Exodus 4:2

Exodus 4:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
• New International Version (NIV)Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A staff."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.”

Context of Exodus 4:2

1But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied. 3“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. 4Then the Lord told him, “Reach out and grab its tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd’s staff in his hand.

Exodus 4:2 word by word

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלָ֛יו יְהוָ֖ה מַה־זֶּ֣ה בְיָדֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מַטֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• that in thine handיָדyâd · handH3027
• A rodמַטֶּהmaţţeh maţţâh · tribe: rodH4294

Cross-references for Exodus 4:2

• Exodus 4:17And take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.”
• Genesis 30:37Then Jacob took some fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled off strips of bark, making white streaks on them.
• Leviticus 27:32Count off every tenth animal from your herds and flocks and set them apart for the Lord as holy.
• Psalms 110:2The Lord will extend your powerful kingdom from Jerusalem; you will rule over your enemies.
• Isaiah 11:4He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
• Micah 7:14O Lord, protect your people with your shepherd’s staff; lead your flock, your special possession. Though they live alone in a thicket on the heights of Mount Carmel, let them graze in the fertile pastures of Bashan and Gilead as they did long ago.

Commentaries on Exodus 4:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2A rod - מתה matteh, a staff, probably his shepherd's crook; see Leviticus 27:32. As it was made the instrument of working many miracles, it was afterwards called the rod of God; see Exodus 4:20.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2A rod - The word seems to denote the long staff which on Egyptian monuments is borne by men in positions of authority. It was usually made of acacia wood.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-9The third protest of Moses was that he did not have enough power. He felt unable to do what God asked him to do. God answered by showing his own great power. He performed signs immediately. He turned the staff of Moses into a snake. He also caused a serious skin disease to appear and then disappear at once.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. the Lord said, ... What is that in thine hand?--The question was put not to elicit information which God required, but to draw the particular attention of Moses. A rod--probably the shepherd's crook--among the Arabs, a long staff, with a curved head, varying from three to six feet in length.Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 4:2

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

In the dictionaries

• Bosom
• Dead
• Leprous
• Slow
• Spokesman
• Egypt
• Exodus, the
• Exodus, the Book of
• Genesis
• Leviticus

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