Exodus 4:3

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

1Moses answered again, “And if they do not believe me or pay attention to me, but say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you’?” 2The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” The Lord said, “Throw it to the ground.” So he threw it to the ground, and it became a snake, and Moses ran from it. 4But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and grab it by the tail” – so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand – 5“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.”

Exodus 4:3 word by word

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּ אַ֔רְצָה וַיַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥הוּ אַ֖רְצָה וַיְהִ֣י לְנָחָ֑שׁ וַיָּ֥נָס מֹשֶׁ֖ה מִפָּנָֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Castשָׁלַךְshâlak · to throwH7993
• it on the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• and it became a serpentנָחָשׁnâchâsh · serpentH5175
• and Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
• fledנוּסnûs · to fleeH5127
• from beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440

Cross-references for Exodus 4:3

• Exodus 4:17You will also take in your hand this staff, with which you will do the signs.”
• Exodus 7:10When Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, they did so, just as the Lord had commanded them – Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants and it became a snake.
• Amos 5:19Disaster will be inescapable, as if a man ran from a lion only to meet a bear, then escaped into a house, leaned his hand against the wall, and was bitten by a poisonous 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

• Call
• Communion
• Condescension of God
• Israel
• Miracles
• Moses
• Serpent
• Sign
• Token

In the dictionaries

• Moses
• Bosom
• Dead
• Divination
• Leprous
• Slow
• Spokesman
• Bel, and the Dragon
• Dragon
• Egypt

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