses") directly responds to this doubt, setting the stage for a series of signs designed to authenticate Moses's divine commission before both the Israelites and Pharaoh. The dialogue here shifts from Moses's objections to God's practical demonstration of power, moving the narrative towards the equipping of God's chosen leader.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern societies, a shepherd's staff (or rod) was an indispensable tool. It served multiple purposes: guiding and counting sheep, defending against predators, aiding in difficult terrain, and even as a symbol of authority within the pastoral community. Moses, having spent forty years as a shepherd in Midian ([Exodus 3:1](/exodus/3-1 "Moses as a Shepherd in Midian")), would have been intimately familiar with his staff, relying on it daily. The setting, the "mountain of God" (Horeb/Sinai), was a sacred space where divine encounters were believed to occur, adding a layer of spiritual significance to the seemingly mundane object and the ensuing miraculous events.
* **Key Themes:** [Exodus 4:2](/exodus/4-2 "God's Inquiry about the Rod") profoundly contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Exodus and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Initiative and Empowerment**, demonstrating that God equips those He calls, often using their existing, ordinary resources. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **God's Sovereignty and Power**, revealing His ability to transform the mundane into the miraculous, thereby authenticating His messengers and His message. Thirdly, the transformation of the rod foreshadows the theme of **Divine Authority and Leadership**, as the staff becomes the "rod of God" ([Exodus 4:20](/exodus/4-20 "Moses takes the Rod of God"))—a potent symbol of God's presence and power in Moses's hands, essential for leading a rebellious people through the wilderness and confronting a powerful empire. This concept of divine authority is also seen in other biblical leaders, such as the staff of Aaron which budded ([Numbers 17:8](/numbers/17-8 "Aaron's Staff Buds")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** From H3068, "the self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God." This emphasizes that the question is posed by the covenant-keeping God of Israel, the one who is eternally present and self-sufficient. His identity as Yahweh underscores the authority and power behind the subsequent miracles.
* **hand (Hebrew, _yâd'_):** From H3027, "a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.))." This word is rich in meaning, signifying not just a physical appendage but also power, means, and even dominion. God's question focuses on what is physically *in* Moses's hand, but implicitly points to what Moses *possesses* or *controls*, setting up the revelation that God can use even the most ordinary aspects of one's life or resources for extraordinary purposes.
* **rod (Hebrew, _maṭṭeh'_):** From H4294, "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)." This common shepherd's staff is about to be transformed into an instrument of divine power and authority. The dual meaning of *matteh* (staff/tribe) subtly foreshadows how this object will become a symbol of Moses's leadership over the tribes of Israel.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the LORD said unto him,"**: This opening phrase immediately establishes the divine speaker and the direct, personal nature of the communication. It highlights God's initiative in engaging Moses's doubts and preparing him for his mission. The dialogue is not a casual conversation but a purposeful divine instruction.
* **"What [is] that in thine hand?"**: This is a rhetorical question, not born of divine ignorance, but serving as a pedagogical tool. God, being omniscient, already knows what Moses holds. The question is designed to draw Moses's attention to the ordinary object he possesses, making him acknowledge it and, by extension, his current reality and resources. It sets the stage for God to demonstrate His power by transforming the familiar into the miraculous.
* **"And he said, A rod."**: Moses's simple, direct answer confirms the object's mundane nature. He identifies it plainly, without embellishment or expectation. This response underscores Moses's humility and his current identity as a shepherd, unaware of the extraordinary purpose God is about to assign to this common tool. His acknowledgment is the first step in God's demonstration.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Rhetorical Question** is prominently used by God, as His query "What is that in thine hand?" is not for information but to prompt Moses's self-awareness and prepare him for revelation. This question serves as a dramatic setup for the miraculous transformation that follows. There is also profound **Symbolism** at play: the "rod" initially symbolizes Moses's ordinary life as a shepherd, but through divine intervention, it is immediately transformed into a symbol of God's power and Moses's divinely appointed authority. This transformation itself is a form of **Dramatic Irony**, as Moses, and the reader, initially perceive the rod as merely a common tool, unaware of its imminent supernatural significance as the "rod of God" ([Exodus 4:20](/exodus/4-20 "Moses takes the Rod of God")). This sets a powerful precedent for God's ability to use the humble and ordinary for extraordinary purposes.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 4:2 profoundly illustrates God's method of empowering His chosen servants. It teaches that God often begins with what is already in our hands—our existing skills, resources, and even perceived limitations—and through His divine touch, transforms them into instruments for His extraordinary purposes. This principle underscores that our availability and willingness to surrender what we possess to God are more crucial than our inherent greatness or perceived capabilities. It reveals a God who delights in demonstrating His power through humble means, ensuring that the glory belongs to Him alone.

* [Judges 7:2](/judges/7-2 "God's Choice of Gideon's Small Army")
* [1 Samuel 17:40](/1_samuel/17-40 "David's Simple Sling and Stones")
* [Zechariah 4:6](/zechariah/4-4 "Not by Might, Nor by Power")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 4:2 offers a timeless and deeply encouraging lesson for believers navigating God's call in their lives. We often find ourselves in Moses's position, feeling inadequate, ill-equipped, or lacking the extraordinary talents we believe are necessary for God's work. We might look at our lives and see only "a rod"—an ordinary job, a simple skill, limited resources, or even a past marked by perceived failures. Yet, this verse powerfully reminds us that God's transformative power does not depend on the intrinsic greatness of our possessions or abilities, but on our willingness to surrender them to Him. Just as Moses's common shepherd's staff was consecrated and imbued with divine power, our everyday lives, our humble gifts, and our available resources can be taken by God and used for His magnificent purposes. He asks us, "What is in *your* hand?"—an invitation to offer what we have, however small or insignificant it may seem. Our response of humble offering and obedient faith allows Him to perform wonders, demonstrating that [God often chooses what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and what is weak in the world to shame the strong](/1_corinthians/1-27 "God chooses the weak and foolish things of the world"). We are called to trust that He will empower and multiply whatever we surrender for His divine kingdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "rod" (ordinary object, skill, or resource) do you currently hold in your hand that God might be asking you to surrender to Him?**
* **How does the transformation of Moses's rod challenge your assumptions about what God needs to accomplish His purposes?**
* **In what areas of your life are you waiting for God to provide something grand, when He might be asking you to offer what you already possess?**

### FAQ
**Why did God ask Moses, "What is that in thine hand?" if He is omniscient?**

Answer: God's question was not born of ignorance, for He is indeed omniscient and knows all things. Instead, it served as a profound pedagogical and revelatory tool, designed to engage Moses directly and prepare him for the miraculous demonstrations that were about to unfold. By prompting Moses to identify the ordinary object he held, God directed his attention to his immediate reality and available resources. This act of acknowledgment was crucial for Moses to witness the immediate and dramatic transformation of the rod, demonstrating God's power to work through the mundane and empowering Moses for his daunting mission. It was an invitation for Moses to participate in the unfolding miracle and to grasp the principle that God uses what is available, rather than a search for information God did not possess. This divine inquiry is akin to how Jesus would later ask "How many loaves do you have?" before miraculously feeding the multitudes ([Matthew 15:34](/matthew/15-34 "Jesus Asks About Loaves")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 4:2, with its powerful demonstration of God transforming an ordinary object into an instrument of divine power, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as the humble shepherd's rod became the "rod of God," imbued with supernatural authority, Christ, in His incarnation, took on the form of a servant ([Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Christ Takes the Form of a Servant")), appearing to all outward appearances as an ordinary man. Yet, He was and is the very Son of God, the Word made flesh ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "The Word Became Flesh")), wielding ultimate divine authority and power, not through an external object, but through His very person and inherent nature. He is the one through whom God accomplished the greatest deliverance—salvation from sin and death ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Christ Delivers from Death")). Christ took the 'ordinary' human condition, lived a perfectly obedient life, and through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection ([Romans 4:25](/romans/4-25 "Jesus Was Delivered for Our Offenses and Raised for Our Justification")), transformed it into the means of eternal life for all who believe. This demonstrates that God's greatest works are often accomplished through seemingly humble or unexpected means, culminating in the supreme authority and redemptive work of Christ Himself, who is the true and ultimate "Rod" of God's power and salvation ([Isaiah 11:1](/isaiah/11-1 "A Shoot from the Stump of Jesse")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 4:20

And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

Exodus 4:17

And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

Leviticus 27:32

And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, [even] of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

Isaiah 11:4

But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Genesis 30:37

¶ And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which [was] in the rods.

Psalms 110:2

The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

Micah 7:14

¶ Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily [in] the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed [in] Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.