Exodus 4 4

Exodus 4:4 kjv

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:

Exodus 4:4 nkjv

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand),

Exodus 4:4 niv

Then 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.

Exodus 4:4 esv

But the LORD said to Moses, "Put out your hand and catch it by the tail" ? so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand ?

Exodus 4:4 nlt

Then 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 verses

Exodus 4 4 Meaning

Exodus 4:4 recounts the second of three miraculous signs God gave Moses at the burning bush. After the staff transformed into a serpent, filling Moses with dread and causing him to flee, God commanded him to boldly confront the danger he had just fled. Moses' act of obedience in grasping the serpent by its tail immediately reversed the transformation, turning it back into his familiar shepherd's staff. This pivotal moment demonstrated God's absolute power and authority over perceived threats, and served to confirm Moses' divine commission, strengthening his faith in preparation for the daunting task of leading Israel out of Egypt. It illustrated that God transforms fearful realities into useful tools when His commands are obeyed, reassuring Moses that God, not the danger, was in control.

Exodus 4 4 Context

Exodus chapter 4 continues the pivotal encounter between God and Moses at the burning bush (Exod 3). God has just commissioned Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage (Exod 3:7-10). Moses, filled with self-doubt and concern about how the Israelites and Pharaoh would believe him (Exod 4:1), requests signs. The first sign, turning his staff into a serpent (Exod 4:3), caused him to flee in fear. Immediately after, this verse describes the second command and its outcome: God instructing Moses to grasp the very creature he had just fled. The historical and cultural context involves the advanced civilization of ancient Egypt, where serpents, especially the cobra (Uraeus), were potent symbols of divine protection and royal power, often associated with pharaohs and various deities (e.g., Wadjet). Egyptian magic and the belief in divine forces influencing natural phenomena were prevalent. By having Moses demonstrate power over a serpent and reverse its transformation, God was not only reassuring Moses but also asserting Yahweh's supreme authority over any purported Egyptian god or magical power, directly countering their beliefs. This series of signs prepared Moses and provided tangible proof for both the Israelites and eventually Pharaoh.

Exodus 4 4 Word analysis

• Then the Lord said (וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ - vayyōʾmer YHWH):
  • וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyōʾmer): The Hebrew "wayyiqtol" tense here indicates a sequential action, emphasizing the immediate divine response to Moses' fear (from Exod 4:3). It signifies God's direct and authoritative communication.
  • יְהוָה (YHWH): The covenant name of God, indicating His personal relationship and active involvement with His people. It highlights that this command comes from the sovereign God of Israel, not an abstract force.
• Reach out your hand (שְׁלַ֥ח יָדְךָ֛ - shəlach yadekha):
  • שְׁלַח (shəlach): An imperative verb, "send" or "stretch out," denoting a direct command requiring immediate action from Moses. It implies an intentional, physical act.
  • יָדְךָ (yadekha): "Your hand." The hand is a symbol of power, action, and agency. This command is personal and involves Moses directly using his own limb in a potentially dangerous situation.
• and grasp it (וֶֽאֱחֹ֖ז בְּזָנָבֽוֹ - veʾechōz):
  • אֱחֹז (ʾechōz): Another strong imperative, "grasp," "take hold of," or "seize." It conveys a decisive and firm action.
• by its tail (בְּזָנָבֽוֹ - biznāvō):
  • בְּזָנָבֽוֹ (biznāvō): The Hebrew word for "tail." This specific instruction is crucial. Grasping a snake by the tail is counter-intuitive and dangerous in animal handling, as it leaves the head free to strike. This precise instruction highlights that God is commanding an act of faith that goes against natural instincts of self-preservation and human prudence, emphasizing divine protection over human logic. It ensures the act is unequivocally a miracle of God, not Moses' skill.
• So Moses reached out his hand (וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ יָדֹ֔ו - vayyishlach yādô):
  • וַיִּשְׁלַח יָדֹו (vayyishlach yādô): Demonstrates immediate and full obedience from Moses. This signifies a turning point in Moses' trust, as he acts directly according to God's instruction despite the apparent danger, overcoming the fear shown in the previous verse.
• and caught it (וַיֹּ֣אחֶז בֹּ֔ו - vayyōchēz bō):
  • וַיֹּאחֶז בֹּו (vayyōchēz bō): Confirms Moses successfully seized it. It parallels the imperative "grasp" with the successful execution of the command.
• and it turned back into a staff (וַיָּ֧שָׁב לְמַטֶּ֛ה - vayyāshāv l'matṭeh):
  • וַיָּשָׁב (vayyāshāv): "And it returned," "it went back." This verb emphasizes a reversal or restoration to the original state.
  • לְמַטֶּה (l'matṭeh): "Into a staff." The very object of the previous transformation, now restored to its former utility, but no longer just an ordinary staff; it has become an instrument of divine power, referred to later as the "rod of God." This highlights God's power to restore and re-purpose.
• in his hand (בְּכַפֹּֽו - b'kappō):
  • בְּכַפֹּו (b'kappō): "In his palm/hand." This specifies the secure possession, indicating that the threat is not only neutralized but returned to Moses' control, enabling him to use it for God's purposes. The formerly feared object is now a symbol of God's miraculous intervention and a tool in Moses' hand for the upcoming mission.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Reach out your hand and grasp it by its tail.'": This divine imperative highlights the sovereignty of God, who commands an act of audacious faith. It's a test and a training moment for Moses, requiring him to supersede natural fear and logic with trust in God's counter-intuitive instructions. The specific detail "by its tail" signifies God's complete control over natural dangers, implying that divine protection nullifies the usual risks.
• "So Moses reached out his hand and caught it, and it turned back into a staff in his hand.": This second part showcases Moses' immediate obedience. His quick action, in contrast to his previous fear (Exod 4:3), signals a crucial step in his journey of faith and readiness for leadership. The miraculous transformation back to a staff confirms God's word and power, transforming a symbol of danger into an instrument of divine authority and a proof for the skeptics, all under Moses' control.

Exodus 4 4 Bonus section

The serpent held significant symbolic meaning in ancient Egypt, being associated with pharaoh's protection (the Uraeus) and various deities. For Moses to handle such a symbol of power and see it revert to a common staff signified God's ultimate authority over Egypt's religious and political might, implicitly polemicizing against Egyptian deities. The fact that the snake reverted specifically to Moses' "staff" (מַטֶּה - matteh) is significant; this ordinary staff becomes the instrument through which many of God's miracles and judgments in Egypt would be enacted (e.g., the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea). This highlights God's ability to imbue everyday objects with divine power when used for His purposes. The counter-intuitive nature of grasping a snake by its tail, rather than its head or neck, ensured that this was not a feat of human skill or magic but purely a divine act, thereby amplifying God's miraculous power. This incident prefigures Christ's victory over the serpent, symbolic of Satan (Rev 12:9, 20:2), showcasing divine authority over all evil and chaos.

Exodus 4 4 Commentary

Exodus 4:4 is a pivotal moment in Moses' divine commissioning, following immediately after the startling transformation of his staff into a serpent. The Lord's command to grasp the snake by its tail directly challenges Moses' natural instincts and recent experience of fear. This command functions as a profound test of faith and obedience, demanding that Moses actively engage with the very source of his fear, but under God's explicit instruction.

Moses' immediate obedience demonstrates a burgeoning trust in God's word, a necessary attribute for the formidable task ahead. This single act encapsulates the principle that God often calls His servants to step into situations of apparent danger or illogicality, relying solely on His power and command. The resulting miracle—the snake transforming back into a staff—serves multiple purposes:

1. Reassurance for Moses: It validates God's promise of divine presence and protection, strengthening Moses' faltering faith. What was once an instrument of fear becomes a tangible tool in his hand for God's glory.
2. Demonstration of Divine Power: It vividly portrays Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over creation, natural forces, and chaos. This powerful display would be a compelling sign not only for Moses and the Israelites but also a stark counter-argument against Egyptian magical practices and their pantheon of deities associated with natural phenomena.
3. Symbolic Repurposing: The shepherd's staff, an ordinary tool, is consecrated as "the rod of God" (Exod 4:20). This highlights how God uses ordinary instruments and empowers them miraculously when yielded in obedience.

This verse therefore conveys God's methodology: confronting fear with faith-filled obedience leads to the manifestation of God's power, turning what is seemingly harmful into something useful for His purposes.