God’s Word Translation
Exodus 4:3
3The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” When Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake, and he ran away from it.
Exodus 4:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And 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.
- New International Version (NIV)The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he said, "Throw it on the ground." So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.
Context of Exodus 4:3
1“They will never believe me or listen to me!” Moses protested. “They will say, ‘The Lord didn’t appear to you.’ ” 2Then the Lord asked him, “What’s that in your hand?” He answered, “A shepherd’s staff.” The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” When Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake, and he ran away from it. 4Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out and grab the snake by its tail.” He reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a staff as he held it. 5⌞The Lord explained,⌟ “This is to convince the people that the Lord God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, appeared to you.”
Read all of Exodus 4Exodus 4:3 word by word
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּ אַ֔רְצָה וַיַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥הוּ אַ֖רְצָה וַיְהִ֣י לְנָחָ֑שׁ וַיָּ֥נָס מֹשֶׁ֖ה מִפָּנָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Exodus 4:3
- Exodus 4:17Take that shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to do the miraculous signs.”
- Exodus 7:10Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the Lord had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a large snake.
- Amos 5:19It is like a person who flees from a lion only to be attacked by a bear. It is like a person who goes home and puts his hand on the wall only to be bitten by a snake.
Commentaries on Exodus 4:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3A serpent - Of what sort we know not, as the word נחש nachash is a general name for serpents, and also means several other things, see Genesis 3:1; : but it was either of a kind that he had not seen before, or one that he knew to be dangerous; for it is said, he fled from before it. Some suppose the staff was changed into a crocodile; see Clarke on Exodus 7:10; (note).Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3A serpent - This miracle had a meaning which Moses could not mistake. The serpent was probably the basilisk or Uraeus, the Cobra. This was the symbol of royal and divine power on the diadem of every Pharaoh. The conversion of the rod was not merely a portent, it was a sign, at once a pledge and representation of victory over the king and gods of Egypt!Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3Across the ancient Near East, the snake was a symbol of both death and healing. The person who demonstrated power in these areas was powerful indeed.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-311. But, behold--Hebrew, "If," "perhaps," "they will not believe me."--What evidence can I produce of my divine mission? There was still a want of full confidence, not in the character and divine power of his employer, but in His presence and power always accompanying him. He insinuated that his communication might be rejected and he himself treated as an impostor.Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 4:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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