Exodus 4 9

Exodus 4:9 kjv

And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

Exodus 4:9 nkjv

And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, that you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land. The water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land."

Exodus 4:9 niv

But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground."

Exodus 4:9 esv

If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground."

Exodus 4:9 nlt

And if they don't believe you or listen to you even after these two signs, then take some water from the Nile River and pour it out on the dry ground. When you do, the water from the Nile will turn to blood on the ground."

Exodus 4 verses

Exodus 4 9 Meaning

Exodus 4:9 presents God's instruction to Moses for a third sign to authenticate his divine commission to the disbelieving Israelites and, by extension, Pharaoh. This sign involves taking water from the Nile River, pouring it on the dry ground, and witnessing its miraculous transformation into blood. It serves as a more severe, undeniable demonstration of Yahweh's power and sovereignty, indicating His ability to inflict judgment upon those who resist His word and messengers, especially targeting the heart of Egyptian life and religion.

Exodus 4 9 Context

Exodus chapter 4 continues the dialogue between God and Moses after Moses’ initial reluctance to accept his divine mission. Moses voices a fundamental concern: the people of Israel will not believe that the Lord has appeared to him (Ex 4:1). In response, God provides Moses with three escalating signs, each designed to authenticate his message and divine authority to the elders of Israel and subsequently to Pharaoh. The first two signs (rod to snake, hand to leprosy and back) serve as direct attestations to Moses’ person and message. Exodus 4:9 presents the third and final sign God gives Moses as an ultimate, unignorable demonstration of His power, reserved for severe disbelief. Historically, the Nile River was the lifeblood of Egypt, revered as a deity or home to deities like Hapi and Osiris (associated with the Nile's fertility). Its waters sustained crops, provided fish, and were crucial for daily life. The threat of turning the Nile's waters into blood would therefore be an assault on the very foundation of Egyptian existence, its economic stability, and its spiritual beliefs, highlighting Yahweh's supreme dominion over their gods and their most vital resource.

Exodus 4 9 Word analysis

• And if they will not believe (וְאִם לֹא יַאֲמִינוּ - ve'im lo ya'aminu):

  • וְאִם (ve'im): "And if". Indicates a conditional statement, preparing for a more drastic measure if the prior attempts fail.
  • לֹא (lo): "Not". A direct negation, pointing to a state of disbelief.
  • יַאֲמִינוּ (ya'aminu): From the root אמן (aman), meaning "to be firm, to be faithful, to believe, to trust." This goes beyond intellectual acknowledgment; it implies a failure to trust God's word and messenger. Their unbelief stems from a lack of firm reliance on the truth God is presenting through Moses.

• even these two signs (גַּם לִשְׁתֵּי הָאֹתוֹת הָאֵלֶּה - gam lish'tey ha'otot ha'elleh):

  • גַּם (gam): "Even, also." Emphasizes that despite already receiving two powerful, supernatural proofs (rod becoming a snake, hand becoming leprous), unbelief might persist. This highlights God's patience in offering multiple evidences.
  • לִשְׁתֵּי (lish'tey): "To the two." Refers specifically to the preceding two miracles.
  • הָאֹתוֹת (ha'otot): Plural of אוֹת (ot), meaning "sign, token, wonder." These are not mere tricks but divine signals meant to convey a message and establish authority.

• neither listen to your voice (וְלֹא יִשְׁמְעוּ לְקֹלֶךָ - ve'lo yish'm'u l'qolekha):

  • וְלֹא יִשְׁמְעוּ (ve'lo yish'm'u): "And not listen/hear." From the root שמע (shama'), which means "to hear, to listen, to obey." This is more than passive hearing; it implies a refusal to pay heed and therefore a refusal to obey. Disbelief often manifests as a refusal to genuinely listen and comply with God's word.
  • לְקֹלֶךָ (l'qolekha): "To your voice." This means Moses' voice, but because he is God's messenger, it signifies God's voice speaking through him. Disbelieving Moses' voice is equivalent to disbelieving God's voice.

• then you shall take some water from the Nile (וְלָקַחְתָּ מִמֵּי הַיְאֹר - ve'laqachta mimmey ha'ye'or):

  • וְלָקַחְתָּ (ve'laqachta): "Then you shall take." A direct command to Moses for the specific action required.
  • מִמֵּי (mimmey): "From the waters of." Points to the very source of Egyptian life.
  • הַיְאֹר (ha'ye'or): "The Nile." This specific Hebrew term almost exclusively refers to the Nile River in the Old Testament, Egypt's economic and spiritual lifeline. This emphasizes the direct challenge to Egypt's prosperity and its deities associated with the Nile.

• and pour it on the dry ground (וְשָׁפַכְתָּ הַיַּבָּשָׁה - ve'shafachta ha'yabashah):

  • וְשָׁפַכְתָּ (ve'shafachta): "And pour out." A deliberate act, symbolizing the transformation happening.
  • הַיַּבָּשָׁה (ha'yabashah): "The dry ground/land." The contrast between life-giving water and dry, barren earth highlights the miracle's effect and suggests the disruption of the natural order.

• and the water which you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground (וְהָיוּ הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר תִּקַּח מִן הַיְאֹר הָיוּ לְדָם בַּיַּבָּשָׁה - ve'hayu ha'mayim asher tiqqach min ha'ye'or hayu l'dam ba'yabashah):

  • וְהָיוּ ... הָיוּ לְדָם (ve'hayu ... hayu l'dam): "And they will become blood." The repetition of the verb הָיוּ (hayu), "they will be/become," emphasizes the certainty and transformative power of the sign. דָּם (dam) is "blood," associated with life but here with death, defilement, and judgment.
  • בַּיַּבָּשָׁה (ba'yabashah): "On the dry ground." Reinforces the context of where the miracle is to be displayed, providing a clear visual contrast and dramatic impact.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "And if they will not believe...neither listen to your voice": This phrase reveals the stubbornness of human unbelief. It implies a deeper spiritual problem—not merely ignorance, but an active refusal to accept divine truth, stemming from a hardened heart that rejects both visual evidence (signs) and spoken divine instruction (voice). God is ready for even this extreme scenario of hardened hearts.
• "take some water from the Nile...and pour it on the dry ground": This highlights the human action required by divine command. Moses is not to find blood or bring it, but to use the natural element that represents life and prosperity to the Egyptians, demonstrating God's sovereign power over their fundamental resources. The mundane act of pouring water on ground is elevated to a vehicle of divine manifestation.
• "will become blood on the dry ground": This miraculous transformation symbolizes profound judgment. Water, which symbolizes life, purity, and refreshment, turning into blood—a symbol of death, defilement, and violence—signifies a reversal of blessing into curse. It also prefigures the First Plague (Ex 7:14-25), demonstrating the severe consequences of continued resistance to God's will. It directly challenges the Egyptian reverence for the Nile and its gods.

Exodus 4 9 Bonus section

• The progression of signs, from individual objects (rod) to a personal transformation (Moses' hand) and then to a crucial public resource (Nile water), reflects an increasing scope of impact and a deeper challenge to disbelief. Each sign builds upon the last, offering cumulative proof.
• The water turning to blood connects deeply with the sacred view of blood in the ancient Near East, symbolizing life (Lev 17:11) but here symbolizing defilement and judgment when poured out or used outside specific holy contexts. Its defilement of water—a purification agent—further amplifies its polemical nature against Egyptian purity rites.
• This verse illustrates a divine principle: warnings escalate before severe judgment. God provides successive opportunities to believe before bringing the full measure of His judgment. This divine long-suffering is consistent throughout Scripture (e.g., God's warnings to Nineveh, Jonah 3).
• While initially directed at "them" (likely the Israelites' elders, given Ex 4:1's context of their potential unbelief in Moses), this sign ultimately becomes the first plague demonstrating God's power over Pharaoh and all of Egypt. This connection is seen in Ex 7, where Aaron (under Moses' direction) performs this very act on the Nile as the first full-scale plague. This suggests the initial smaller manifestation for Moses serves as a prelude or a confirmation for Moses before the greater act.

Exodus 4 9 Commentary

Exodus 4:9 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating God's methodology for dealing with unbelief and setting the stage for the plagues in Egypt. The escalation of signs demonstrates divine patience combined with a resolute determination to validate His messenger and execute His purpose. This third sign, turning water into blood, is particularly potent. Unlike the first two which are quick, personal transformations, this sign involves a natural element critical to life in Egypt, and it directly assails the religious worldview of Pharaoh and his people. The Nile was worshipped, revered as a source of life and linked to their deities. To turn its water to blood—a symbol of death, impurity, and sacrifice in judgment—is a direct polemic against the Egyptian pantheon, proclaiming Yahweh's ultimate sovereignty. It foreshadows the terrifying nature of the plagues, where life-sustaining elements would be turned against Egypt. This passage teaches that God provides ample evidence for faith, but He is also prepared for the deepest levels of skepticism and hardened hearts, meeting them with undeniable demonstrations of His power and authority, even through acts of judgment.