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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back.

Context of Exodus 4:3

1Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” 2Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. 5“This,” said the Lord, “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.”

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 4:17But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”
• Exodus 7:10So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake.
• Amos 5:19It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him.

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