Exodus 4 17

Exodus 4:17 kjv

And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

Exodus 4:17 nkjv

And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs."

Exodus 4:17 niv

But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it."

Exodus 4:17 esv

And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs."

Exodus 4:17 nlt

And take your shepherd's staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you."

Exodus 4 verses

Exodus 4 17 Meaning

Exodus 4:17 outlines God's clear instruction to Moses to take his shepherd's staff, designating it as the specific instrument through which God would manifest powerful signs and wonders. This verse establishes that an ordinary object, when empowered by God and wielded in obedience to His command, becomes a vessel for divine activity, confirming God's message and authenticating His chosen messenger.

Exodus 4 17 Context

Exodus 4 serves as a critical bridge in the narrative of Moses' call. Having encountered God at the burning bush in chapter 3, Moses expresses profound doubts regarding his ability to fulfill God's command and whether the Israelites or Pharaoh would believe him. In response, God provides Moses with three potent signs—the transformation of his staff into a serpent, the temporary affliction of his hand with leprosy and its subsequent healing, and the turning of Nile water into blood—to assure both Moses himself and those he would confront. Verse 17 directly follows the detailed description of these three preparatory miracles, functioning as a definitive command that the very staff used in the first sign would be the instrument for the mighty works to follow. This command firmly links Moses' ordinary shepherd's staff to his extraordinary divine commission.

Historically and culturally, the performing of signs (Hebrew: ’ōtōṯ) was a recognized means of divine authentication in the ancient Near East. Leaders, kings, and prophets would often claim divine backing, which might be evidenced by wonders. God's provision of these signs for Moses was thus a direct address to this cultural expectation, demonstrating not merely that Yahweh was a god, but that He was the only true and all-powerful God, superior to all the gods and magicians of Egypt. This preparation established Moses as God's authentic representative and prepared him to challenge the formidable power of Pharaoh with undeniable proof of Yahweh's supreme authority.

Exodus 4 17 Word analysis

• And you shall take: (וְלָקַחְתָּ - wĕlāqaḥtā). This is a strong imperative, signifying a direct divine command for Moses to actively grasp and assume possession of the staff. It denotes not just passive acceptance, but a readiness for action and implementation. It underscores Moses' necessary physical involvement in God's plan.
• in your hand: (בְּיָדְךָ - bĕyadkā). The "hand" is a biblical symbol of power, action, and agency. God is empowering Moses' human hand, using it as His direct instrument. This signifies a personal connection between Moses and the divine acts, emphasizing that he is God's chosen and equipped agent. It implies that the power will manifest through Moses.
• this staff: (אֶת־הַמַּטֶּה הַזֶּה - ’et-hammateh hazzeh).
  • Maṭṭeh (מַטֶּה): Typically translated "staff" or "rod." This was Moses' personal, ordinary shepherd's staff, an unremarkable tool of his trade. The specificity ("this staff") links directly back to the staff used in the first sign (Exo 4:2-4), emphasizing its prior ordinariness and subsequent divine consecration. Its transformation from common utility to a conduit of miracles signifies God's ability to use simple, readily available items for extraordinary purposes.
  • The demonstrative pronoun "this" points to its physical presence and the immediate context of its recent miraculous use.
• with which you shall do: (אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה־בּוֹ - ’ăsher ta‘ăśeh-bo).
  • "Do" (‘āśāh): Implies performing, executing, or accomplishing. It denotes intentional, purposeful action. The power is not inherent in the staff but flows through it as God's instrument when Moses acts under divine instruction. Moses is the executor, not the source of power.
  • The phrase "with which" explicitly designates the staff as the indispensable instrument for the upcoming mighty deeds, firmly connecting the tool to the intended actions.
• the signs: (הָאֹתֹת - hā’ōtōt). The plural form of ’ōt (אוֹת), meaning "sign," "token," "wonder," or "miracle." These are not mere magical feats or coincidences but divinely ordained demonstrations designed to communicate a message, confirm truth, and authenticate God's messenger. In the context of Exodus, they served multiple purposes: to convince Israel, to display God's power over creation, to judge Egypt's gods, and to liberate His people. They represent undeniable proof of God's presence and power.
• "And you shall take in your hand this staff": This phrase encapsulates God's direct commissioning of Moses. It elevates Moses' ordinary shepherd's tool into a designated instrument for divine purpose, indicating that Moses' ordinary life and possessions were being consecrated for God's extraordinary plan. It emphasizes Moses' obedient reception of this divine directive.
• "with which you shall do the signs": This phrase clarifies the purpose of the staff and the scope of Moses' authority. It delineates that the staff will be the visible conduit for God's supernatural activity. It's a statement of empowerment, signifying that the upcoming great deeds will flow directly through this now sacred object in Moses' obedient hand.

Exodus 4 17 Bonus section

• The transformation of Moses' personal "staff" into the "rod of God" (Exo 4:20) is significant. It illustrates the shift from human ownership and reliance to divine appropriation and power. It's not "Moses' staff" performing miracles, but "God's staff" wielded by Moses.
• The signs are not just for display; they have judicial purpose, demonstrating God's judgment against Pharaoh and the Egyptian pantheon. The staff, therefore, becomes an instrument of both deliverance for Israel and judgment for Egypt.
• This verse sets the stage for the recurring use of the staff throughout Exodus, creating a narrative motif that emphasizes consistency in God's method of operation through Moses.
• The fact that it was "his" staff (an object familiar to Moses) and "in his hand" (an action performed by him) underscores the intimacy of God's working through a specific person and his context. God does not demand an extraordinary new tool but sanctifies what is already present in Moses' life.

Exodus 4 17 Commentary

Exodus 4:17 serves as a concise, yet pivotal, declaration of divine purpose and empowerment. Having detailed the specific initial miracles designed to instill belief, God provides Moses with a direct, unambiguous command: his ordinary shepherd's staff, recently revealed as capable of extraordinary transformation, would be the primary instrument for all subsequent "signs." This establishes a profound theological principle: God often chooses and consecrates humble, even seemingly insignificant, instruments to perform His mighty works. The power resides not in the staff itself, but in God, who sovereignly works through it in response to Moses' obedience. This elevates the staff from a mere tool of daily labor to a potent symbol of God's delegated authority, serving as a constant visual reminder of Yahweh's active presence and power throughout the plagues and the exodus. It ensures that divine credit for the coming miracles will be unambiguously attributed to the LORD, demonstrating His supremacy over all human and idolatrous power. It teaches that even our most common resources, when surrendered to God's will, can become channels for His miraculous work.