Exodus 4:4
Exodus 4:4 in Multiple Translations
“Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail,” the LORD said to Moses, who reached out his hand and caught the snake, and it turned back into a staff in his hand.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
And Jehovah said unto Moses, Put forth thy hand, and take it by the tail: (and he put forth his hand, and laid hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand);
And the Lord said to Moses, Put out your hand and take it by the tail: (and he put out his hand and took a grip of it and it became a rod in his hand:)
“Reach out and grab hold of it by its tail,” the Lord told Moses. Moses did so and it turned back into a walking stick in his hand.
Againe the Lord saide vnto Moses, Put foorth thine hand, and take it by the tayle. Then he put foorth his hande and caught it, and it was turned into a rod in his hand.
And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Put forth thy hand, and lay hold on the tail of it;' and he putteth forth his hand, and layeth hold on it, and it becometh a rod in his hand —
The LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand, and take it by the tail.” He stretched out his hand, and took hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand.
And the LORD said to Moses, Put forth thy hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
And the Lord said: Put out thy hand and take it by the tail. He put forth his hand, and took hold of it, and it was turned into a rod.
But Yahweh said to Moses/me, “Reach down and pick it up by its tail!” So he/I reached down and caught it, and when he/I picked it up, it became a stick in his/my hand again.
Berean Amplified Bible — Exodus 4:4
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Exodus 4:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Exodus 4:4
Study Notes — Exodus 4:4
- Context
- Cross References
- Exodus 4:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Exodus 4:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 4:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 4:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 4:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 4:4
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Exodus 4:4
- Cambridge Bible on Exodus 4:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 4:4
- Sermons on Exodus 4:4
Context — Moses’ Staff
4“Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail,” the LORD said to Moses, who reached out his hand and caught the snake, and it turned back into a staff in his hand.
5“This 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.” 6Furthermore, the LORD said to Moses, “Put your hand inside your cloak. ” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, white as snow.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acts 28:3–6 | Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. |
| 2 | Genesis 22:1–2 | Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. “Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” |
| 3 | Psalms 91:13 | You will tread on the lion and cobra; you will trample the young lion and serpent. |
| 4 | John 2:5 | His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” |
| 5 | Mark 16:18 | they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.” |
| 6 | Luke 10:19 | Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. |
Exodus 4:4 Summary
In Exodus 4:4, God told Moses to catch a snake that had appeared when Moses threw his staff on the ground. Moses obeyed, and the snake turned back into his staff. This showed Moses that God was with him and would help him do amazing things to free the Israelites from slavery, as promised in Exodus 3:10. It also reminds us that God is always in control, even in scary or unexpected situations, and that He can use us to do great things if we trust and obey Him, just like He did with Moses and the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 14:13-31.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did God tell Moses to catch the snake by the tail?
God instructed Moses to catch the snake by the tail to demonstrate His power and authority over all creation, as seen in Psalm 104:24, which says that God's wisdom is behind all His works.
Was Moses afraid of the snake because he lacked faith?
Moses' initial fear of the snake was a natural human response, but his obedience to God's command to catch the snake showed his growing faith, similar to how God helped the disciples in Luke 5:5 to trust Him despite their fears.
What is the significance of the staff turning back into its original form?
The staff turning back into its original form signified God's control over the supernatural events that were unfolding, much like the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 14:13-31, where God's power was displayed to rescue His people.
How does this event relate to Moses' mission to the Israelites?
This event was a sign to Moses that he would be able to perform miracles to convince the Israelites of God's presence with him, as stated in Exodus 4:5, and it prepared him for the challenges he would face in leading God's people out of slavery, as seen in Exodus 3:10.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I need to trust God's power and authority, just like Moses did with the snake?
- How can I, like Moses, learn to obey God even when faced with fearful or uncertain situations?
- In what ways can I use my own experiences and testimonies to share God's power and love with others, just as Moses was to do with the Israelites?
- What does this event reveal about God's character, and how can I apply that to my own relationship with Him?
Gill's Exposition on Exodus 4:4
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 4:4
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 4:4
Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 4:4
Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 4:4
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Exodus 4:4
Cambridge Bible on Exodus 4:4
Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 4:4
Sermons on Exodus 4:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Authority Over Demons by Corrie Ten Boom | In this sermon, Corey Ten Boom shares her personal experiences of preaching the gospel and casting out demons. She recounts a time when she was in a concentration camp and witnesse |
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When the Serpent Bites Your Hand, Victory Is at the Door by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the journey of Paul and how he faced challenges and storms. Despite being misunderstood and seen as a murderer, Paul continued to serve and he |
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And the Lord Was With Joseph - Part 2 by Steve Mays | In this sermon, Pastor Steve Mays discusses the theme of serving God in the face of rejection and adversity. He emphasizes that even when life is difficult, God is always good. Usi |
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Tongues - Part 1 by Ken Baird | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on Ephesians chapter 4, verse 7, which talks about how every believer is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. The preach |
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Error of Balaam - Part 1 by Keith Green | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Balaam from the book of Numbers in the Bible. Balaam, a prophet of God, misused his gifts and relationship with God for personal |
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Witness Power by Warren Wiersbe | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the essentials for effective witnessing based on Acts chapter 1 and Luke chapter 24. The three essentials are excitement, enlightenment, and e |
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Road to Reality - the Fear of the Lord - Part 1 by K.P. Yohannan | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of living a radical lifestyle rather than just acquiring knowledge about theology and the Bible. He challenges the audience to |







