New American Standard Bible 1995

Exodus 4

Moses Given Powers

1Then Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mo.ShehH4872saidוַיֹּ֔אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “What ifוְהֵן֙ve.HenH2005they will not believeיַאֲמִ֣ינוּya.'a.Mi.nuH539me orlistenיִשְׁמְע֖וּyish.me.'UH8085to whatH6963I sayH6963?For they may sayיֹֽאמְר֔וּyo.me.RuH559, ‘The Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068has not appearedנִרְאָ֥הnir.'AhH7200to you.’”

2The Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “Whatמַה־זֶּ֣הmah-zeh-H4100is that in your handבְיָדֶ֑ךָve.ya.De.khaH3027?”And he saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “A staffמַטֶּֽה׃ma.TehH4294.”

3Then He saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “Throwהַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּhash.li.Khe.huH7993it on the groundאַ֔רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776.”So he threwוַיַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥הוּvai.yash.li.Khe.huH7993it on the groundאַ֖רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776, andit becameוַיְהִ֣יvay.HiH1961a serpentלְנָחָ֑שׁle.na.ChashH5175;and Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872fledוַיָּ֥נָסvai.Ya.nosH5127from it.

4But the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872, “Stretchשְׁלַח֙she.LachH7971out your handיָֽדְךָ֔ya.de.KhaH3027and graspוֶאֱחֹ֖זve.'e.ChozH270itby its tailבִּזְנָב֑וֹbiz.na.VoH2180”--so he stretchedוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971out his handיָדוֹ֙ya.DoH3027and caughtוַיַּ֣חֲזֶקvai.Ya.cha.zekH2388it, and it becameוַיְהִ֥יvay.HiH1961a staffלְמַטֶּ֖הle.ma.TehH4294in hishandבְּכַפּֽוֹ׃be.kha.PoH3709--

5“thatthey may believeיַאֲמִ֔ינוּya.'a.Mi.nuH539thatthe Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,the Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of their fathersאֲבֹתָ֑ם'a.vo.TamH1,the Godאֱלֹהֵ֧י'e.lo.HeiH430of Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֛ם'av.ra.HamH85,the Godאֱלֹהֵ֥י'e.lo.HeiH430of Isaacיִצְחָ֖קyitz.ChakH3327,and the Godוֵאלֹהֵ֥יve.lo.HeiH430of Jacobיַעֲקֹֽב׃ya.'a.KoH3290,has appearedנִרְאָ֥הnir.'AhH7200to you.”

6The Lordיְהוָ֨הYah.wehH3068furthermoreע֗וֹדodH5750saidוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559to him, “Nowנָ֤אna'H4994putהָֽבֵא־ha.ve'-H935your handיָֽדְךָ֙ya.de.KhaH3027into your bosomבְּחֵיקֶ֔ךָbe.chei.Ke.chaH2436.”So he putוַיָּבֵ֥אvai.ya.Ve'H935his handיָד֖וֹya.DoH3027into his bosomבְּחֵיק֑וֹbe.chei.KoH2436,and when he tookוַיּ֣וֹצִאָ֔הּvai.Yo.tzi.'AhH3318it out, beholdוְהִנֵּ֥הve.hi.NehH2009,his handיָד֖וֹya.DoH3027wasleprousמְצֹרַ֥עַתme.tzo.Ra.'atH6879like snowכַּשָּֽׁלֶג׃ka.Sha.legH7950.

7Then He saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “PutH7725your handיָֽדְךָ֙ya.de.KhaH3027into your bosomחֵיקֶ֔ךָchei.Ke.chaH2436againH7725.”So he putH7725his handיָד֖וֹya.DoH3027into his bosomחֵיק֑וֹchei.KoH2436againH7725,and when he tookוַיּֽוֹצִאָהּ֙vai.yo.tzi.'AhH3318it out of his bosomמֵֽחֵיק֔וֹme.chei.KoH2436,beholdוְהִנֵּה־ve.hi.neh-H2009,it was restoredH7725like the rest ofhis fleshכִּבְשָׂרֽוֹ׃kiv.sa.RoH1320.

8“Ifאִם־'im-H518they will not believeיַאֲמִ֣ינוּya.'a.Mi.nuH539you orheedיִשְׁמְע֔וּyish.me.'UH8085thewitnessלְקֹ֖לle.KolH6963of the firstהָרִאשׁ֑וֹןha.ri.ShonH7223signהָאֹ֣תha.'OtH226,they may believeוְהֶֽאֱמִ֔ינוּve.he.'e.Mi.nuH539thewitnessלְקֹ֖לle.KolH6963of the lastהָאַחֲרֽוֹן׃ha.'a.cha.RonH314signהָאֹ֥תha.'OtH226.

9But ifאִם־'im-H518they will not believeיַאֲמִ֡ינוּya.'a.Mi.nuH539evenגַּם֩gamH1571theseהָאֵ֗לֶּהha.'E.lehH428twoלִשְׁנֵ֨יlish.NeiH8147signsהָאֹת֜וֹתha.'o.TotH226or heedיִשְׁמְעוּן֙yish.me.'UnH8085whatH6963you sayH6963,then you shall takeוְלָקַחְתָּ֙ve.la.kach.TaH3947someמִן־min-H4480waterמִמֵּימֵ֣יmi.mei.MeiH4325from the Nileהַיְאֹ֔רhay.'OrH2975and pourוְשָׁפַכְתָּ֖ve.sha.fakh.TaH8210it on the dryהַיַּבָּשָׁ֑הhai.ya.ba.ShahH3004groundH3004;and the waterהַמַּ֙יִם֙ha.Ma.yimH4325whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834you takeתִּקַּ֣חti.KachH3947from the Nileהַיְאֹ֔רhay.'OrH2975will becomeH1961bloodלְדָ֖םle.DamH1818on the dryבַּיַּבָּֽשֶׁת׃bai.ya.Ba.shetH3006groundH3006.”

10Then Mosesמֹשֶׁ֣הmo.ShehH4872saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to the Lordיְהוָה֮Yah.wehH3068, “Pleaseבִּ֣יbiH994,Lordאֲדֹנָי֒'a.do.NaiH136,I have neverלֹא֩lo'H3808beeneloquentאִ֨ישׁ דְּבָרִ֜ים'ish de.va.RimH376 H1697,neitherגַּ֤םgamH1571recentlyמִתְּמוֹל֙mi.te.mOlH4480 H8543norגַּ֣םgamH1571in timeH8032pastH8032,norגַּ֛םgamH1571sinceH3975You have spokenדַּבֶּרְךָda.ber.khaH1696to Your servantעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ'av.De.khaH5650; for I amslowכְבַד־khe.vad-H3515of speechפֶּ֛הpehH6310andslowוּכְבַ֥דu.khe.VadH3515of tongueלָשׁ֖וֹןla.ShonH3956.”

11The Lordיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “Whoמִ֣יmiH4310has madeשָׂ֣םsamH7760man’sלָֽאָדָם֒la.'a.DamH120mouthפֶּה֮pehH6310?Orא֚וֹ'oH176whoמִֽי־mi-H4310makesיָשׂ֣וּםya.SumH7760himmuteאִלֵּ֔ם'i.LemH483orא֣וֹ'oH176deafחֵרֵ֔שׁche.ReshH2795,orא֥וֹ'oH176seeingפִקֵּ֖חַfi.Ke.achH6493orא֣וֹ'oH176blindעִוֵּ֑ר'i.VerH5787?Is it not I, the Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068?

12Nowוְעַתָּ֖הve.'a.TahH6258then goלֵ֑ךְLekhH1980, andI, even I, will be with your mouthפִּ֔יךָPi.khaH6310, andteachוְהוֹרֵיתִ֖יךָve.ho.rei.Ti.khaH3384you whatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834you are to sayתְּדַבֵּֽר׃te.da.BerH1696.”

13But he saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Pleaseבִּ֣יbiH994,Lordאֲדֹנָ֑י'a.do.NaiH136,nowנָ֖אna'H4994sendשְֽׁלַֽח־she.lach-H7971the messageby whomever You willתִּשְׁלָֽח׃tish.LachH7971.”

Aaron to Be Moses’ Mouthpiece

14Then the angerאַ֨ף'afH639of the Lordיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068burnedוַיִּֽחַר־vai.yi.char-H2734against Mosesבְּמֹשֶׁ֗הbe.mo.ShehH4872,and He saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “Is there not your brotherאָחִ֙יךָ֙'a.Chi.khaH251Aaronאַהֲרֹ֤ן'a.ha.RonH175the Leviteהַלֵּוִ֔יha.le.ViH3881?I knowיָדַ֕עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045thathe speaksדַבֵּ֥רda.BerH1696fluentlyיְדַבֵּ֖רye.da.BerH1696.And moreoverוְגַ֤םve.GamH1571,beholdהִנֵּה־hi.neh-H2009,he is comingיֹצֵ֣אyo.Tze'H3318out to meetלִקְרָאתֶ֔ךָlik.ra.Te.chaH7122you; when he seesוְרָאֲךָ֖ve.ra.'a.KhaH7200you, he will be gladוְשָׂמַ֥חve.sa.MachH8055in his heartבְּלִבּֽוֹ׃be.li.BoH3820.

15You are to speakוְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ve.di.bar.TaH1696to him andputוְשַׂמְתָּ֥ve.sam.TaH7760the wordsהַדְּבָרִ֖יםha.de.va.RimH1697in his mouthבְּפִ֑יוbe.FivH6310;and I, even I, will be with your mouthפִּ֙יךָ֙pi.khaH6310and his mouthפִּ֔יהוּPi.huH6310,and I will teachוְהוֹרֵיתִ֣יve.ho.rei.TiH3384you whatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834you are to doתַּעֲשֽׂוּן׃ta.'a.SunH6213.

16Moreover,he shall speakוְדִבֶּר־ve.di.ber-H1696for you to the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971;and he will be as a mouthלְפֶ֔הle.PehH6310for you and you will be as Godלֵֽאלֹהִֽים׃Le.lo.HimH430to him.

17You shall takeתִּקַּ֣חti.KachH3947in your handבְּיָדֶ֑ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027thisהַזֶּ֖הha.ZehH2088staffהַמַּטֶּ֥הha.ma.TehH4294,with whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834you shall performתַּעֲשֶׂה־ta.'a.seh-H6213the signsהָאֹתֹֽת׃ פha.'o.TotH226.”

18Then Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜הmo.ShehH4872departedוַיֵּ֨לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhH1980and returnedוַיָּ֣שָׁב׀vai.Ya.shovH7725toJethroיֶ֣תֶרYe.terH3500his father-in-lawH2860and saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “Pleaseנָּ֗אNa'H4994,let me goאֵ֣לְכָה'E.le.khahH1980,that I may returnוְאָשׁ֙וּבָה֙ve.'a.Shu.vahH7725to my brethrenאַחַ֣י'a.ChaiH251whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834are in Egyptבְּמִצְרַ֔יִםbe.mitz.Ra.yimH4714,and seeוְאֶרְאֶ֖הve.'er.'EhH7200if they are stillהַעוֹדָ֣םha.'o.DamH5750aliveחַיִּ֑יםchai.YimH2416.”And Jethroיִתְר֛וֹyit.RoH3503saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Mosesלְמֹשֶׁ֖הle.mo.ShehH4872, “Goלֵ֥ךְlekhH1980in peaceלְשָׁלֽוֹם׃le.sha.LomH7965.”

19Now the Lordיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mo.ShehH4872in Midianבְּמִדְיָ֔ןbe.mid.YanH4080, “Goלֵ֖ךְlekhH1980backשֻׁ֣בshuvH7725to Egyptמִצְרָ֑יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714, forallכָּל־kol-H3605the menH376who were seekingהַֽמְבַקְשִׁ֖יםham.vak.ShimH1245your lifeנַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃naf.She.khaH5315are deadמֵ֙תוּ֙me.tuH4191.”

20So Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜הmo.ShehH4872tookוַיִּקַּ֨חvai.yi.KachH3947his wifeאִשְׁתּ֣וֹ'ish.ToH802and hissonsבָּנָ֗יוba.NavH1121and mountedוַיַּרְכִּבֵם֙vai.yar.ki.VemH7392them on a donkeyהַחֲמֹ֔רha.cha.MorH2543,and returnedוַיָּ֖שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725to the landאַ֣רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776of Egyptמִצְרָ֑יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714.Mosesמֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehH4872also tookוַיִּקַּ֥חvai.yi.KachH3947thestaffמַטֵּ֥הma.TehH4294of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430in his handבְּיָדֽוֹ׃be.ya.DoH3027.

21The Lordיְהוָה֮Yah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Mosesמֹשֶׁה֒mo.ShehH4872, “When you goבְּלֶכְתְּךָ֙be.lekh.te.KhaH1980backלָשׁ֣וּבla.ShuvH7725to Egyptמִצְרַ֔יְמָהmitz.Ray.mahH4714seeרְאֵ֗הre.'EhH7200that you performוַעֲשִׂיתָ֖םva.'a.si.TamH6213beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Pharaohפַרְעֹ֑הfar.'OhH6547allכָּל־kol-H3605the wondersהַמֹּֽפְתִים֙ha.mo.fe.TimH4159whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834I have putשַׂ֣מְתִּיSam.tiH7760in yourpowerבְיָדֶ֔ךָve.ya.De.khaH3027; butI will hardenאֲחַזֵּ֣ק'a.cha.ZekH2388his heartלִבּ֔וֹli.BoH3820so that he will not letH7971the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971goיְשַׁלַּ֖חye.sha.LachH7971.

22Then you shall sayוְאָמַרְתָּ֖ve.'a.mar.TaH559to Pharaohפַּרְעֹ֑הpar.'OhH6547, ‘Thusכֹּ֚הkohH3541saysאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068, “Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478is My sonבְּנִ֥יbe.NiH1121,My firstbornבְכֹרִ֖יve.kho.RiH1060.

23So I saidוָאֹמַ֣רva.'o.MarH559to you, ‘LetH7971My sonבְּנִי֙be.NiH1121goשַׁלַּ֤חsha.LachH7971that he may serveוְיַֽעַבְדֵ֔נִיve.ya.'av.De.niH5647Me’; but you have refusedוַתְּמָאֵ֖ןva.te.ma.'EnH3985to letH7971him goלְשַׁלְּח֑וֹle.sha.le.ChoH7971.Beholdהִנֵּה֙hi.NehH2009,I will killהֹרֵ֔גho.RegH2026your sonבִּנְךָ֖bin.KhaH1121,your firstbornבְּכֹרֶֽךָ׃be.kho.Re.khaH1060.”’”

24Now it cameוַיְהִ֥יvay.HiH1961about at the lodgingבַּמָּל֑וֹןba.ma.LonH4411placeH4411on the wayבַדֶּ֖רֶךְva.De.rekhH1870that the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068metוַיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֣הוּvai.yif.ge.She.huH6298him andsoughtוַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁvay.va.KeshH1245to putH4191him to deathH4191.

25Then Zipporahצִפֹּרָ֜הtzi.po.RahH6855tookוַתִּקַּ֨חva.ti.KachH3947a flintצֹ֗רTzorH6864and cutוַתִּכְרֹת֙va.tikh.RotH3772offH3772her son’sבְּנָ֔הּbe.NahH1121foreskinעָרְלַ֣ת'a.re.LatH6190andthrewוַתַּגַּ֖עva.ta.Ga'H5060it at Moses’ feetלְרַגְלָ֑יוle.rag.LavH7272,and she saidוַתֹּ֕אמֶרva.To.merH559, “You are indeedכִּ֧יkiH3588a bridegroomחֲתַן־cha.tan-H2860of bloodדָּמִ֛יםda.MimH1818to me.”

26So He letH7503him aloneH7503.At that timeאָ֚ז'azH227she saidאָֽמְרָ֔ה'a.me.RahH559, “You area bridegroomחֲתַ֥ןcha.TanH2860of bloodדָּמִ֖יםda.MimH1818”--because of the circumcisionלַמּוּלֹֽת׃ פla.mu.LotH4139.

27Now the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Aaronאַהֲרֹ֔ן'a.ha.RonH175, “Goלֵ֛ךְlekhH1980to meetלִקְרַ֥אתlik.RatH7122Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872in the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֑רָהha.mid.Ba.rahH4057.”So he wentוַיֵּ֗לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhH1980and metוַֽיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֛הוּvai.yif.ge.She.huH6298him at themountainבְּהַ֥רbe.HarH2022of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430and kissedוַיִּשַּׁק־vai.yi.shak-H5401him.

28Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mo.ShehH4872toldוַיַּגֵּ֤דvai.ya.GedH5046Aaronלְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ןle.'a.ha.RonH175allכָּל־kol-H3605the wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697of the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068with whichH834He had sentשְׁלָח֑וֹshe.la.ChoH7971him, andallכָּל־kol-H3605the signsהָאֹתֹ֖תha.'o.TotH226that He had commandedצִוָּֽהוּ׃tzi.Va.huH6680him to do.

29Then Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872and Aaronוְאַהֲרֹ֑ןve.'a.ha.RonH175wentוַיֵּ֥לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhH1980andassembledוַיַּ֣אַסְפ֔וּvai.Ya.'as.FuH622allכָּל־kol-H3605the eldersזִקְנֵ֖יzik.NeiH2205of the sonsבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478;

30andAaronאַהֲרֹ֔ן'a.ha.RonH175spokeוַיְדַבֵּ֣רvay.da.BerH1696allכָּל־kol-H3605the wordsהַדְּבָרִ֔יםha.de.va.RimH1697whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068had spokenדִּבֶּ֥רdi.BerH1696to Mosesמֹשֶׁ֑הmo.ShehH4872.He then performedוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213thesignsהָאֹתֹ֖תha.'o.TotH226in the sightלְעֵינֵ֥יle.'ei.NeiH5869of the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971.

31Sothe peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971believedוַֽיַּאֲמֵ֖ןvai.ya.'a.MenH539;and when they heardוַֽיִּשְׁמְע֡וּvai.yish.me.'UH8085that the Lordיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068was concernedפָקַ֨דfa.KadH6485about the sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478and that He had seenרָאָה֙ra.'AhH7200their afflictionעָנְיָ֔ם'a.ne.YamH6040, thenthey bowedH6915lowוַֽיִּקְּד֖וּvai.yi.ke.DuH6915and worshipedוַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּֽוּ׃vai.Yish.ta.cha.VuH7812.

Moses Given Powers

Aaron to Be Moses’ Mouthpiece

Commentaries on Exodus 4