Exodus 4 - New International Version (NIV)

Signs for Moses

4 Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen(A) to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

2 Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,”(B) he replied.

3 The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”

Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake,(C) and he ran from it. 4 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. 5 “This,” said the Lord, “is so that they may believe(D) that the Lord, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”

6 Then the Lord said, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was leprous[a]—it had become as white as snow.(E)

7 “Now put it back into your cloak,” he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored,(F) like the rest of his flesh.

8 Then the Lord said, “If they do not believe(G) you or pay attention to the first sign,(H) they may believe the second. 9 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(I) on the ground.”

10 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”(J)

11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute?(K) Who gives them sight or makes them blind?(L) Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go;(M) I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”(N)

13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”(O)

14 Then the Lord’s anger burned(P) against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet(Q) you, and he will be glad to see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth;(R) I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth(S) and as if you were God to him.(T) 17 But take this staff(U) in your hand(V) so you can perform the signs(W) with it.”

Moses Returns to Egypt

18 Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Let me return to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive.”

Jethro said, “Go, and I wish you well.”

19 Now the Lord had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill(X) you are dead.(Y)” 20 So Moses took his wife and sons,(Z) put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff(AA) of God in his hand.

21 The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders(AB) I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart(AC) so that he will not let the people go.(AD) 22 Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son,(AE) 23 and I told you, “Let my son go,(AF) so he may worship(AG) me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’”(AH)

24 At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses[b] and was about to kill(AI) him. 25 But Zipporah(AJ) took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin(AK) and touched Moses’ feet with it.[c] “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. 26 So the Lord let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)

27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he met Moses at the mountain(AL) of God and kissed(AM) him. 28 Then Moses told Aaron everything the Lord had sent him to say, and also about all the signs he had commanded him to perform.

29 Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders(AN) of the Israelites, 30 and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed the signs(AO) before the people, 31 and they believed.(AP) And when they heard that the Lord was concerned(AQ) about them and had seen their misery,(AR) they bowed down and worshiped.(AS)

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 4:6 The Hebrew word for leprous was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  2. Exodus 4:24 Hebrew him
  3. Exodus 4:25 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.

Cross references

  1. Exodus 4:1 : S Ex 3:18
  2. Exodus 4:2 : ver 17, 20; Ge 38:18; Ex 7:19; 8:5, 16; 14:16, 21; 17:5-6, 9; Nu 17:2; 20:8; Jos 8:18; Jdg 6:21; 1Sa 14:27; 2Ki 4:29
  3. Exodus 4:3 : Ex 7:8-12, 15
  4. Exodus 4:5 : ver 31; S Ex 3:6; 14:31; 19:9
  5. Exodus 4:6 : Lev 13:2, 11; Nu 12:10; Dt 24:9; 2Ki 5:1, 27; 2Ch 26:21
  6. Exodus 4:7 : 2Ki 5:14; Mt 8:3; Lk 17:12-14
  7. Exodus 4:8 : S Ex 3:18
  8. Exodus 4:8 : ver 30; Jdg 6:17; 1Ki 13:3; Isa 7:14; Jer 44:29
  9. Exodus 4:9 : Ex 7:17-21
  10. Exodus 4:10 : S Ex 3:11
  11. Exodus 4:11 : Lk 1:20, 64
  12. Exodus 4:11 : Ps 94:9; 146:8; Mt 11:5; Jn 10:21
  13. Exodus 4:12 : S Ex 3:10
  14. Exodus 4:12 : ver 15-16; Nu 23:5; Dt 18:15, 18; Isa 50:4; 51:16; Jer 1:9; Mt 10:19-20; Mk 13:11; S Lk 12:12
  15. Exodus 4:13 : Jnh 1:1-3
  16. Exodus 4:14 : Nu 11:1, 10, 33; 12:9; 16:15; 22:22; 24:10; 32:13; Dt 7:25; Jos 7:1; Job 17:8
  17. Exodus 4:14 : ver 27; 1Sa 10:2-5
  18. Exodus 4:15 : ver 30; Nu 23:5, 12, 16; Dt 18:18; Jos 1:8; Isa 51:16; 59:21; Jer 1:9; 31:33
  19. Exodus 4:16 : Ex 7:1-2; Jer 15:19; 36:6
  20. Exodus 4:16 : Nu 33:1; Ps 77:20; 105:26; Mic 6:4
  21. Exodus 4:17 : S ver 2
  22. Exodus 4:17 : ver 20; Ex 17:9
  23. Exodus 4:17 : Ex 7:9-21; 8:5, 16; 9:22; 10:12-15, 21-23; 14:15-18, 26; Nu 14:11; Dt 4:34; Ps 74:9; 78:43; 105:27
  24. Exodus 4:19 : Ex 2:15
  25. Exodus 4:19 : Ex 2:23; Mt 2:20
  26. Exodus 4:20 : Ex 2:22; 18:3; Ac 7:29
  27. Exodus 4:20 : S ver 2
  28. Exodus 4:21 : S Ex 3:19, 20
  29. Exodus 4:21 : Ex 7:3, 13; 8:15; 9:12, 35; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8; Dt 2:30; Jos 11:20; 1Sa 6:6; Ps 105:25; Isa 6:10; 63:17; Jn 12:40; Ro 9:18
  30. Exodus 4:21 : Ex 8:32; 9:17
  31. Exodus 4:22 : S Ge 10:15; Dt 32:6; Isa 9:6; 63:16; 64:8; Jer 3:19; 31:9; Hos 11:1; Mal 2:10; Ro 9:4; 2Co 6:18
  32. Exodus 4:23 : Ex 5:1; 7:16
  33. Exodus 4:23 : S Ex 3:18
  34. Exodus 4:23 : Ge 49:3; Ex 11:5; 12:12, 29; Nu 8:17; 33:4; Ps 78:51; 105:36; 135:8; 136:10
  35. Exodus 4:24 : Nu 22:22
  36. Exodus 4:25 : S Ex 2:21
  37. Exodus 4:25 : Ge 17:14; Jos 5:2, 3
  38. Exodus 4:27 : S Ex 3:1
  39. Exodus 4:27 : S Ge 27:27; S 29:13
  40. Exodus 4:29 : S Ex 3:16
  41. Exodus 4:30 : S ver 8
  42. Exodus 4:31 : S Ex 3:18
  43. Exodus 4:31 : S Ex 2:25
  44. Exodus 4:31 : S Ge 16:11
  45. Exodus 4:31 : S Ge 24:26

You Might Also Like:

Exodus 4 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

4 And Moses answereth and saith, `And, if they do not give credence to me, nor hearken to my voice, and say, Jehovah hath not appeared unto thee?' 2 And Jehovah saith unto him, `What [is] this in thy hand?' and he saith, `A rod;' 3 and He saith, `Cast it to the earth;' and he casteth it to the earth...
Read More

Exodus 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

4 Moses answered, and said, The commons shall not believe to me, neither they shall hear my voice; but they shall say, The Lord appeared not to thee. 2 Therefore the Lord said to him, What is that that thou holdest in thine hand? Moses answered, A rod, that is, a shepherd’s staff. 3 And the Lord sai...
Read More

Exodus 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

4 Moses answered, “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice; for they will say, ‘Yahweh has not appeared to you.’” 2 Yahweh said to him, “What is that in your hand?”He said, “A rod.” 3 He said, “Throw it on the ground.”He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses ...
Read More

Exodus 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

4 Moses: What if they don’t trust me? What if they don’t listen to a single word I say? They are more likely to reply: “The Eternal has not revealed Himself to you.”The Eternal One answered Moses. Eternal One: 2 What do you have in your hand?Moses: My shepherd’s staff. Eternal One: 3 Throw your staf...
Read More

Exodus 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Objections and Excuses4 Then Moses said, “But look, they will not believe me or listen to my voice. They will say, ‘Adonai has not appeared to you.’” 2 So Adonai said to him, “What is that in your hand?”“A staff,” he said. 3 Then He said, “Cast it on the ground.” When he cast it to the ground, it be...
Read More

Exodus 4 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Moses’ Miraculous Power4 Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” 2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.” 3 And he said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the groun...
Read More

Exodus 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Moses’ Miraculous Power4 Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” 2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.” 3 And he said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the groun...
Read More

Exodus 4 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Moses’ Miraculous Power4 Then Moses answered, “But suppose they do not believe me or listen to me, but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” 2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw the staff on the ground, and ...
Read More

Exodus 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Moses’ Miraculous Power4 Then Moses answered, ‘But suppose they do not believe me or listen to me, but say, “The Lord did not appear to you.”’ 2 The Lord said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ He said, ‘A staff.’ 3 And he said, ‘Throw it on the ground.’ So he threw the staff on the ground, and ...
Read More

Exodus 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Moses’s Miraculous Power4 Then Moses answered, “But look, they may not believe me or listen to me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’ ”(A)2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.”(B)3 And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw the staff on the ground, an...
Read More

Exodus 4 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Signs of the Lord’s Power4 But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” 2 Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”“A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied. 3 “Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. S...
Read More

Exodus 4 - New Life Version (NLV)

Moses Is Given Special Power4 Then Moses answered, “What if they will not believe me or listen to me? They might say, ‘The Lord has not shown Himself to you.’” 2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” Moses said, “A stick.” 3 Then the Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” So Moses threw...
Read More

Exodus 4 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Miraculous Signs for Pharaoh4 Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’ ” 2 So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”He said, “A rod.” 3 And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast...
Read More

Exodus 4 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Signs for Moses4 Moses answered, ‘What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, “The Lord did not appear to you”?’ 2 Then the Lord said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’‘A staff,’ he replied. 3 The Lord said, ‘Throw it on the ground.’Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, a...
Read More

Exodus 4 - New International Version (NIV)

Signs for Moses4 Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen(A) to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” 2 Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”“A staff,”(B) he replied. 3 The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”Moses threw it on the ground and it became a sn...
Read More

Exodus 4 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Signs for Moses to Do4 Moses answered, “What if the elders of Israel won’t believe me? What if they won’t listen to me? Suppose they say, ‘The Lord didn’t appear to you.’ Then what should I do?” 2 The Lord said to him, “What do you have in your hand?”“A walking stick,” he said. 3 The Lord said, “Thr...
Read More

Exodus 4 - New English Translation (NET)

The Source of Sufficiency4 [a] Moses answered again,[b] “And if[c] they do not believe me or pay attention to me,[d] but say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you’?” 2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.”[e] 3 The Lord[f] said, “Throw it to the ground.” So he threw i...
Read More