The Meaning of Exodus 4:3 Explained

Exodus 4:3

KJV: And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

YLT: and He saith, 'Cast it to the earth;' and he casteth it to the earth, and it becometh a serpent -- and Moses fleeth from its presence.

Darby: And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

ASV: And he said, Cast in on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

Discover Exodus 4:3

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Exodus 4:3?

MEANING: What does Exodus 4:3 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Exodus 4:3 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Exodus 4:3?

What is the context of Exodus 4:3?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

What does Exodus 4:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 4:1-9 - God's Signs To Confirm Moses' Words

This wonderful chapter tells us how Moses' three misgivings were tenderly and sufficiently dealt with by his heavenly Friend. To his first misgiving God made answer by giving him three signs. Here first we meet with that rod which was so often stretched out, over the land of Egypt, over the sea, and during the sojourn in the Wilderness. Moses was but a rod, but what cannot a rod do, if handled by an Almighty hand!

Leprosy was the type of sin, and the cleansed hand suggests God's marvelous power in cleansing, and so qualifying for service, all who yield themselves to Him. The third sign of the water turned to blood was not less significant, revealing the divine power operating through this feeble human instrument to produce wonderful effects in the world of nature. We must not live on signs, but on the Holy Spirit, though the outward sign reassures and strengthens us. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 4

¹ Moses's rod is turned into a serpent
⁶ His hand is leprous
¹⁰ He loathes his calling
¹³ Aaron is appointed to assist him
¹⁸ Moses departs from Jethro
²¹ God's message to Pharaoh
²⁴ Zipporah circumcises her son
²⁷ Aaron is sent to meet Moses
²⁹ The people believe them

What do the individual words in Exodus 4:3 mean?

And he said Cast it on the ground So He cast it on the ground and it became a serpent and fled Moses from it

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּ אַ֔רְצָה וַיַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥הוּ אַ֖רְצָה וַיְהִ֣י לְנָחָ֑שׁ וַיָּ֥נָס מֹשֶׁ֖ה מִפָּנָֽיו

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙	And he said
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּ	Cast it
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, third person masculine singular Root: שָׁלַךְ Sense: to throw, cast, hurl, fling.
אַ֔רְצָה	on the ground
Parse: Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular Root: אֶרֶץ Sense: land, earth.
וַיַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥הוּ	So He cast it
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular Root: שָׁלַךְ Sense: to throw, cast, hurl, fling.
אַ֖רְצָה	on the ground
Parse: Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular Root: אֶרֶץ Sense: land, earth.
וַיְהִ֣י	and it became
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: אֶהְיֶה Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְנָחָ֑שׁ	a serpent
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular Root: נָחָשׁ Sense: serpent, snake.
וַיָּ֥נָס	and fled
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: נוּס Sense: to flee, escape.
מֹשֶׁ֖ה	Moses
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: מֹשֶׁה Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
מִפָּנָֽיו	from it
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular Root: לִפְנֵי Sense: face.

What are the major concepts related to Exodus 4:3?

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Similar Scriptures for Exodus 4:3

		Amos 5:19 [2]
		Exodus 4:17 [2]
		Exodus 7:10-15 [2]