Exodus Chapter 4

Moses' Staff

1And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. 2And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 3And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. 4And 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: 5That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

Moses' Hand

6And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. 7And 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. 8And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. 9And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

The Appointment of Aaron

10And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? 12Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. 13And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

14And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. 15And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. 16And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. 17And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

Moses Leaves for Egypt

18And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace. 19And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life. 20And 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.

21And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. 22And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: 23And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

24And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 25Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. 26So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

The People Believe Moses and Aaron

27And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him. 28And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him. 29And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: 30And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Moses’ Staff

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.’” 2 Yahweh 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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

Moses’ Hand

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. 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.”

The Appointment of Aaron

10 Moses said to Yahweh, “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 Yahweh said to him, “Who made man’s mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Isn’t it I, Yahweh? 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 anger of Yahweh 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.”

Moses Leaves for 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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh, 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.’”

24 It happened on the way at a lodging place, that Yahweh 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 People Believe Moses and Aaron

27 Yahweh 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 words of Yahweh 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 Yahweh had spoken to Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 The people believed, and when they heard that Yahweh had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.

Moses’ Staff

1 Then Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’ ”

2 And the LORD asked him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.

3 “Throw it on the ground,” said the LORD. So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a snake, a and he ran from it.

4 “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. 5 “This is so 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.”

Moses’ Hand

6 Furthermore, the LORD said to Moses, “Put your hand inside your cloak. b” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, c white as snow.

7 “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.

8 And the LORD said, “If they refuse to believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe that of the second. 9 But if they do not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. Then the water you take from the Nile will become blood on the ground.”

The Appointment of Aaron

10 “Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”

11 And the LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, the sighted or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”

13 But Moses replied, “Please, Lord, send someone else.”

14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well, and he is now on his way to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will help both of you to speak, and I will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you. He will be your spokesman, and it will be as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform signs with it.”

Moses Leaves for Egypt

18 Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro d and said to him, “Please let me return to my brothers in Egypt to see if they are still alive.”

“Go in peace,” Jethro replied.

19 Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who sought to kill you are dead.” 20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and headed back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.

21 The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden e his heart so that he will not let the people go.

22 Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son, 23 and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’ ”

24 Now at a lodging place along the way, the LORD met Moses f and was about to kill him. 25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched it to Moses’ feet. g “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said.

26 So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, “bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.)

The People Believe Moses and Aaron

27 Meanwhile, the LORD had said to Aaron, “Go and meet Moses in the wilderness.” So he went and met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say, and all the signs He had commanded him to perform.

29 Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the Israelites, 30 and Aaron relayed everything the LORD had said to Moses.

And Moses performed the signs before the people, 31 and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD had attended to the Israelites and had seen their affliction, they bowed down and worshiped.

Footnotes:

3 a Hebrew nachash , in contrast to Aaron’s staff, which became a tannin  in Exodus 7:10
6 b Hebrew into your bosom ; twice in this verse and twice in verse 7
6 c The Hebrew word traditionally translated as leprous  was used for various skin diseases; see Leviticus 13.
18 d Moses’ father-in-law Jethro  was also called Reuel ; see Exodus 2:18.
21 e Or stiffen  or strengthen
24 f Hebrew him
25 g Hebrew his feet

Moses' Staff

1And Moses answereth and saith, 'And, if they do not give credence to me, nor hearken to my voice, and say, Jehovah hath not appeared unto thee?' 2And Jehovah saith unto him, 'What is this in thy hand?' and he saith, 'A rod;' 3and He saith, 'Cast it to the earth;' and he casteth it to the earth, and it becometh a serpent -- and Moses fleeth from its presence. 4And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Put forth thy hand, and lay hold on the tail of it;' and he putteth forth his hand, and layeth hold on it, and it becometh a rod in his hand -- 5' -- so that they believe that Jehovah, God of their fathers, hath appeared unto thee, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob.'

Moses' Hand

6And Jehovah saith to him again, 'Put in, I pray thee, thy hand into thy bosom;' and he putteth in his hand into his bosom, and he bringeth it out, and lo, his hand is leprous as snow; 7and He saith, 'Put back thy hand unto thy bosom;' and he putteth back his hand unto his bosom, and he bringeth it out from his bosom, and lo, it hath turned back as his flesh -- 8' -- and it hath come to pass, if they do not give credence to thee, and hearken not to the voice of the first sign, that they have given credence to the voice of the latter sign. 9'And it hath come to pass, if they do not give credence even to these two signs, nor hearken to thy voice, that thou hast taken of the waters of the River, and hast poured on the dry land, and the waters which thou takest from the River have been, yea, they have become -- blood on the dry land.'

The Appointment of Aaron

10And Moses saith unto Jehovah, 'O, my Lord, I am not a man of words, either yesterday, or before, or since Thy speaking unto Thy servant, for I am slow of mouth, and slow of tongue.' 11And Jehovah saith unto him, 'Who appointed a mouth for man? or who appointeth the dumb, or deaf, or open, or blind? is it not I, Jehovah? 12and now, go, and I -- I am with thy mouth, and have directed thee that which thou speakest;' 13and he saith, 'O, my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand Thou dost send.'

14And the anger of Jehovah burneth against Moses, and He saith, 'Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I have known that he speaketh well, and also, lo, he is coming out to meet thee; when he hath seen thee, then he hath rejoiced in his heart, 15and thou hast spoken unto him, and hast set the words in his mouth, and I -- I am with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and have directed you that which ye do; 16and he, he hath spoken for thee unto the people, and it hath come to pass, he -- he is to thee for a mouth, and thou -- thou art to him for God; 17and this rod thou dost take in thy hand, with which thou doest the signs.'

Moses Leaves for Egypt

18And Moses goeth and turneth back unto Jethro his father-in-law, and saith to him, 'Let me go, I pray thee, and I turn back unto my brethren who are in Egypt, and I see whether they are yet alive.' And Jethro saith to Moses, 'Go in peace.' 19And Jehovah saith unto Moses in Midian, 'Go, turn back to Egypt, for all the men have died who seek thy life;' 20and Moses taketh his wife, and his sons, and causeth them to ride on the ass, and turneth back to the land of Egypt, and Moses taketh the rod of God in his hand.

21And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'In thy going to turn back to Egypt, see -- all the wonders which I have put in thy hand -- that thou hast done them before Pharaoh, and I -- I strengthen his heart, and he doth not send the people away; 22and thou hast said unto Pharaoh, Thus said Jehovah, My son, My first-born is Israel, 23and I say unto thee, Send away My son, and he doth serve Me; and -- thou dost refuse to send him away -- lo, I am slaying thy son, thy first-born.'

24And it cometh to pass in the way, in a lodging place, that Jehovah meeteth him, and seeketh to put him to death; 25and Zipporah taketh a flint, and cutteth off the foreskin of her son, and causeth it to touch his feet, and saith, 'Surely a bridegroom of blood art thou to me;' 26and He desisteth from him: then she said, 'A bridegroom of blood,' in reference to the circumcision.

The People Believe Moses and Aaron

27And Jehovah saith unto Aaron, 'Go to meet Moses into the wilderness;' and he goeth, and meeteth him in the mount of God, and kisseth him, 28and Moses declareth to Aaron all the words of Jehovah with which He hath sent him, and all the signs with which He hath charged him. 29And Moses goeth -- Aaron also -- and they gather all the elders of the sons of Israel, 30and Aaron speaketh all the words which Jehovah hath spoken unto Moses, and doth the signs before the eyes of the people; 31and the people believe when they hear that Jehovah hath looked after the sons of Israel, and that He hath seen their affliction; and they bow and do obeisance.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Exodus 4?

2Introduction to Exodus 4

3Context of Exodus 4

4Ancient Key Word Study

5Compare & Contrast

6Exodus 4 Unique Insights

7Exodus 4 Connections to Yeshua

8Exodus 4 Scriptural Echoes

9Exodus 4 Devotional

10Did You Know

What is the meaning of Exodus 4?

Introduction to Exodus 4

Exodus 4 continues the dramatic dialogue between God and Moses at the burning bush, moving from the initial revelation of God’s character to the practical empowerment for Moses’ mission. This chapter showcases divine patience with human weakness while demonstrating God’s sovereign power to authenticate His messenger through supernatural signs. The narrative masterfully weaves together themes of divine enablement, human resistance, and the ultimate purposes of God in redemption.

In this pivotal chapter, we witness the transformation of Moses from a reluctant shepherd to an equipped deliverer, though not without significant struggle and divine intervention. The text provides profound insights into how God deals with our doubts and objections while remaining faithful to His covenant promises.

Context of Exodus 4

Within the book of Exodus, chapter 4 serves as the culmination of the burning bush encounter and the bridge to Moses’ return to Egypt. It follows directly from the divine commission in chapter 3, addressing Moses’ concerns about his credibility before both the Israelites and Pharaoh. The chapter’s position is strategic, completing Moses’ preparation before the confrontation with Pharaoh begins in earnest.

This chapter connects intimately with the broader narrative of Israel’s redemption from Egypt. The signs given to Moses here become central to the upcoming plague narratives, establishing a pattern of divine authentication through supernatural demonstrations. Moreover, the chapter introduces critical themes about hardening of hearts and firstborn sons that will reach their climax in the Passover event.

The personal struggle between God and Moses depicted here also sets up important patterns for later prophetic calls throughout Scripture. Moses’ resistance and God’s patience become archetypal for understanding divine-human interaction in the context of prophetic ministry and leadership calling.

Ancient Key Word Study

אוֹת (ot) – “Sign”: The word appears multiple times in this chapter, emphasizing physical demonstrations of divine power. In Hebrew thought, signs were not merely supernatural displays but carried specific theological meaning, pointing to deeper spiritual realities.
כָּבֵד (kaved) – “Heavy”: Used to describe Moses’ speech impediment, this word literally means “heavy” and is the same root used later for God’s “glory.” This linguistic connection suggests how God transforms human weakness into displays of His glory.
חָרָה (charah) – “Burned”: When describing God’s anger, this word literally means “to burn,” creating an ironic contrast with the burning bush. God’s anger here serves His redemptive purposes rather than consuming Moses.
שָׁלַח (shalach) – “Send”: This key verb appears repeatedly, emphasizing both divine commission and human resistance. The word becomes a central theme in the exodus narrative, particularly in Pharaoh’s repeated refusal to “send” Israel.
חָתָן דָּמִים (chatan damim) – “Bridegroom of Blood”: This unusual phrase occurs only here in Scripture, connecting circumcision with covenant relationship. The blood ritual serves as a sign of covenant commitment and divine protection.
פֶּה (peh) – “Mouth”: God’s question “Who made man’s mouth?” uses this word to emphasize divine sovereignty over human ability and disability. The word appears in key promises about prophetic inspiration throughout Scripture.
בְּכֹר (bechor) – “Firstborn”: The mention of Israel as God’s firstborn son introduces a crucial theological concept that will find fulfillment both in the Passover and ultimately in the Messiah.

Compare & Contrast

Verse 1: “They will not believe me” – Moses’ objection uses the word אָמַן (aman), the root for “faith/believe,” contrasting with God’s earlier assurance. The choice of this word emphasizes the fundamental issue of trust in divine promises.
Verse 4: “Catch it by the tail” – God’s command to grasp the snake specifically by its tail, rather than the safer option of the head, emphasizes complete trust in divine protection. The Hebrew construction stresses the counterintuitive nature of the command.
Verse 11: “Who made man’s mouth?” – The series of rhetorical questions uses repetition of מִי (who) to build to a crescendo, emphasizing divine sovereignty over all human faculties. The structure forces acknowledgment of God’s complete authority.
Verse 14: “Aaron the Levite” – The specific identification of Aaron as “the Levite” foreshadows the later establishment of the Levitical priesthood. This detail seems anticipatory rather than merely descriptive.
Verse 22: “Israel is My firstborn son” – The declaration uses בְּנִי בְכֹרִי (My firstborn son), establishing Israel’s unique covenant relationship with God. This terminology deliberately evokes both familial intimacy and legal inheritance rights.
Verse 24-26: The mysterious encounter at the lodging place uses deliberately ambiguous pronouns, creating interpretive tension that highlights the serious nature of covenant obligations.

Can a Bible Come to Life over a Coffee?

This biblical entry has a unique origin story. Find out how it came to be—and why your visit today is about so much more than words. Get your coffee ready—God’s about to visit. But will you open the door for Him?

I’m ready

Exodus 4 Unique Insights

The signs given to Moses form a fascinating progression. The first sign (rod to serpent) demonstrates God’s power over Egyptian symbols of authority, as the serpent was associated with Pharaoh’s crown. The second sign (leprous hand) speaks to God’s power over purity and impurity, while the third (water to blood) foreshadows the first plague and symbolizes life and death.

Rabbinic tradition finds deep significance in Moses’ repeated resistance to God’s call. The Midrash Tanchuma suggests that Moses’ reluctance stemmed from his concern for Aaron’s feelings, knowing his brother had been prophesying to Israel during Moses’ absence. This interpretation adds depth to God’s angry response yet gracious solution of incorporating Aaron into the mission.

The enigmatic encounter at the lodging place (verses 24-26) has generated extensive commentary. The Jewish historian Josephus connects this incident with Egyptian circumcision practices, suggesting the episode demonstrates Israel’s distinct covenant identity. Early Christian interpreters like Augustine saw here a prefiguration of the necessity of baptism and spiritual circumcision.

Ancient Near Eastern documents reveal that Egyptian courtiers often carried ceremonial rods as symbols of authority. Moses’ rod-to-serpent sign thus carried special significance in the Egyptian context, directly challenging Pharaoh’s claimed authority with divine power.

Exodus 4 Connections to Yeshua

The declaration of Israel as God’s firstborn son establishes a theological framework that finds its ultimate fulfillment in Yeshua. As the true firstborn (Colossians 1:15), the Messiah embodies and perfects Israel’s sonship, accomplishing what national Israel could not.

Moses’ reluctance and eventual acceptance of his mission parallels aspects of Yeshua’s Gethsemane experience (Luke 22:42). Both leaders submit to divine will for the sake of God’s people, though Yeshua does so perfectly and without resistance.

The signs given to Moses prefigure Yeshua’s miraculous ministry. Just as Moses’ signs authenticated his mission to Israel, the Messiah’s miracles would serve as signs of His divine authority (John 20:30-31). However, while Moses’ signs primarily demonstrated judgment, Yeshua’s miracles primarily displayed mercy and restoration.

Exodus 4 Scriptural Echoes

The theme of divine enablement for seemingly impossible tasks echoes throughout Scripture. Gideon’s call (Judges 6), Jeremiah’s commission (Jeremiah 1), and Paul’s ministry (2 Corinthians 12:9) all reflect this pattern of human inadequacy met by divine sufficiency.

The concept of signs authenticating God’s messenger becomes a recurring biblical theme. Elijah’s contest on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) and the apostolic miracles in Acts follow this pattern, though each within their unique redemptive-historical context.

The blood-covenant motif introduced in the circumcision episode finds echoes throughout Scripture, culminating in the new covenant established through Yeshua’s blood (Hebrews 9:15).

Exodus 4 Devotional

This chapter speaks powerfully to those struggling with feelings of inadequacy in God’s service. Moses’ multiple objections mirror our own tendencies to focus on our limitations rather than God’s abilities. Yet God’s patient responses show His commitment to working through imperfect vessels for His glory.

The transformation of ordinary objects (rod, hand, water) into signs of God’s power reminds us that He can use whatever we surrender to Him. Just as Moses’ shepherd’s staff became the “rod of God,” our ordinary abilities and resources can become extraordinary tools in divine hands.

The serious nature of covenant obligations, demonstrated in the circumcision episode, challenges us to examine our own commitment to God’s commands. While we live under the new covenant, the principle remains: God takes our response to His covenant seriously.

Did You Know

The rod that turned into a serpent is called both “the rod of Moses” and “the rod of God” in Scripture, reflecting its transformation from a shepherd’s tool to a divine instrument.
Jewish tradition maintains that Moses’ speech impediment resulted from a childhood incident where he put a burning coal to his lips, an event Pharaoh’s court interpreted as a sign of wisdom rather than injury.
The three signs given to Moses correspond to three basic elements of creation: earth (rod to serpent), flesh (leprous hand), and water (Nile to blood), demonstrating God’s authority over all creation.
Archaeological evidence from ancient Egypt shows that rods or staffs were symbols of authority, often decorated with serpent imagery, making Moses’ first sign particularly meaningful in Egyptian context.
The phrase “bridegroom of blood” has parallels in other ancient Near Eastern covenant-making ceremonies where blood played a central role in establishing relationships.
The Hebrew text uses different words for the “signs” and “wonders” Moses is to perform, suggesting distinct categories of miraculous demonstrations.
Ancient Jewish interpreters connected Moses’ resistance to speak with the rabbinic principle that true prophets should be reluctant to assume their office, unlike false prophets who eagerly claim authority.
The specific mention of a “lodging place” (מָלוֹן) in verse 24 suggests this was a known stop on the caravan route between Midian and Egypt.

Have you been blessed?

This website has over 46,000 Biblical resources, made possible through the generosity of the 0.03% of supporters like you. If you’ve been blessed today, please consider sending a gift.

send a gift

Bible Themes

Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

Articles: 46862

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments