Exodus 4
A plain-spoken deep dive on the whole chapter. Read the chapter →
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
They will not believe me - As if he had said, Unless I be enabled to work miracles, and give them proofs by extraordinary works as well as by words, they will not believe that thou hast sent me.
Open source ↗MIRACULOUS CHANGE OF THE ROD, &c. (Exo. 4:1-31) But, behold--Hebrew, "If," "perhaps," "they will not believe me."--What evidence can I produce of my divine mission? There was still a want of full confidence, not in the character and divine power of his employer, but in His presence and power always accompanying him. He insinuated that his communication might be rejected and he himself treated as an impostor.
Open source ↗And Moses answered and said,.... In reference to what Jehovah had declared to him in the latter end of the preceding chapter: but, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken to my voice; this seems to contradict what God had said to him, Exo 3:18 that they would hearken to his voice; but it can hardly be thought, that so good a man, and so great a prophet as Moses was, would directly fly in the face of God, and expressly contradict what he had said. To reconcile this it may be observed, that what the Lord says respects only the elders of Israel, this all the people; or Jehovah's meaning may be, and so this of Moses, that neither the one nor the other would regard his bare word, without some sign or miracle being wrought; for as his call was extraordinary, so it required something extraordinary to be done that it might be credited: for they will say, the Lord hath not appeared unto me: in the bush, as he would affirm he did, and might do it with the greatest assurance; yet the thing being so marvellous, and they not eyewitnesses of it, might distrust the truth of it, or be backward to receive it on his bare word; and this Moses might rather fear would be the case, from the experience he had had of them forty years ago, when it was more likely for him to have been a deliverer of them.
Open source ↗Moses now started a fresh difficulty: the Israelites would not believe that Jehovah had appeared to him. There was so far a reason for this difficulty, that from the time of Jacob-an interval, therefore, of 430 years - God had never appeared to any Israelite. God therefore removed it by giving him three signs by which he might attest his divine mission to his people. These three signs were intended indeed for the Israelites, to convince them of the reality of the appearance of Jehovah to Moses; at the same time, as even Ephraem Syrus observed, they also served to strengthen Moses' faith, and dissipate his fears as to the result of his mission. For it was apparent enough that Moses did not possess true and entire confidence in God, from the fact that he still raised this difficulty, and distrusted the divine assurance, "They will hearken to thy voice," Exo 3:18). And finally, these signs were intended for Pharaoh, as is stated in Exo 4:21; and to him the אתות (σημεῖα) were to become מפתים (τέρατα). By these signs Moses was installed as the servant of Jehovah (Exo 14:31), and furnished with divine power, with which he could and was to appear before the children of Israel and Pharaoh as the messenger of Jehovah. The character of the three signs corresponded to this intention. Exo 4:2-5 The First Sign. - The turning of Moses' staff into a serpent, which became a staff again when Moses took it by the tail, had reference to the calling of Moses. The staff in his hand was his shepherd's crook (מזּה Exo 4:2, for מה־זה, in this place alone), and represented his calling as a shepherd. At the bidding of God he threw it upon the ground, and the staff became a serpent, before which Moses fled. The giving up of his shepherd-life would expose him to dangers, from which he would desi…
Open source ↗It was a very great honour that Moses was called to when God commissioned him to bring Israel out of Egypt; yet he is with difficulty persuaded to accept the commission, and does it at last with great reluctance, which we should rather impute to a humble diffidence of himself and his own sufficiency than to any unbelieving distrust of God and his word and power. Note, Those whom God designs for preferment he clothes with humility; the most fit for service are the least forward. I. Moses objects that in all probability the people would not hearken to his voice (Exo 4:1), that is, they would not take his bare word, unless he showed them some sign, which he had not been yet instructed to do. This objection cannot be justified, because it contradicts what God had said (Exo 3:18), They shall hearken to thy voice. If God says, They will, does it become Moses to say, They will not? Surely he means, "Perhaps they will not at first, or some of them will not." If there should be some gainsayers among them who would question his commission, how should he deal with them? And what course should he take to convince them? He remembered how they had once rejected him, and feared it would be so again. Note, 1. Present discouragements often arise from former disappointments. 2. Wise and good men have sometimes a worse opinion of people than they deserve. Moses sad (Exo 4:1), They will not believe me; and yet he was happily mistaken, for it is said (Exo 4:31), The people believed; but then the signs which God appointed in answer to this objection were first wrought in their sight. II. God empowers him to work miracles, directs him to three particularly, two of which were now immediately wrought for his own satisfaction. Note, True miracles are the most convincing external proofs of a divi…
Open source ↗4:1-9 Moses’ third protest was that he lacked power. God answered in a very convincing demonstration of divine power by instantaneous creation of a snake and of a severe skin disease.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אָמַן (ʼâman, H539) — properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,…
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), מַטֶּה (maṭṭeh, H4294) — a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising…
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שָׁלַךְ (shâlak, H7993) — to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) נָחָשׁ (nâchâsh, H5175) — a snake (from its hiss) מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver נוּס (nûwç, H5127) — to flit, i.e. vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and…
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), אָחַז (ʼâchaz, H270) — to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession) זָנָב (zânâb, H2180) — the tail (literally or figuratively) חָזַק (châzaq, H2388) — to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively… מַטֶּה (maṭṭeh, H4294) — a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising… כַּף (kaph, H3709) — the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of…
Open source ↗אָמַן (ʼâman, H539) — properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application אַבְרָהָם (ʼAbrâhâm, H85) — Abraham, the later name of Abram יִצְחָק (Yitschâq, H3327) — Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb, H3290) — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,…
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) עוֹד (ʻôwd, H5750) — properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition),… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), חֵיק (chêyq, H2436) — the bosom (literally or figuratively) יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… צָרַע (tsâraʻ, H6879) — to scourge, i.e. (intransitive and figurative) to be stricken with leprosy שֶׁלֶג (sheleg, H7950) — snow (probably from its whiteness)
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), חֵיק (chêyq, H2436) — the bosom (literally or figuratively) יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the…
Open source ↗אָמַן (ʼâman, H539) — properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound רִאשׁוֹן (riʼshôwn, H7223) — first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun) אוֹת (ʼôwth, H226) — a signal (literally or figuratively), as aflag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy,… אַחֲרוֹן (ʼachărôwn, H314) — hinder; generally, late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western
Open source ↗אָמַן (ʼâman, H539) — properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render… שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold אוֹת (ʼôwth, H226) — a signal (literally or figuratively), as aflag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy,… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen יְאֹר (yᵉʼôr, H2975) — a channel, e.g. a fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the Nile, as the one river of Egypt,… שָׁפַךְ (shâphak, H8210) — to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e. to mound up); also… יַבָּשָׁה (yabbâshâh, H3004) — dry ground דָּם (dâm, H1818) — blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice… יַבֶּשֶׁת (yabbesheth, H3006) — dry ground
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God בִּי (bîy, H994) — oh that!; with leave, or if it please אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause שִׁלְשׁוֹם (shilshôwm, H8032) — trebly, i.e. (in time) day before yesterday תְּמוֹל (tᵉmôwl, H8543) — properly, ago, i.e. a (short or long) time since; especially yesterday, or day before… אָז (ʼâz, H227) — at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant כָּבֵד (kâbêd, H3515) — heavy; figuratively in a good sense (numerous) or in a bad sense (severe, difficult,… פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);…
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… אִלֵּם (ʼillêm, H483) — speechless חֵרֵשׁ (chêrêsh, H2795) — deaf (whether literally or spiritual) פִּקֵּחַ (piqqêach, H6493) — clear-sighted; figuratively, intelligent עִוֵּר (ʻivvêr, H5787) — blind (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… יָרָה (yârâh, H3384) — properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a…
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בִּי (bîy, H994) — oh that!; with leave, or if it please אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
Open source ↗אַף (ʼaph, H639) — properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God חָרָה (chârâh, H2734) — to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses לֵוִיִּי (Lêvîyîy, H3881) — a Levite or descendant of Levi אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… קִרְאָה (qirʼâh, H7125) — an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… שָׂמַח (sâmach, H8055) — probably to brighten up, i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
The elders of Israel will listen to what you say, and you must go with them to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’
and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD had attended to the Israelites and had seen their affliction, they bowed down and worshiped.
But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”
So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me.
“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”
But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done has surely become known.”
He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.