Exodus 4 28

Exodus 4:28 kjv

And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.

Exodus 4:28 nkjv

So Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which He had commanded him.

Exodus 4:28 niv

Then Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say, and also about all the signs he had commanded him to perform.

Exodus 4:28 esv

And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do.

Exodus 4:28 nlt

Moses then told Aaron everything the LORD had commanded him to say. And he told him about the miraculous signs the LORD had commanded him to perform.

Exodus 4 verses

Exodus 4 28 Meaning

Exodus 4:28 describes Moses' faithful execution of the divine instruction to convey God's full message to Aaron upon their reunion. It details Moses informing Aaron of everything the LORD had commissioned him to speak and all the miraculous signs He had commanded him to perform, thereby transferring the comprehensive divine mandate and preparation for their joint mission to confront Pharaoh and deliver Israel.

Exodus 4 28 Context

Exodus chapter 4 immediately follows God's call of Moses at the burning bush in chapter 3. Moses, despite his initial reluctance and protests regarding his inadequacy, especially his speech, has now been fully commissioned by YHWH. God not only reassures Moses and gives him three miraculous signs to validate his message but also addresses Moses' speech impediment by appointing his brother Aaron as his spokesperson. Prior to this verse, Moses had begun his journey back to Egypt, and crucially, encountered the LORD at a lodging place (vv. 24-26), where a life-threatening incident (often interpreted as divine displeasure due to uncircumcision of his son) likely intensified his commitment to full obedience. Verse 27 describes Aaron, prompted by God, meeting Moses in the wilderness at the "mountain of God." Exodus 4:28 marks the pivotal moment of their reunion and the critical transfer of information. It sets the stage for their joint appearance before the elders of Israel in the subsequent verses (Ex 4:29-31), initiating the deliverance narrative. Historically, this scene is set during a period of severe Egyptian oppression of the Israelites, validating their desperate cries for a deliverer sent by their ancestral God.

Exodus 4 28 Word analysis

• And: The Hebrew conjunction "וַיַּגֵּד" (va-yagged) simply means "and he told." It connects this action directly to the previous events, showing a continuation of God's plan unfolding. It implies immediate compliance by Moses.
• Moses: (מֹשֶׁה, Mosheh) The one divinely chosen and reluctantly commissioned by the LORD in Ex 3 to lead Israel out of bondage. His name itself suggests "drawn out" (from water), hinting at his destined role in leading Israel out of Egypt. His faithfulness in this verse demonstrates his transformation from a hesitating shepherd to God's obedient prophet.
• told: (וַיַּגֵּד, vayyagged) The Hiphil imperfect of נג"ד (nagad), meaning "he made known," "he declared," or "he reported." This indicates a comprehensive and clear revelation of information. It suggests a full disclosure, not just a brief summary. Moses held nothing back.
• Aaron: (אַהֲרֹן, Aharon) Moses' older brother, designated by God to be Moses' mouthpiece and fellow worker (Ex 4:14-16). His readiness to meet Moses as instructed by God (Ex 4:27) indicates his acceptance of his own crucial role in God's plan. This sharing of information forms the essential foundation of their working relationship.
• all the words: (כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים, kol-ha-d'varim) This phrase signifies the complete message and instructions given by God to Moses. It implies comprehensiveness and truthfulness in Moses' relay.
  • words: (דְּבָרִים, d'varim) More than just spoken words; it encompasses messages, affairs, matters, commands, and declarations. It includes the divine identity (YHWH), the purpose (deliverance from Egypt, bringing them to a good land), and the divine judgments upon Pharaoh. The significance lies in the total scope of the divine revelation being transmitted.
  • of the LORD: (יְהוָה, YHWH) The sacred, covenant name of God, revealed explicitly to Moses at the burning bush (Ex 3:15). It underscores that the source of the "words" and "signs" is the sovereign, covenant-keeping God, lending ultimate authority and power to the mission.
• with which He had sent him to speak: This phrase emphasizes the divine authorization and purpose behind Moses' commission.
  • He: Refers to the LORD, highlighting the divine initiative and mandate.
  • sent: (שָׁלַח, shalach) Implies dispatching with a specific mission or authority. This highlights Moses' role as a divinely appointed emissary, not acting on his own volition. The ancient world understood that a messenger carried the authority of the sender.
  • him: Refers to Moses.
  • to speak: (לְדַבֵּר, l'dabber) The infinitive emphasizes the core purpose of Moses' sending—to communicate God's message.
• and all the signs: (וְאֵת כָּל־הָאֹתֹת, v'et kol-ha'otot) This phrase parallels "all the words," stressing that the miraculous proofs were as integral to the mission as the spoken message. It highlights the fusion of divine message and divine power.
  • signs: (אֹתֹת, otot) Refers to the three miraculous proofs (staff to snake, hand with leprosy, water to blood, Ex 4:1-9) that God had given Moses to authenticate his divine commission to the Israelites and later to Pharaoh. These signs served as irrefutable evidence of God's presence and power, a crucial element in ancient cultures for validating prophets and divine claims. These also subtly polemicized against common ancient Near Eastern practices of divination and magic by showcasing YHWH's superior, authoritative power.
• that He had commanded him: This phrase confirms the divine origin of the signs, not as spontaneous acts but as specific instructions.
  • He: Refers to the LORD, once again asserting God's absolute authority and directive.
  • commanded: (צִוָּה, tzivvah) Signifies a divine imperative, an authoritative order. It reinforces that the signs were not Moses' idea or ability but God's specific instruction and empowerment, preventing any claim of human origin or magical ability separate from YHWH.
  • him: Refers to Moses.

Exodus 4 28 Bonus section

This verse demonstrates a key aspect of faithful prophetic ministry: relaying God's message in full and as given. There is no picking and choosing, no dilution or enhancement. Moses' recent humbling experience on the way to Egypt (Ex 4:24-26, the incident with the "bridegroom of blood") is often seen by scholars as a powerful catalyst for his complete obedience. This verse could imply that following that incident, Moses was singularly focused on obeying every command from God without reservation, ensuring all the words and signs were faithfully transmitted. It also foreshadows the complete obedience demanded of the people of Israel later in the wilderness journey and the emphasis in scripture on speaking the word of God without adding or subtracting (Deut 4:2, Prov 30:5, Rev 22:18-19). This establishes a model for divine messengers and sets a high standard for conveying spiritual truth.

Exodus 4 28 Commentary

Exodus 4:28 encapsulates the critical moment of transition where God's private revelation to Moses transforms into the publicly communicated plan for Israel's liberation. Moses' act of fully relaying "all the words" and "all the signs" to Aaron underscores his newfound commitment and obedience to God's daunting call, following his earlier reluctance and the life-threatening encounter on the journey. This completeness emphasizes the absolute divine origin and authority of their mission: nothing was omitted, and everything had God's explicit instruction behind it. The partnership with Aaron, as envisioned by God, officially commences here. The inclusion of both "words" (the message) and "signs" (the attestation) reveals the integrated nature of God's redemptive work, where divine truth is validated by divine power. This verse lays the essential groundwork for the subsequent acts of confronting Pharaoh and the Exodus, signaling that the entire enterprise is wholly derived from the sovereign will and power of the LORD. It's a foundational verse for understanding the authority behind the entire Exodus narrative and the commissioning of God's chosen agents.