Exodus 7:9 kjv

When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.

Exodus 7:9 nkjv

"When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, 'Show a miracle for yourselves,' then you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.' "

Exodus 7:9 niv

"When Pharaoh says to you, 'Perform a miracle,' then say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,' and it will become a snake."

Exodus 7:9 esv

"When Pharaoh says to you, 'Prove yourselves by working a miracle,' then you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.'"

Exodus 7:9 nlt

"Pharaoh will demand, 'Show me a miracle.' When he does this, say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down in front of Pharaoh, and it will become a serpent. '"

Exodus 7 verses

Exodus 7 9 Meaning

This verse details God's precise instruction to Moses regarding the initial encounter with Pharaoh. God foretells that Pharaoh will demand a miraculous sign to authenticate Moses and Aaron's divine commission. In response, Aaron is commanded to cast his rod before Pharaoh, whereupon it will miraculously transform into a serpent. This act serves as the foundational demonstration of the LORD's power, asserting His authority over Pharaoh and Egyptian deities from the outset.

Exodus 7 9 Context

Exodus 7:9 is strategically positioned within the narrative of the initial confrontation between the LORD (through Moses and Aaron) and Pharaoh. It follows God's detailed commissioning of Moses (Ex 6:28-7:7), where God reaffirms His plan for Israel's deliverance and reveals His intent to harden Pharaoh's heart for His glory. This specific verse prepares Moses and Aaron for Pharaoh's inevitable demand for proof of their divine authority before the plagues even begin. Historically, Egyptian court life involved magic practitioners (the hartummim, "magicians" mentioned in Ex 7:11). Pharaoh, seen as a divine intermediary, commanded magical arts. The proposed sign directly challenged Pharaoh's authority and the efficacy of the gods of Egypt, setting the stage for a dramatic contest not merely of wills, but of ultimate cosmic power and allegiance.

Exodus 7 9 Word analysis

• When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you:
  • Pharaoh: The absolute ruler of Egypt, viewed as a god or a son of a god, possessing immense magical power (`heka`). The encounter is a direct clash between God's absolute sovereignty and Pharaoh's supposed divine authority.
  • speak unto you: Addressed primarily to Moses, the head of the delegation from God.
  • Show a miracle: The Hebrew word for "miracle" is `môphēṯ` (מוֹפֵת), meaning "sign, wonder, portent, or omen." It signifies not merely a trick, but a divinely wrought event meant to convey a message or authenticate a messenger. Pharaoh expects a clear demonstration of supernatural power as a validation of their claims. This aligns with ancient Near Eastern customs where powerful entities would present signs.
  • for you: Implies a challenge; a demand for proof of the authority of Moses and Aaron to represent their God.
• then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod:
  • thou shalt say unto Aaron: God commands Moses to instruct Aaron, establishing Aaron's role as the active performer of the initial miracles and Moses' spokesman ("prophet" to Moses, Ex 7:1). This also signifies the unity of their divine commission.
  • Take thy rod: The Hebrew word for "rod" or "staff" is `maṭṭeh` (מַטֶּה). This particular staff is identified as Aaron's, which functionally becomes an instrument of God's power. It is distinct from Moses' rod (cf. Ex 4:2, 20), though later they appear interchangeable in their divine purpose. A staff symbolizes authority, leadership, and power, both in a shepherd's context and a ruler's.
• and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent:
  • cast it before Pharaoh: A public, direct, and confrontational act, emphasizing the open nature of the contest. The challenge is brought right into the heart of Pharaoh's power.
  • it shall become a serpent: The Hebrew word here is `tannîn` (תַּנִּין). This is highly significant. In Exodus 4:2-4, when Moses' rod transforms, the word used is `naḥaš` (נָחָשׁ), a common snake. `Tannîn`, however, refers to a large serpent, dragon, or even a sea monster. This choice of word amplifies the awe-inspiring, formidable nature of the creature, elevating it beyond a simple reptile. Symbolic Polemic: The `tannîn` is a direct challenge to Egyptian symbolism. Cobras (like the uraeus on Pharaoh's crown) represented royal protection and divinity. The transformation into a much larger, more primal `tannîn` implies a divine power superior to even the strongest symbols of Egyptian sovereignty. Cosmic Significance: In ancient Near Eastern cosmologies, `tannîn`-like creatures often represented primordial chaos or cosmic enemies that gods subdued to establish order. By transforming Aaron's rod into a `tannîn`, and later having it devour the Egyptian magicians' serpents, God powerfully asserts His ultimate sovereignty over all forms of power, chaos, and opposing forces, including Pharaoh, who is even prophetically depicted as a great `tannîn` in the Nile (Ezek 29:3).

Exodus 7 9 Bonus Section

• The "Rod of God": While initially identified as Aaron's rod in this verse, this staff (and Moses' staff) soon becomes functionally "the rod of God" (Ex 4:20), indicating that the power emanates entirely from God, merely channeled through His chosen human agents and their instruments.
• Progressive Revelation of Power: The shift from Moses' naḥaš (ordinary serpent) in Ex 4:2-4 to Aaron's tannîn (great serpent/dragon) in Ex 7:9 illustrates a calculated escalation in the display of God's power and the intensity of the divine confrontation. The initial private sign is smaller, but the public confrontation before Pharaoh is designed to be more imposing.
• Anticipatory Wisdom: This verse highlights God's strategic foresight. He not only knows Pharaoh's actions beforehand but also equips His servants with the exact, potent response, leaving no room for human doubt or improvisation in the divine plan.

Exodus 7 9 Commentary

Exodus 7:9 acts as the divinely orchestrated prelude to the unfolding drama of the plagues. God, in His omniscience, not only anticipates Pharaoh's predictable demand for a sign but also pre-scripts the precise demonstration of His power. The transformation of Aaron's ordinary staff into a tannîn is not a mere trick; it is a profound theological statement. By using tannîn instead of the common naḥaš (snake), God elevates the stakes. The formidable serpent directly challenges Egyptian royalty's symbolic reliance on snakes (the uraeus cobra) and confronts their magicians with a demonstration of a far greater, even cosmic, power. This initial sign sets the crucial premise: the contest is not between Moses and Pharaoh, but between the true, living God and the false deities of Egypt, symbolized by a majestic creature whose creator has power over even primordial chaos. It unequivocally declares the supremacy of the LORD and foretells the coming subjection of Egypt.