Exodus 7:10 kjv
And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
Exodus 7:10 nkjv
So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the LORD commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
Exodus 7:10 niv
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake.
Exodus 7:10 esv
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent.
Exodus 7:10 nlt
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did what the LORD had commanded them. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent!
Exodus 7 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 4:2-4 | Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A staff."... "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent... | Earlier miracle of Moses' staff to serpent |
| Ex 7:8-9 | Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "When Pharaoh says to you, 'Perform a miracle,' then say to Aaron, 'Take your staff... and throw it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.'" | God's prior specific instruction for this sign |
| Ex 7:11-12 | Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same... For every man threw down his staff, and they became serpents; but Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. | Comparison with Egyptian magic, divine superiority |
| Ex 3:20 | So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it... | God's promise of mighty acts in Egypt |
| Dt 29:2-3 | You have seen all that the LORD did before your very eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and to all his land, all the great trials which your eyes saw, the great signs and wonders. | God's past demonstrations of power |
| Ps 78:43 | when He performed His signs in Egypt, And His wonders in the field of Zoan; | God's wondrous acts in Egypt acknowledged |
| Ps 105:27 | They performed His signs among them, And wonders in the land of Ham. | God's power through His servants |
| Jer 32:20-21 | who performed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and have continued them even to this day, and have made a name for Yourself, as at this day; and You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders... | God's ongoing power and reputation |
| Jn 2:11 | This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory... | Christ's first sign manifesting glory |
| Acts 7:36 | This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. | Stephen's summary of Moses' miraculous ministry |
| Heb 2:4 | God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. | God attests His messengers with signs |
| Ex 4:17 | You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you will perform the signs. | The staff as an instrument of divine power |
| Num 17:8 | On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the staff of Aaron of the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms and bore ripe almonds. | Aaron's staff also validates his priesthood |
| Is 30:30 | And the LORD will cause His majestic voice to be heard and the descending of His arm to be seen, with furious anger and a flame of a consuming fire, with cloudburst, tempest and hailstones. | God's powerful manifestation |
| Lk 10:19 | Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy... | Believer's authority over spiritual enemies |
| Mk 16:17-18 | These signs will accompany those who have believed... they will pick up serpents... | Signs validating believers' ministry |
| Ex 9:16 | But indeed for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth. | Purpose of signs: demonstrate God's power |
| Rom 1:20 | For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. | God's power made manifest to all |
| Jn 3:2 | Nicodemus came to Him by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." | Signs confirm divine origin of message |
| 1 Cor 1:22 | For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; | Demand for signs in a religious context |
| Mt 12:39 | But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign..." | Signs are given, not for mere curiosity |
Exodus 7 verses
Exodus 7 10 Meaning
Exodus 7:10 describes Moses and Aaron's faithful obedience to God's command to perform the initial sign before Pharaoh. Aaron casts his staff to the ground in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials, and it transforms into a serpent, signaling the commencement of the divine confrontation with Egypt and demonstrating the LORD's power.
Exodus 7 10 Context
Exodus chapter 7 marks the decisive turning point in the confrontation between the LORD, represented by Moses and Aaron, and Pharaoh, the embodiment of Egyptian power and deity. God, through Moses, had already revealed His intention to liberate Israel and execute judgment upon Egypt (Ex 6). Prior to this verse, God gives explicit instructions for Aaron's staff to turn into a serpent as the initial sign for Pharaoh. This miracle serves as a public demonstration of God's authority and a challenge to Pharaoh's claim of divine kingship and the efficacy of his magicians. Historically, ancient Egypt revered Pharaoh as a living god and held strong beliefs in magic and the power of its deities. This act, therefore, was a direct polemic against the worldview of Egypt, pitting the LORD against the might and gods of the Nile.
Exodus 7 10 Word analysis
- So (וַיָּבֹא - wa-yavo): This Hebrew conjunction (waw consecutive) indicates a continuation of action or consequence, meaning "and" or "then." It emphasizes that Moses and Aaron immediately acted in obedience to the LORD's command given in Ex 7:8-9.
- Moses and Aaron (מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן - Moshe v'Aharon): God's chosen agents. Moses, the primary prophet and leader, acts through Aaron, who is his appointed spokesman or "prophet" (Ex 7:1), especially in this public confrontation. Their unity symbolizes God's singular purpose.
- went to Pharaoh (אֶל פַּרְעֹה - el Par'oh): This denotes a direct and intentional approach. The confrontation is not covert but face-to-face, signifying a public challenge to Egypt's supreme ruler and its religious system.
- and did (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ - wa-ya'asu): Signifies action and performance. They didn't just speak, they acted as commanded.
- just as the LORD (כַּאֲשֶׁר יְהוָה - ka'asher YHWH): "Just as" (כַּאֲשֶׁר - ka'asher) emphasizes the precise and perfect obedience to the divine instruction. Their actions were not arbitrary but divinely directed. "YHWH" (the LORD) is the covenant God of Israel, highlighting His authority.
- had commanded (צִוָּה - tzivah): The verb means "to command," "appoint," "order." It highlights the divine mandate behind their actions, not their personal initiative or magical skill. This distinguishes them from mere sorcerers.
- Aaron (אַהֲרֹן - Aharon): The immediate performer of the sign. His role as the mouthpiece and doer is key here, illustrating his priestly and prophetic function under Moses.
- threw his staff down (וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ אֶת מַטֵּהוּ - wa-yashlech et mattehu): A deliberate and public act. The "staff" (מַטֶּה - matteh) is not merely a walking stick; it's a symbol of authority and often an instrument used for miracles throughout Exodus (e.g., splitting the Red Sea). This particular action recalls Moses' first sign in Ex 4.
- before Pharaoh and his officials (לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה וְלִפְנֵי עֲבָדָיו - lifnei Par'oh u'lifnei avadav): This emphasizes the public nature of the display. Pharaoh's court, including his advisors, wise men, and sorcerers (Ex 7:11), were key witnesses. This setting prepares for the immediate counter-demonstration.
- and it became (וַיְהִי - wa-yehi): A straightforward verb meaning "and it was," or "it came to be." This emphasizes a true transformation, not an illusion or trick.
- a serpent (לְתַנִּין - l'tannin): The term "tannin" (תַּנִּין) is significant. Unlike "nachash" (נָחָשׁ - ordinary snake) used in Ex 4:3, "tannin" refers to a large serpent, sea monster, or dragon. This term has stronger connotations of primordial chaos, mythic creatures, and deep-seated fears in the ancient world. In an Egyptian context, it could directly challenge various Egyptian serpent deities (like Apep, a chaos serpent, or Uraeus, a cobra symbol of royal authority) and reinforce the idea of Yahweh's ultimate dominion over chaos and perceived divine powers.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD had commanded": This phrase underlines faithful obedience and divine mandate. The initiative is not from Moses and Aaron, but directly from God, indicating His sovereign control and purposeful action against Pharaoh. It sets up the confrontation as God's will versus Pharaoh's defiance.
- "Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his officials": This highlights the public spectacle and the confrontational nature of the encounter. It's a deliberate act designed for Pharaoh and his court to witness, immediately drawing a line between divine power and earthly authority, inviting a challenge or a response.
- "and it became a serpent": This describes the miraculous transformation itself. The choice of a "tannin" (large serpent/dragon) over a simple "nachash" carries profound theological and polemical weight in ancient Egypt. Serpents were prominent in Egyptian religion as symbols of royalty (the uraeus on Pharaoh's crown), protection, but also chaotic forces (Apep). For God's representative to transform a shepherd's staff into such a creature demonstrates His power over these very symbols, asserting His absolute supremacy over Egyptian gods and the cosmic forces they represented.
Exodus 7 10 Bonus section
- The staff (מַטֶּה - matteh) holds immense significance throughout the Exodus narrative. It is Moses's ordinary shepherd's staff, later called "the staff of God" (Ex 4:20), indicating that the power did not reside in the object itself but in the divine hand guiding it. It becomes the instrument through which many of God's judgments and deliverance acts are channeled.
- The progression from "nachash" (ordinary snake) in Exodus 4 to "tannin" (large serpent/dragon) in Exodus 7 amplifies the threat and divine power. It signals a move from a private demonstration for Moses to a public, more formidable display intended to confront the established powers of Egypt head-on.
- This first sign serves not only to prove God's power but also to validate Moses and Aaron as God's authorized messengers, demanding Pharaoh's attention and compliance.
- The choice of a serpent, in the very presence of a monarch whose crown featured a cobra (the Uraeus) symbolizing royal and divine authority, was a deliberate and targeted act of theological warfare. It undermined Pharaoh's symbolic power and challenged his divine status, implying that the LORD was even mightier than the gods who protected the Egyptian crown.
Exodus 7 10 Commentary
Exodus 7:10 is a foundational moment in the exodus narrative, marking the commencement of the "signs and wonders" that God would perform to secure Israel's release. It serves as the opening move in a divine chess match, initiating a demonstration of the LORD's absolute sovereignty over Pharaoh and the entire pantheon of Egyptian gods. Aaron's simple act of casting down his staff, following a divine directive, showcases humble obedience as the vessel for immense power. The transformation into a tannin, a menacing creature symbolic of chaos and ancient Egyptian power (e.g., the Uraeus cobra on Pharaoh's crown, or the primordial serpent Apep), immediately elevated the confrontation beyond a mere political negotiation. This wasn't just a trick; it was a potent theological statement, proving that the God of Israel held dominion over even the most powerful and revered symbols of Egypt. This single miracle establishes Yahweh's identity as the one true God who controls all life and the very fabric of creation, challenging the deeply ingrained polytheistic and magical beliefs of Egyptian society.