Exodus 4:1-9

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• Three demonstrations of God's power that Moses has the option of using, when he returns to Egypt (if the people don't listen).

Details

• His rod (a long stick, either for walking or for protecting the sheep) can turn into a snake and back into a rod.

• His hand can become leprous and then healthy.

• Water can turn into blood.

Scripture

Exodus 4:1-9 – Miraculous signs that affected creation / environment - to warn the people that Moses' message was from God.

• See: Miraculous Events

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Exo 4:1 Moses answered, "But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice; for they will say, 'Yahweh has not appeared to you.' "	Either he's not convinced that the Israelite leaders will listen (though God had just said they would), or he's referring to the entire Israelite nation. The emphasis in this chapter is on Moses' perceived weakness and inability, not on God's power. In Exodus 2:14, he had already been rejected by the people. These signs are intended for the Israelites, not for the king of Egypt (though there will be some similarities).
Exo 4:2 Yahweh said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." Exo 4:3 He said, "Throw it on the ground." He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses ran away from it. Exo 4:4 Yahweh said to Moses, "Put forth your hand, and take it by the tail." He put forth his hand, and laid hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand. Exo 4:5 "That they may believe that Yahweh, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you."	The rod changes into a snake & back again.
Exo 4:6 Yahweh 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. Exo 4:7 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. Exo 4:8 "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.	A hand becoming leprous, then healthy again.
Exo 4:9 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."	Water poured onto the ground turning into blood.

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—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.