Moses receives three miraculous signs—rod-to-serpent, leprous hand, and water-to-blood—making this the only passage where he performs wonders before receiving the law.
Exodus 4
Signs for Moses
1Moses answered, “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice; for they will say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”
2The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.”
3He said, “Throw it on the ground.” He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses ran away from it.
4The 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“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.”
6The 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.
7He 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 not believe you or listen to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
9It will happen, if they will not believe even these two signs or 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.”
10Moses 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.”
11The 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?
12Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak.”
13Moses said, “Oh, Lord, please send someone else.”
14The LORD’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold, he is coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
15You 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.
16He will be your spokesman to the people. It will happen that he will be to you a mouth, and you will be to him as God.
17You shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”
Moses Returns to Egypt
18Moses 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.”
19The LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return into Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.”
20Moses 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.
21The 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.
22You shall tell Pharaoh, ‘The LORD says, Israel is my son, my firstborn,
23and 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 firstborn son.’”
24On the way at a lodging place, the LORD met Moses and wanted to kill him.
25Then 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.”
26So he let him alone. Then she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.
Moses and Aaron Before the Elders
27The LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” He went, and met him on God’s mountain, and kissed him.
28Moses told Aaron all the LORD’s words with which he had sent him, and all the signs with which he had instructed him.
29Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel.
30Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.
31The 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.
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Theme
God equips Moses for his mission to Egypt by providing miraculous signs to authenticate his divine calling, despite Moses' continued reluctance and excuses about his speaking ability. When Moses persists in his objections, God's anger burns against him, but He graciously provides Aaron as Moses' spokesman while maintaining Moses' role as leader. The chapter concludes with Moses finally accepting his calling, returning to Egypt with his family, and receiving final instructions about confronting Pharaoh.
Context
This chapter follows Moses' initial calling at the burning bush and prepares for the confrontation with Pharaoh that will dominate the following chapters.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-9 Three Miraculous Signs God provides Moses with three signs—the rod becoming a serpent, the leprous hand, and water turning to blood—to authenticate his divine commission.
- 10-17 Moses' Objection and Aaron's Appointment Moses protests his lack of eloquence, prompting God's anger and the appointment of Aaron as spokesman while Moses remains the primary leader.
- 18-23 Return to Egypt Moses seeks permission from Jethro, receives God's assurance of safety, and begins his journey back to Egypt with his family.
- 24-26 The Circumcision Incident A mysterious encounter where Zipporah circumcises their son, averting God's wrath against Moses.
- 27-31 Moses and Aaron Meet the Elders Aaron meets Moses in the wilderness, and together they present God's message and signs to the Israelite elders, who believe and worship.
Signs for Moses
4:1–4:17 narrative dialogue contemplative
God provides Moses with miraculous signs (rod to snake, leprous hand) to authenticate his divine calling and addresses Moses' reluctance about speaking by appointing Aaron as his spokesman.
person_contrast
Moses receives three miraculous signs—rod-to-serpent, leprous hand, and water-to-blood—making this the only passage where he performs wonders before receiving the law.
Moses Returns to Egypt
4:18–4:26 narrative narration solemn
Moses returns to Egypt with his family, receives final instructions about confronting Pharaoh, and experiences a mysterious encounter where Zipporah circumcises their son to save Moses' life.
person_contrast
Zipporah's urgent circumcision of their son transforms Moses from potential divine victim to covenant participant, revealing circumcision as life-preserving ritual rather than mere religious obligation.
Moses and Aaron Before the Elders
4:27–4:31 narrative narration joyful
Moses and Aaron reunite and successfully demonstrate God's signs to the Israelite elders, who believe and worship when they hear that God has seen their affliction.
person_contrast
Moses, typically portrayed as the solitary lawgiver, here appears in rare fellowship—kissing Aaron and performing collaborative miracles that inspire immediate communal worship.
Insights
Zipporah's urgent circumcision of their son transforms Moses from potential divine victim to covenant participant, revealing circumcision as life-preserving ritual rather than mere religious obligation.
Moses, typically portrayed as the solitary lawgiver, here appears in rare fellowship—kissing Aaron and performing collaborative miracles that inspire immediate communal worship.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Exodus 4:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
Deuteronomy 9:5 Lexical
Not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart do you go in to possess their land; but for the wickedne…
2 Kings 13:23 Lexical
But the LORD was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and favored them because of his covenant with Abraham, Is…
Exodus 3:15 Lexical
God said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of…
Genesis 31:53 Lexical
The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the fear of hi…
Exodus 2:24 Lexical
God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Exodus 4:10 2 references
Exodus 4:11 5 references
Lexicals 5
Isaiah 42:19 Lexical
Who is blind, but my servant? Or who is as deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is as blind as he who is at peace, and…
Isaiah 56:10 Lexical
His watchmen are blind. They are all without knowledge. They are all mute dogs. They can’t bark— dreaming, lying down, l…
Isaiah 42:18 Lexical
“Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see.
Isaiah 29:18 Lexical
In that day, the deaf will hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind will see out of obscurity and out of da…
Leviticus 19:14 Lexical
“‘You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD.
Exodus 4:13 1 reference
Exodus 4:14 1 reference
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